Stahl's Essential Psychopharmacology: Neuroscientific Basis and Practical Applications 5th Edition by Stephen M. Stahl 2026 Test Bank

,Chapter 1 Chemical neurotransmission
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Stahl: Stahl's Essential Psychopharmacology: Neuroscientific Basis and Practical Applications 5t
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h Edition
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MULTIPLE CHOICE Q




1. A patient with depression mentions to the nurse, My mother says depression is a che
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mical disorder. What does she mean? The nurses response is based on the theory that d
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epression primarily involves which of the following neurotransmitters?
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a. Cortisol and GABA Q Q




b. COMT and glutamate Q Q




c. Monamine and glycine Q Q




d. Serotonin and norepinephrine Q Q




ANS: D Q




One possible cause of depression is thought to involve one or more neurotransmitters. Se
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rotonin and norepinephrine have been found to be important in the regulation of depressi
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on. There is no research to support that the other options play a significant role in the dev
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elopment of depression. Q Q




2. A patient has experienced a stroke (cerebral vascular accident) that has resulted in da
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mage to the Broca area. Which evaluation does the nurse conduct to reinforce this diag
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nosis?
a. Observing the patient pick up a spoon Q Q Q Q Q Q




b. Asking the patient to recite the alphabet
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c. Monitoring the patients blood pressure Q Q Q Q




d. Comparing the patients grip strength in both hands Q Q Q Q Q Q Q




ANS: B Q




Accidents or strokes that damage Brocas area may result in the inability to speak (i.e., m
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otor aphasia). Fine motor skills, blood pressure control, and muscle strength are not cont
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rolled by the Broca area of the left frontal lobe.
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3. The patient diagnosed with schizophrenia asks why psychotropic medications are al
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ways prescribed by the doctor. The nurses answer will be based on information that the t
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herapeutic action of psychotropic drugs is the result of their effect on:
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a. The temporal lobe; especially Wernickes area Q Q Q Q Q




b. Dendrites and their ability to transmit electrical impulses
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c. The regulation of neurotransmitters especially dopamine
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d. The peripheral nervous system sensitivity to the psychotropic medications
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,ANS: C Q




Medications used to treat psychiatric disorders operate in and around the synaptic cleft an
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d have action at the neurotransmitter level, especially in the case of schizophrenia, on do
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pamine. The Wernickes area, dendrite function, or the sensitivity of the peripheral nervo
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us system are not relevant to either schizophrenia or psychotropic medications.
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4. A student nurse mutters that it seems entirely unnecessary to have to struggle with un
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derstanding the anatomy and physiology of the neurologic system. The mentor would
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base a response on the understanding that it is:
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Necessary but generally for psychiatric nurses who focus primarily on behaviora Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q




a. l interventions Q




A complex undertaking that advance practice psychiatric nurses frequently use in
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b. their practice
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Important primarily for the nursing assessment of patients with brain traumacaused
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c. cognitive symptoms Q




Necessary for planning psychiatric care for all patients especially those experiencin
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d. g psychiatric disorders
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ANS: D Q




Nurses must understand that many symptoms of psychiatric disorders have a neurologic
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basis, although the symptoms are manifested behaviorally. This understanding facilitate
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s effective care planning. The foundation of knowledge is not used exclusively by advan
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ced practice psychiatric nurses nor is it relevant for only behavior therapies or brain trau
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ma since dealing with the results of normal and abnormal brain function is a responsibilit
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y of all nurses providing all types of care to the psychiatric patient.
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5. A patient asks the nurse, My wife has breast cancer. Could it be caused by her chr
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onic depression? Which response is supported by research data?
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a. Too much stress has been proven to cause all kinds of cancer.
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b. There have been no research studies done on stress and disease yet.
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c. Stress does cause the release of factors that suppress the immune system.
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d. There appears to be little connection between stress and diseases of the body
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ANS: C Q




Research indicates that stress causes a release of corticotropin-
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releasing factors that suppress the immune system. Studies indicate that psychiatric diso
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rders such as mood disorders are sometimes associated with decreased functioning of the
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immune system. Research does not support a connection between many cancers and stre
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ss. There is a significant amount of research about stress and the body. Research has sho
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wn that there are some connections between stress and physical disease.
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, 6. A patient who has a parietal lobe injury is being evaluated for psychiatric rehabilitati
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on needs. Of the aspects of functioning listed, which will the nurse identify as a focus of n
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ursing intervention? Q




a. Expression of emotion Q Q




b. Detecting auditory stimuli Q Q




c. Receiving visual images Q Q




d. Processing associations Q




ANS: D Q




The parietal lobe is responsible for associating and processing sensory information that
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allows for functions such as following directions on a map, reading a clock, dressing self
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, keeping appointments, and distinguishing right from left. Emotional expression is asso
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ciated with frontal lobe function. Detecting auditory stimuli is a temporal lobe function.
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Receiving visual images is related to occipital lobe function.
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7. At admission, the nurse learns that some time ago the patient had an infarct in the rig
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ht cerebral cortex. During assessment, the nurse would expect to find that the patient:
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a. Demonstrates major deficiencies in speech Q Q Q Q




b. Is unable to effectively hold a spoon in the left hand
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c. Has difficulty explaining how to go about using the telephone
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d. Cannot use his right hand to shave himself or comb his own hair Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q




ANS: B Q




The cerebral hemispheres are responsible for functions such as control of muscles. The r
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ight hemisphere mainly controls the motor and sensory functions on the left side of the bo
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dy. Damage to the right side would result in impaired function on the left side of the bod
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y. The motor cortex controls voluntary motor activity. Brocas area controls motor speec
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h. Cognitive functions are attributed to the association cortex.
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The right side of the bodys motor activity is controlled by the left cerebral cortex.
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8. A patient with chronic schizophrenia had a stroke involving the hippocampus. The pa
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tient will be discharged on low doses of haloperidol. The nurse will need to individuali
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ze the patients medication teaching by:
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a. Including the patients caregiver in the education Q Q Q Q Q Q




b. Being careful to stress the importance of taking the medication as prescribed
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Providing the education at a time when the patient is emotionally calm and relaxe
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c. d
Encouraging the patient to crush or dissolve the medication to help with swallowing
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d.
ANS: A Q