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

,Chapter 1 Chemical neurotransmission
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Stahl: Stahl's Essential Psychopharmacology: Neuroscientific Basis and Practical Applications 5
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th Edition
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MULTIPLE CHOICE W




1. A patient with depression mentions to the nurse, My mother says depression is a c
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hemical disorder. What does she mean? The nurses response is based on the theory th
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at depression primarily involves which of the following neurotransmitters?
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a. Cortisol and GABA W W




b. COMT and glutamate W W




c. Monamine and glycine W W




d. Serotonin and norepinephrine W W




ANS: D W




One possible cause of depression is thought to involve one or more neurotransmitters. S
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erotonin and norepinephrine have been found to be important in the regulation of depr
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ession. There is no research to support that the other options play a significant role in t
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he development of depression.
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2. A patient has experienced a stroke (cerebral vascular accident) that has resulted in
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damage to the Broca area. Which evaluation does the nurse conduct to reinforce this d
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iagnosis?
a. Observing the patient pick up a spoon W W W W W W




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




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




ANS: B W




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




Medications used to treat psychiatric disorders operate in and around the synaptic cleft
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and have action at the neurotransmitter level, especially in the case of schizophrenia, o
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n dopamine. The Wernickes area, dendrite function, or the sensitivity of the peripheral
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nervous 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
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understanding the anatomy and physiology of the neurologic system. The mentor wo
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uld base a response on the understanding that it is:
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Necessary but generally for psychiatric nurses who focus primarily on behavior
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a. al interventions W




A complex undertaking that advance practice psychiatric nurses frequently use i
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b. n their practice
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Important primarily for the nursing assessment of patients with brain traumacause
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c. d cognitive symptoms
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Necessary for planning psychiatric care for all patients especially those experienci
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d. ng psychiatric disorders
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ANS: D W




Nurses must understand that many symptoms of psychiatric disorders have a neurologi
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c basis, although the symptoms are manifested behaviorally. This understanding facilit
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ates effective care planning. The foundation of knowledge is not used exclusively by ad
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vanced practice psychiatric nurses nor is it relevant for only behavior therapies or brai
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n trauma since dealing with the results of normal and abnormal brain function is a resp
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onsibility 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 c
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hronic 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 W




Research indicates that stress causes a release of corticotropin-
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releasing factors that suppress the immune system. Studies indicate that psychiatric dis
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orders such as mood disorders are sometimes associated with decreased functioning of
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the immune system. Research does not support a connection between many cancers an
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d stress. There is a significant amount of research about stress and the body. Research
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has shown 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 rehabilitat
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ion needs. Of the aspects of functioning listed, which will the nurse identify as a focus
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of nursing intervention?
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a. Expression of emotion W W




b. Detecting auditory stimuli W W




c. Receiving visual images W W




d. Processing associations W




ANS: D W




The parietal lobe is responsible for associating and processing sensory information tha
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t allows for functions such as following directions on a map, reading a clock, dressing
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self, keeping appointments, and distinguishing right from left. Emotional expression is
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Wassociated with frontal lobe function. Detecting auditory stimuli is a temporal lobe fun
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ction. 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 r
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ight cerebral cortex. During assessment, the nurse would expect to find that the patie
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nt:
a. Demonstrates major deficiencies in speech W W W W




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 hairW W W W W W W W W W W W




ANS: B W




The cerebral hemispheres are responsible for functions such as control of muscles. The
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Wright hemisphere mainly controls the motor and sensory functions on the left side of th
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e body. Damage to the right side would result in impaired function on the left side of th
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e body. The motor cortex controls voluntary motor activity. Brocas area controls moto
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r speech. 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
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patient will be discharged on low doses of haloperidol. The nurse will need to individ
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ualize the patients medication teaching by:
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a. Including the patients caregiver in the education W W W W W W




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 relax
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c. ed
Encouraging the patient to crush or dissolve the medication to help with swallowin
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d. g
ANS: A W