NSG 552 Exam 1: Psychopharmacology Foundations |Questions and
Answers |100% Pass |Wilkes University
1. Which dopamine pathway is primarily responsible for the positive symptoms
of schizophrenia, such as hallucinations and delusions?
A. Mesolimbic pathway
B. Nigrostriatal pathway
C. Mesocortical pathway
D. Tuberoinfundibular pathway
Answer: A
Rationale: Overactivity in the mesolimbic dopamine pathway is associated with positive
symptoms like hallucinations and delusions.
2. Which enzyme system in the liver is most responsible for the metabolism of
the majority of psychotropic medications?
A. Monoamine oxidase
B. Catechol-O-methyltransferase
C. Cytochrome P450
D. Acetylcholinesterase
Answer: C
Rationale: The Cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzyme system is the primary route for the
oxidative metabolism of most psychotropic drugs.
,3. What is the primary mechanism of action of Selective Serotonin Reuptake
Inhibitors (SSRIs)?
A. Inhibition of the enzyme MAO-A
B. Antagonism of 5-HT2A receptors
C. Inhibition of the Serotonin Transporter (SERT)
D. Agonism of the 5-HT1A receptor
Answer: C
Rationale: SSRIs work by blocking the serotonin transporter (SERT), leading to increased
concentrations of serotonin in the synaptic cleft.
4. Which of the following describes a ‘partial agonist’?
A. A drug that binds to a receptor and produces a sub-maximal response compared to a full agonist.
B. A drug that binds to a receptor but produces no biological response.
C. A drug that binds to a receptor and mimics the endogenous neurotransmitter’s effect perfectly.
D. A drug that binds to a receptor and produces the opposite effect of an agonist.
Answer: A
Rationale: A partial agonist activates a receptor but only with partial efficacy relative to a
full agonist, acting as a functional antagonist in the presence of high neurotransmitter
levels.
5. Blocking dopamine in the Nigrostriatal pathway is most likely to cause which
side effect?
A. Hyperprolactinemia
B. Extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS)
C. Increased cognitive focus
D. Weight gain
Answer: B
Rationale: The nigrostriatal pathway controls motor function; blocking D2 receptors here
leads to movement disorders known as extrapyramidal symptoms.
, 6. Which neurotransmitter is primarily involved in the ‘GABAergic’ inhibitory
system of the brain?
A. Glutamate
B. Norepinephrine
C. Acetylcholine
D. Gamma-aminobutyric acid
Answer: D
Rationale: GABA is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system.
7. How many half-lives does it generally take for a drug to reach ‘steady state’ in
the plasma?
A. 4 to 5
B. 1 to 2
C. 10 to 12
D. Steady state is reached immediately
Answer: A
Rationale: It typically takes 4 to 5 half-lives for a drug’s plasma concentration to reach a
stable level where intake equals elimination.
8. A patient taking an MAOI must avoid foods high in tyramine to prevent which
dangerous complication?
A. Serotonin syndrome
B. Hypertensive crisis
C. Agranulocytosis
D. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
Answer: B
Rationale: Inhibiting MAO prevents the breakdown of tyramine; high levels of tyramine
cause a massive release of norepinephrine, leading to a hypertensive crisis.
Answers |100% Pass |Wilkes University
1. Which dopamine pathway is primarily responsible for the positive symptoms
of schizophrenia, such as hallucinations and delusions?
A. Mesolimbic pathway
B. Nigrostriatal pathway
C. Mesocortical pathway
D. Tuberoinfundibular pathway
Answer: A
Rationale: Overactivity in the mesolimbic dopamine pathway is associated with positive
symptoms like hallucinations and delusions.
2. Which enzyme system in the liver is most responsible for the metabolism of
the majority of psychotropic medications?
A. Monoamine oxidase
B. Catechol-O-methyltransferase
C. Cytochrome P450
D. Acetylcholinesterase
Answer: C
Rationale: The Cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzyme system is the primary route for the
oxidative metabolism of most psychotropic drugs.
,3. What is the primary mechanism of action of Selective Serotonin Reuptake
Inhibitors (SSRIs)?
A. Inhibition of the enzyme MAO-A
B. Antagonism of 5-HT2A receptors
C. Inhibition of the Serotonin Transporter (SERT)
D. Agonism of the 5-HT1A receptor
Answer: C
Rationale: SSRIs work by blocking the serotonin transporter (SERT), leading to increased
concentrations of serotonin in the synaptic cleft.
4. Which of the following describes a ‘partial agonist’?
A. A drug that binds to a receptor and produces a sub-maximal response compared to a full agonist.
B. A drug that binds to a receptor but produces no biological response.
C. A drug that binds to a receptor and mimics the endogenous neurotransmitter’s effect perfectly.
D. A drug that binds to a receptor and produces the opposite effect of an agonist.
Answer: A
Rationale: A partial agonist activates a receptor but only with partial efficacy relative to a
full agonist, acting as a functional antagonist in the presence of high neurotransmitter
levels.
5. Blocking dopamine in the Nigrostriatal pathway is most likely to cause which
side effect?
A. Hyperprolactinemia
B. Extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS)
C. Increased cognitive focus
D. Weight gain
Answer: B
Rationale: The nigrostriatal pathway controls motor function; blocking D2 receptors here
leads to movement disorders known as extrapyramidal symptoms.
, 6. Which neurotransmitter is primarily involved in the ‘GABAergic’ inhibitory
system of the brain?
A. Glutamate
B. Norepinephrine
C. Acetylcholine
D. Gamma-aminobutyric acid
Answer: D
Rationale: GABA is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system.
7. How many half-lives does it generally take for a drug to reach ‘steady state’ in
the plasma?
A. 4 to 5
B. 1 to 2
C. 10 to 12
D. Steady state is reached immediately
Answer: A
Rationale: It typically takes 4 to 5 half-lives for a drug’s plasma concentration to reach a
stable level where intake equals elimination.
8. A patient taking an MAOI must avoid foods high in tyramine to prevent which
dangerous complication?
A. Serotonin syndrome
B. Hypertensive crisis
C. Agranulocytosis
D. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
Answer: B
Rationale: Inhibiting MAO prevents the breakdown of tyramine; high levels of tyramine
cause a massive release of norepinephrine, leading to a hypertensive crisis.
