NURS 6501 FINAL EXAM ADVANCED
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM PREPARATION PACK
2026 KEY CONCEPTS AND REVISION NOTES
◉ What are characteristics of major depressive disorder or MDD? 9
Answer: Diagnostics need 5 or more of the following:
- SS occur more days than not in a 2 week period
- SS cause significant impairment in any realm of functioning
- Depressed mood
- Loss of interest
- Significant unintended ▲ in weight or appetite
- Significant ▲ sleep
- ▲ psychomotor activity (restlessness)
- Fatigue, loss of energy
- Worthlessness, guilt
◉ What is serotonin syndrome?
Answer: - Increased serotonergic activity in the CNS
- Can be due to therapeutic med use, inadvertent drug interactions,
or self-OD
,Serotonin in the Body:
CNS: Modulates attention, behavior, and thermoregulation
PNS: Regulates GI motility, vasoconstriction, uterine contraction, and
bronchoconstriction, promotes PLT aggregation
◉ PE of serotonin syndrome 11
Answer: - Hyperthermia, flushed skin, diaphoresis
- Agitation
- Slow, continuous, horizontal eye movements (ocular clonus)
- Dilated pupils
- Tremor, akathisia
- Deep tendon hyperreflexia (common)
- Inducible or spontaneous muscle clonus (common)
- Muscle rigidity
- Bilateral babinski
- Dry mucus membranes
- Increased bowel sounds
◉ What is discontinuation syndrome (from SSRIs)?
"FINISH"
Answer: 2-3 days after stopping SSRIs abruptly
, F: flu-like SS
I: insomnia
N: nausea
I: imbalance
S: sensory disturbances
H: hyperarousal
◉ Bupropion
- MOA
- BENFITS
AE
CONTRA
Answer: MOA
- act to inhibit reuptake of NE, dopamine, and serotonin
BENFIT
- Depression
- Smoking cessation
- Seasonal affective disorder
- Treat sexual dysfunction relative to SSRI therapy
AE
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM PREPARATION PACK
2026 KEY CONCEPTS AND REVISION NOTES
◉ What are characteristics of major depressive disorder or MDD? 9
Answer: Diagnostics need 5 or more of the following:
- SS occur more days than not in a 2 week period
- SS cause significant impairment in any realm of functioning
- Depressed mood
- Loss of interest
- Significant unintended ▲ in weight or appetite
- Significant ▲ sleep
- ▲ psychomotor activity (restlessness)
- Fatigue, loss of energy
- Worthlessness, guilt
◉ What is serotonin syndrome?
Answer: - Increased serotonergic activity in the CNS
- Can be due to therapeutic med use, inadvertent drug interactions,
or self-OD
,Serotonin in the Body:
CNS: Modulates attention, behavior, and thermoregulation
PNS: Regulates GI motility, vasoconstriction, uterine contraction, and
bronchoconstriction, promotes PLT aggregation
◉ PE of serotonin syndrome 11
Answer: - Hyperthermia, flushed skin, diaphoresis
- Agitation
- Slow, continuous, horizontal eye movements (ocular clonus)
- Dilated pupils
- Tremor, akathisia
- Deep tendon hyperreflexia (common)
- Inducible or spontaneous muscle clonus (common)
- Muscle rigidity
- Bilateral babinski
- Dry mucus membranes
- Increased bowel sounds
◉ What is discontinuation syndrome (from SSRIs)?
"FINISH"
Answer: 2-3 days after stopping SSRIs abruptly
, F: flu-like SS
I: insomnia
N: nausea
I: imbalance
S: sensory disturbances
H: hyperarousal
◉ Bupropion
- MOA
- BENFITS
AE
CONTRA
Answer: MOA
- act to inhibit reuptake of NE, dopamine, and serotonin
BENFIT
- Depression
- Smoking cessation
- Seasonal affective disorder
- Treat sexual dysfunction relative to SSRI therapy
AE
