NR546 – Advanced Pharmacology: Psychopharmacology for Psychiatric-Mental Health
Nurse Practitioner
Exam Study Guide – Midterm Exam
Exam Format: Non-Cumulative exam
Question Type: Multiple Choice
Number of Questions: 75
Number of Points: 150 points
Time Allotted: 90 Minutes
Testing Timeframe: The final exam will be available starting on Wednesday of Week 4 at
12:01 am MT until Saturday of Week 4 at 11:59 pm MT.
Exam Coverage
Week 1:
Content Areas:
1. Introduction to Psychopharmacology
2. Unique Prescribing Considerations
3. Symptom-Based Selection of Medications
4. Medication Adherence
5. Ethical/Legal Considerations
6. Neuroscientific Basis for Behavior
o Informed consent
o Compliance
o Off-label prescribing
7. Genetics and Epigenetics
, Key Concepts to Study:
Functional Neuroanatomy: covered in both the course Explore section and readings
o Brain anatomy and physiology.
o Link symptoms to affected brain areas (e.g., inability to copy a word or drawing
→ what part of the brain is affected).
Ethical Issues:
o Understand principles like autonomy and informed consent.
o Review the Explore section
Epigenetics:
o Explore how gene expression impacts mental health.
o Review the Explore section
Genetics and CYP450:
o Learn the effects of inducers and inhibitors on pharmacodynamics and
pharmacokinetics. Also Review Stahl Ch. 2.
o Review the Explore section and know the CYP 450 impact
o What are some very common/concerning interactions?
Incidence of Mental Illness:
o Explore factors contributing to increased prevalence of mental illness.
Recommended Resources:
Canvas Modules: Week 1
Pliszka, S.R. (2016). Neuroscience for the mental health clinician (2nd ed.). The Guilford Press.
Chapter 1: Introduction, pp. 3-20
Chapter 2: Draw the Brain: Introduction to Clinical Neuroanatomy, pp. 21-37
Chapter 7: Attention and Memory, pp. 123-140
Chapter 8: Higher Cognitive Functioning, pp. 145-163
Dell'Osso, B., Albert, U., Carrá, G., Pompili, M., Nanni, M. G., Pasquini, M., Poloni, N.,
Raballo, A., Sambataro, F., Serafini, G., Viganó, C., Demyttenaere, K., McIntyre, R. S., &
Fiorillo, A. (2020). How to improve adherence in patients with major depression: A
psychoeducational consensus checklist . Annals of General Psychiatry, 19(1), 61.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12991-020-00306-2
Nurse Practitioner
Exam Study Guide – Midterm Exam
Exam Format: Non-Cumulative exam
Question Type: Multiple Choice
Number of Questions: 75
Number of Points: 150 points
Time Allotted: 90 Minutes
Testing Timeframe: The final exam will be available starting on Wednesday of Week 4 at
12:01 am MT until Saturday of Week 4 at 11:59 pm MT.
Exam Coverage
Week 1:
Content Areas:
1. Introduction to Psychopharmacology
2. Unique Prescribing Considerations
3. Symptom-Based Selection of Medications
4. Medication Adherence
5. Ethical/Legal Considerations
6. Neuroscientific Basis for Behavior
o Informed consent
o Compliance
o Off-label prescribing
7. Genetics and Epigenetics
, Key Concepts to Study:
Functional Neuroanatomy: covered in both the course Explore section and readings
o Brain anatomy and physiology.
o Link symptoms to affected brain areas (e.g., inability to copy a word or drawing
→ what part of the brain is affected).
Ethical Issues:
o Understand principles like autonomy and informed consent.
o Review the Explore section
Epigenetics:
o Explore how gene expression impacts mental health.
o Review the Explore section
Genetics and CYP450:
o Learn the effects of inducers and inhibitors on pharmacodynamics and
pharmacokinetics. Also Review Stahl Ch. 2.
o Review the Explore section and know the CYP 450 impact
o What are some very common/concerning interactions?
Incidence of Mental Illness:
o Explore factors contributing to increased prevalence of mental illness.
Recommended Resources:
Canvas Modules: Week 1
Pliszka, S.R. (2016). Neuroscience for the mental health clinician (2nd ed.). The Guilford Press.
Chapter 1: Introduction, pp. 3-20
Chapter 2: Draw the Brain: Introduction to Clinical Neuroanatomy, pp. 21-37
Chapter 7: Attention and Memory, pp. 123-140
Chapter 8: Higher Cognitive Functioning, pp. 145-163
Dell'Osso, B., Albert, U., Carrá, G., Pompili, M., Nanni, M. G., Pasquini, M., Poloni, N.,
Raballo, A., Sambataro, F., Serafini, G., Viganó, C., Demyttenaere, K., McIntyre, R. S., &
Fiorillo, A. (2020). How to improve adherence in patients with major depression: A
psychoeducational consensus checklist . Annals of General Psychiatry, 19(1), 61.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12991-020-00306-2
