NSG 552 Exam 1 – Wilkes Psychopharmacology (2026) Actual Questions & Study Guide | Guarantee Pass

NSG 552 EXAM 1 – WILKES PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY (2026)
ACTUAL QUESTIONS & STUDY GUIDE | GUARANTEE PASS
NSG 552 Psychopharmacology – Original Practice Exam 1 (Part 1)
Table of Contents
1. Instructions
2. Questions 1–25
3. Answer Key with Rationales


Instructions

• This is an original practice examination designed for graduate nursing
psychopharmacology review.
• Choose the single best answer for each multiple-choice question unless otherwise
specified.

• Short-answer questions require concise, evidence-based responses.



Questions 1–25

Question 1 (Multiple Choice)

Which neurotransmitter is most strongly associated with regulation of mood and anxiety?

A. Dopamine
B. Serotonin

C. Acetylcholine
D. Histamine

Correct Answer: B. Serotonin

Rationale:
Serotonin (5-HT) plays a central role in mood regulation, anxiety, appetite, and sleep. Most first-
line antidepressants enhance serotonergic neurotransmission by inhibiting serotonin reuptake.


Question 2 (Multiple Choice)

,Which medication is classified as an SSRI?

A. Venlafaxine

B. Sertraline

C. Bupropion

D. Amitriptyline

Correct Answer: B. Sertraline

Rationale:
Sertraline selectively inhibits serotonin reuptake, increasing serotonin concentrations in the
synaptic cleft. Venlafaxine is an SNRI, bupropion is an NDRI, and amitriptyline is a tricyclic
antidepressant.



Question 3 (Multiple Choice)

The primary mechanism of action of SSRIs is:

A. Blocking dopamine receptors

B. Inhibiting serotonin reuptake

C. Increasing GABA degradation

D. Blocking glutamate release

Correct Answer: B. Inhibiting serotonin reuptake

Rationale:
SSRIs inhibit the serotonin transporter (SERT), increasing serotonin availability at the synapse.



Question 4 (Short Answer)

Define pharmacokinetics.

Correct Answer:
Pharmacokinetics is the study of how the body absorbs, distributes, metabolizes, and eliminates
medications.

Rationale:
Pharmacokinetics explains what the body does to a drug and determines dosing intervals, onset,
duration, and drug concentrations.

,Question 5 (Multiple Choice)

Which organ is primarily responsible for drug metabolism?

A. Kidney

B. Liver

C. Lung

D. Spleen

Correct Answer: B. Liver

Rationale:
The liver contains cytochrome P450 enzymes responsible for metabolism of many psychotropic
medications.



Question 6 (Multiple Choice)

CYP450 inhibition generally results in:
A. Lower drug concentrations

B. Faster metabolism

C. Increased serum drug levels

D. Reduced bioavailability

Correct Answer: C. Increased serum drug levels

Rationale:
Inhibiting CYP enzymes slows metabolism, causing medications metabolized by that pathway to
accumulate.



Question 7 (Multiple Choice)

Which adverse effect is common during the first weeks of SSRI therapy?

A. Hypertension

B. Nausea

C. Hyperglycemia

D. Bradycardia

, Correct Answer: B. Nausea

Rationale:
Transient gastrointestinal upset, including nausea, is among the most common early SSRI
adverse effects.



Question 8 (Multiple Choice)

Which antidepressant has the lowest incidence of sexual dysfunction?

A. Paroxetine

B. Fluoxetine

C. Bupropion

D. Sertraline

Correct Answer: C. Bupropion

Rationale:
Bupropion primarily affects dopamine and norepinephrine and generally causes fewer sexual
side effects than SSRIs.



Question 9 (Multiple Choice)

Serotonin syndrome may result from:
A. Combining two serotonergic medications

B. Combining lithium with calcium
C. Taking acetaminophen

D. Using beta-blockers

Correct Answer: A. Combining two serotonergic medications

Rationale:
Multiple serotonergic agents increase the risk of excessive serotonin activity, leading to serotonin
syndrome.



Question 10 (Short Answer)

List two symptoms of serotonin syndrome.