PSY 627 CERTIFICATION SCRIPT 2026
QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+
◍ neurons (nerve cell).
Answer: specialized cell that transmits information in the form of electrical
impulses
◍ communication within the nervous system.
Answer: neurons are essential for _________, enabling the transmission of
signals between different parts of the body
◍ transmission.
Answer: refers to the overall process of passing signals or information
◍ list the 5 most common routes of drug administration.
Answer: oral, topical, rectal, inhalation, injection
◍ release and reception.
Answer: in the nervous system, transmission may involve the _________
and ________ of neurotransmitters at synapses, facilitating the transfer of
signals between neurons
◍ ROA w/greatest plasma drug concentrations.
Answer: intravenous
◍ absorption (drug entering bloodstream).
Answer: refers to the process by which a psychoactive drug is taken into the
bloodstream after administration
◍ 1. oral ingestion2. inhalation3. injection.
Answer: what are some of the various routes through which absorption can
occur? (three given)
,◍ rate and extent of absorption.
Answer: what influences how quickly and efficiently the drug reaches the
target receptors in the central nervous system, impacting the onset and
intensity of the drug's effects
◍ 1. drugs chemical properties2. formulation3. the individual's physiological
characteristics.
Answer: what factors can affect absorption in psychopharmacology? (three
factors given)
◍ What does ADME stand for in pharmacokinetics?.
Answer: Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion
◍ distribution.
Answer: drug spreading in the body
◍ What type of compounds are preferable for drug absorption through the
blood-brain barrier?.
Answer: Lipid-soluble compounds
◍ biotransformation.
Answer: metabolic changes in the drug
◍ What is the primary organ responsible for drug metabolism?.
Answer: The liver
◍ What is the basic strategy for drug metabolism?.
Answer: Convert lipid-soluble molecules into hydrophilic compounds for
excretion.
◍ Which organ is primarily responsible for excretion of drugs?.
Answer: The kidneys
◍ What is bioavailability in reference to?.
Answer: The amount of drug that reaches the brain.
◍ excretion.
Answer: elimination from the body
,◍ SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor).
Answer: type of antidepressant medication commonly prescribed to treat
depression and anxiety disorders
◍ serotonin in the brain.
Answer: SSRIs work by increasing the levels of ________ in the _____
◍ What else impacts bioavailability?.
Answer: If relevant - oral metabolism may occur @ gut lining (excretion) or
through first-pass metabolism (liver) before the drug reaches the brain.
(TLDR: gut --> liver --> actual bioavailability)
◍ serotonin.
Answer: a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in regulating mood,
emotions, and behavior
◍ What does the term 'first-pass metabolism' refer to?.
Answer: Metabolism that occurs in the liver before the drug reaches
systemic circulation.
◍ liver metabolism may consist of 2 phases: __ and __.
Answer: Phase I (Oxidation / Reduction / Hydrolysis) and Phase II
(Conjugation)
◍ goal with SSRIs.
Answer: decrease in symptoms of depression and anxiety over time
◍ oxidation =.
Answer: gain oxygen
◍ SSRIs.
Answer: what medication is typically considered the first choice due to
fewer side effects?
◍ reduction =.
Answer: lose oxygen
◍ 1. blocking re absorption of serotonin2. increase levels of serotonin
, available in brains synaptic space3. improved communication between
neurons.
Answer: how do SSRIs work? what are the three steps/outcomes?
◍ hydrolysis =.
Answer: cleavage due to adding water molecule
◍ conjugation =.
Answer: drug metabolite joined enzymatically with charged species (some
endogenous compound increases polarity)
◍ Biotransformation =.
Answer: converting lipophilic drug to hydrophilic metabolite
◍ SNRIs (serotonin-norepinephrine inhibitor).
Answer: a type of antidepressant medication that works by increasing levels
of serotonin and norepinephrine neurotransmitters in the brain (associated
with mood regulation)
◍ How does biotransformation work?.
Answer: the glomerulus squeezes out everything except red blood cells from
blood in the kidney; metabolite passes to kidney tubule (now hydrophilic
and sequestered) → drops into bladder → hydrophilic metabolite gets
excreted
◍ venlafaxine (effexor) and duloxetine (cymbalta).
Answer: common examples of SNRIs
◍ What happens to lipophilic drugs?.
Answer: They keep cycling until they get broken down
◍ What is the significance of the ED50 in pharmacology?.
Answer: It is the effective dose that produces an effect 50% of the time.
◍ What does the therapeutic index indicate?.
Answer: The ratio of LD50 (lethal dose) to ED50 (effective dose), indicating
safety margin.
◍ depression and anxiety.
QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+
◍ neurons (nerve cell).
Answer: specialized cell that transmits information in the form of electrical
impulses
◍ communication within the nervous system.
Answer: neurons are essential for _________, enabling the transmission of
signals between different parts of the body
◍ transmission.
Answer: refers to the overall process of passing signals or information
◍ list the 5 most common routes of drug administration.
Answer: oral, topical, rectal, inhalation, injection
◍ release and reception.
Answer: in the nervous system, transmission may involve the _________
and ________ of neurotransmitters at synapses, facilitating the transfer of
signals between neurons
◍ ROA w/greatest plasma drug concentrations.
Answer: intravenous
◍ absorption (drug entering bloodstream).
Answer: refers to the process by which a psychoactive drug is taken into the
bloodstream after administration
◍ 1. oral ingestion2. inhalation3. injection.
Answer: what are some of the various routes through which absorption can
occur? (three given)
,◍ rate and extent of absorption.
Answer: what influences how quickly and efficiently the drug reaches the
target receptors in the central nervous system, impacting the onset and
intensity of the drug's effects
◍ 1. drugs chemical properties2. formulation3. the individual's physiological
characteristics.
Answer: what factors can affect absorption in psychopharmacology? (three
factors given)
◍ What does ADME stand for in pharmacokinetics?.
Answer: Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion
◍ distribution.
Answer: drug spreading in the body
◍ What type of compounds are preferable for drug absorption through the
blood-brain barrier?.
Answer: Lipid-soluble compounds
◍ biotransformation.
Answer: metabolic changes in the drug
◍ What is the primary organ responsible for drug metabolism?.
Answer: The liver
◍ What is the basic strategy for drug metabolism?.
Answer: Convert lipid-soluble molecules into hydrophilic compounds for
excretion.
◍ Which organ is primarily responsible for excretion of drugs?.
Answer: The kidneys
◍ What is bioavailability in reference to?.
Answer: The amount of drug that reaches the brain.
◍ excretion.
Answer: elimination from the body
,◍ SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor).
Answer: type of antidepressant medication commonly prescribed to treat
depression and anxiety disorders
◍ serotonin in the brain.
Answer: SSRIs work by increasing the levels of ________ in the _____
◍ What else impacts bioavailability?.
Answer: If relevant - oral metabolism may occur @ gut lining (excretion) or
through first-pass metabolism (liver) before the drug reaches the brain.
(TLDR: gut --> liver --> actual bioavailability)
◍ serotonin.
Answer: a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in regulating mood,
emotions, and behavior
◍ What does the term 'first-pass metabolism' refer to?.
Answer: Metabolism that occurs in the liver before the drug reaches
systemic circulation.
◍ liver metabolism may consist of 2 phases: __ and __.
Answer: Phase I (Oxidation / Reduction / Hydrolysis) and Phase II
(Conjugation)
◍ goal with SSRIs.
Answer: decrease in symptoms of depression and anxiety over time
◍ oxidation =.
Answer: gain oxygen
◍ SSRIs.
Answer: what medication is typically considered the first choice due to
fewer side effects?
◍ reduction =.
Answer: lose oxygen
◍ 1. blocking re absorption of serotonin2. increase levels of serotonin
, available in brains synaptic space3. improved communication between
neurons.
Answer: how do SSRIs work? what are the three steps/outcomes?
◍ hydrolysis =.
Answer: cleavage due to adding water molecule
◍ conjugation =.
Answer: drug metabolite joined enzymatically with charged species (some
endogenous compound increases polarity)
◍ Biotransformation =.
Answer: converting lipophilic drug to hydrophilic metabolite
◍ SNRIs (serotonin-norepinephrine inhibitor).
Answer: a type of antidepressant medication that works by increasing levels
of serotonin and norepinephrine neurotransmitters in the brain (associated
with mood regulation)
◍ How does biotransformation work?.
Answer: the glomerulus squeezes out everything except red blood cells from
blood in the kidney; metabolite passes to kidney tubule (now hydrophilic
and sequestered) → drops into bladder → hydrophilic metabolite gets
excreted
◍ venlafaxine (effexor) and duloxetine (cymbalta).
Answer: common examples of SNRIs
◍ What happens to lipophilic drugs?.
Answer: They keep cycling until they get broken down
◍ What is the significance of the ED50 in pharmacology?.
Answer: It is the effective dose that produces an effect 50% of the time.
◍ What does the therapeutic index indicate?.
Answer: The ratio of LD50 (lethal dose) to ED50 (effective dose), indicating
safety margin.
◍ depression and anxiety.
