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PSYCHIATRIC & MENTAL HEALTH NURSING FOR CANADIAN
COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE EXAMINATION – SET 2 Questions With
Answers and Rationales Updated for 2026
SECTION 1: NEUROBIOLOGY AND PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(Questions)
1. The primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the central
nervous system is:
A) GABA
B) Glutamate
C) Dopamine
D) Serotonin
Answer: B
Rationale: Glutamate is the main excitatory neurotransmitter;
GABA is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter.
2. The primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the CNS is:
A) Glutamate
,https://www.stuvia.com/user/Performance
B) Dopamine
C) GABA
D) Norepinephrine
Answer: C
Rationale: GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is the primary
inhibitory neurotransmitter.
3. Which neurotransmitter is most associated with the
pathophysiology of schizophrenia?
A) Serotonin
B) Dopamine
C) GABA
D) Glutamate
Answer: B
Rationale: The dopamine hypothesis links excess dopamine to
schizophrenia symptoms.
4. Which neurotransmitter is most associated with depression
according to the monoamine hypothesis?
A) Dopamine only
B) Serotonin and norepinephrine
,https://www.stuvia.com/user/Performance
C) GABA only
D) Glutamate only
Answer: B
Rationale: The monoamine hypothesis implicates deficiencies
in serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine.
5. Which neurotransmitter is primarily involved in anxiety
disorders?
A) Dopamine
B) GABA deficiency and serotonin dysfunction
C) Glutamate excess only
D) Acetylcholine only
Answer: B
Rationale: Anxiety involves GABA deficiency and
serotonin/norepinephrine dysregulation.
6. The enzyme responsible for breaking down dopamine,
norepinephrine, and serotonin in the synaptic cleft is:
A) Acetylcholinesterase
B) Monoamine oxidase (MAO)
, https://www.stuvia.com/user/Performance
C) Tyrosine hydroxylase
D) Tryptophan hydroxylase
Answer: B
Rationale: MAO degrades monoamines.
7. SSRIs work primarily by:
A) Blocking serotonin reuptake
B) Blocking dopamine reuptake
C) Increasing GABA
D) Blocking norepinephrine reuptake only
Answer: A
Rationale: SSRIs selectively block serotonin reuptake.
8. The mechanism of action of benzodiazepines is:
A) Dopamine antagonism
B) GABA-A receptor positive allosteric modulation
C) Serotonin reuptake inhibition
D) Norepinephrine blockade
Answer: B
Rationale: Benzodiazepines enhance GABA-A receptor function.
PSYCHIATRIC & MENTAL HEALTH NURSING FOR CANADIAN
COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE EXAMINATION – SET 2 Questions With
Answers and Rationales Updated for 2026
SECTION 1: NEUROBIOLOGY AND PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(Questions)
1. The primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the central
nervous system is:
A) GABA
B) Glutamate
C) Dopamine
D) Serotonin
Answer: B
Rationale: Glutamate is the main excitatory neurotransmitter;
GABA is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter.
2. The primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the CNS is:
A) Glutamate
,https://www.stuvia.com/user/Performance
B) Dopamine
C) GABA
D) Norepinephrine
Answer: C
Rationale: GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is the primary
inhibitory neurotransmitter.
3. Which neurotransmitter is most associated with the
pathophysiology of schizophrenia?
A) Serotonin
B) Dopamine
C) GABA
D) Glutamate
Answer: B
Rationale: The dopamine hypothesis links excess dopamine to
schizophrenia symptoms.
4. Which neurotransmitter is most associated with depression
according to the monoamine hypothesis?
A) Dopamine only
B) Serotonin and norepinephrine
,https://www.stuvia.com/user/Performance
C) GABA only
D) Glutamate only
Answer: B
Rationale: The monoamine hypothesis implicates deficiencies
in serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine.
5. Which neurotransmitter is primarily involved in anxiety
disorders?
A) Dopamine
B) GABA deficiency and serotonin dysfunction
C) Glutamate excess only
D) Acetylcholine only
Answer: B
Rationale: Anxiety involves GABA deficiency and
serotonin/norepinephrine dysregulation.
6. The enzyme responsible for breaking down dopamine,
norepinephrine, and serotonin in the synaptic cleft is:
A) Acetylcholinesterase
B) Monoamine oxidase (MAO)
, https://www.stuvia.com/user/Performance
C) Tyrosine hydroxylase
D) Tryptophan hydroxylase
Answer: B
Rationale: MAO degrades monoamines.
7. SSRIs work primarily by:
A) Blocking serotonin reuptake
B) Blocking dopamine reuptake
C) Increasing GABA
D) Blocking norepinephrine reuptake only
Answer: A
Rationale: SSRIs selectively block serotonin reuptake.
8. The mechanism of action of benzodiazepines is:
A) Dopamine antagonism
B) GABA-A receptor positive allosteric modulation
C) Serotonin reuptake inhibition
D) Norepinephrine blockade
Answer: B
Rationale: Benzodiazepines enhance GABA-A receptor function.
