NR 546 ADVANCED
PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY - EXAM 1
COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS (CHAMBERLAIN) 100%
GUARANTEE PASS
1. A patient is prescribed a medication that acts as a full agonist at a specific receptor. How
does this medication affect the signal transduction compared to the natural
neurotransmitter?
A. It produces a signal that is less intense than the natural neurotransmitter.
B. It mimics the natural neurotransmitter to produce the maximum biological response.
C. It blocks the receptor, preventing any signal from being transmitted.
D. It produces the opposite biological effect of the natural neurotransmitter.
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: A full agonist binds to a receptor and activates it to produce the
maximum possible biological response, mimicking the endogenous ligand.
2. In the presence of a full agonist, which of the following describes the behavior of a partial
agonist?
A. It acts as a synergistic agent, increasing total signal.
,B. It acts as a competitive antagonist, lowering the overall response.
C. It has no effect on the full agonist’s binding.
D. It irreversibly binds to the receptor site.
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: A partial agonist can act as a ‘net antagonist’ in the presence of a
full agonist because it competes for the same receptors but only produces a sub-maximal
response.
3. Which cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzyme is significantly induced by cigarette smoking,
potentially lowering the serum levels of drugs like olanzapine and clozapine?
A. CYP2D6
B. CYP3A4
C. CYP1A2
D. CYP2C19
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in cigarette smoke induce
CYP1A2, which increases the metabolism (and lowers levels) of substrates like clozapine
and olanzapine.
, 4. The ‘mesocortical’ dopamine pathway is primarily associated with which aspect of
schizophrenia symptoms?
A. Positive symptoms like hallucinations
B. Hyperprolactinemia
C. Extrapyramidal side effects
D. Cognitive and negative symptoms
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Deficient dopamine in the mesocortical pathway is hypothesized
to mediate the negative and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia.
5. Which process involves the transport of neurotransmitters from the synaptic cleft back into
the presynaptic neuron?
A. Enzymatic degradation
B. Reuptake
C. Diffusion
D. Exocytosis
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Reuptake is the primary mechanism for ending the action of
monoamines by transporting them back into the presynaptic terminal via specific
transporters like SERT, NET, and DAT.
PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY - EXAM 1
COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS (CHAMBERLAIN) 100%
GUARANTEE PASS
1. A patient is prescribed a medication that acts as a full agonist at a specific receptor. How
does this medication affect the signal transduction compared to the natural
neurotransmitter?
A. It produces a signal that is less intense than the natural neurotransmitter.
B. It mimics the natural neurotransmitter to produce the maximum biological response.
C. It blocks the receptor, preventing any signal from being transmitted.
D. It produces the opposite biological effect of the natural neurotransmitter.
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: A full agonist binds to a receptor and activates it to produce the
maximum possible biological response, mimicking the endogenous ligand.
2. In the presence of a full agonist, which of the following describes the behavior of a partial
agonist?
A. It acts as a synergistic agent, increasing total signal.
,B. It acts as a competitive antagonist, lowering the overall response.
C. It has no effect on the full agonist’s binding.
D. It irreversibly binds to the receptor site.
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: A partial agonist can act as a ‘net antagonist’ in the presence of a
full agonist because it competes for the same receptors but only produces a sub-maximal
response.
3. Which cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzyme is significantly induced by cigarette smoking,
potentially lowering the serum levels of drugs like olanzapine and clozapine?
A. CYP2D6
B. CYP3A4
C. CYP1A2
D. CYP2C19
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in cigarette smoke induce
CYP1A2, which increases the metabolism (and lowers levels) of substrates like clozapine
and olanzapine.
, 4. The ‘mesocortical’ dopamine pathway is primarily associated with which aspect of
schizophrenia symptoms?
A. Positive symptoms like hallucinations
B. Hyperprolactinemia
C. Extrapyramidal side effects
D. Cognitive and negative symptoms
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Deficient dopamine in the mesocortical pathway is hypothesized
to mediate the negative and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia.
5. Which process involves the transport of neurotransmitters from the synaptic cleft back into
the presynaptic neuron?
A. Enzymatic degradation
B. Reuptake
C. Diffusion
D. Exocytosis
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Reuptake is the primary mechanism for ending the action of
monoamines by transporting them back into the presynaptic terminal via specific
transporters like SERT, NET, and DAT.
