NR 546 FINAL EXAM (NR546 ACTUAL) WITH CORRECT
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
A+ GRADED ANSWERS cx cx cx
NR 546 / NR546 Final Exam Guide 2025/2026:
Chamberlain’s Verified Q&A for Psychopharmacology
(New!!!)
If an AD medication is discontinued: - ANSWER the medication may not be as
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
effective if restarted
cx cx cx
Current gold standard of treatment for cognitive symptoms includes: - ANSWER
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
pharmacologic management with a cholinesterase inhibitor (ChEIs) and an N-
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist.
cx cx cx cx
Four Major causes of Dementia - ANSWER_-Alzheimer Disease (AD)
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
-vascular dementia cx
-Lewy body dementias (LBD)
cx cx cx
-frontotemporal dementia (FTD) cx cx
three pathological hallmarks of AD seen in the brain at autopsy are: -
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
ANSWER_(1) amyloid-beta (Aβ), aggregated into plaques cx cx cx cx cx
, NR 546 FINAL EXAM (NR546 ACTUAL) WITH CORRECT
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
A+ GRADED ANSWERS cx cx cx
(2) neurofibrillary tangles composed of hyperphosphorylated tau protein
cx cx cx cx cx cx
(3) substantial neuronal cell loss cx cx cx
Differential diagnosis, clinical presentation: Vascular dementia - ANSWER_-
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
Impaired abstraction, mental flexibility, processing speed, and working memory
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
-Verbal memory is better preserved
cx cx cx cx
-Slower cognitive decline
cx cx
-Dementia occurs within several months of a stroke
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
Differential diagnosis, clinical presentation: Lewy body dementias (LBD) -
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
ANSWER_-Visual hallucinations
cx cx
-Spontaneous parkinsonism cx
-Cognitive fluctuationscx
, NR 546 FINAL EXAM (NR546 ACTUAL) WITH CORRECT
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
A+ GRADED ANSWERS cx cx cx
-Visuospatial, attention, and executive function deficits are worse cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
-Memory impairment is not as severe cx cx cx cx cx
-Earlier presentation of psychosis and personality changes
cx cx cx cx cx cx
-Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep disturbances
cx cx cx cx cx
Differential diagnosis, clinical presentation: Frontotemporal degeneration (FTD) -
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
ANSWER_-Progressive behavioral and personality changes that impair social
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
conduct (apathy, disinhibition, etc.)
cx cx cx cx
-Language impairment cx
-Possibly preserved episodic memory cx cx cx
Lewy Body Dementias (LBD) - ANSWER_Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB)
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
and the related Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD)
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
-10-15% of all cases of dementia cx cx cx cx cx
-abnormal accumulation of a protein called α-synuclein
cx cx cx cx cx cx
• aggregate to form oligomers, eventually turning into "Lewy bodies" & Lewy
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
neurites, as neurons degenerate
cx cx cx cx
The Amyloid cascade Hypothesis - ANSWER_Alzheimer disease (AD) is caused
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
by the accumulation of toxic Aβ, which form into plaques, hyperphosphorylation
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
of tau, neurofibrillary tangle formation, synaptic dysfunction, and ultimately
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
neuron loss with memory loss and dementia
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
risk of developing AD - ANSWER_-inheritance of two copies of APOE4 leads to a
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
tenfold increased AD risk
cx cx cx cx
-APOE2 gene appears to offer some protection from AD
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
-APOE3 gene (the most common form of the APOE gene) conveys a risk that falls
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
between APOE2 and APOE4
cx cx cx cx
, NR 546 FINAL EXAM (NR546 ACTUAL) WITH CORRECT
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
A+ GRADED ANSWERS cx cx cx
Non-pharmacological options for behavioral symptoms in dementia - ANSWER_• cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
Address unmet needs (hunger, pain, thirst, boredom)
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
• Identify/modify environmental stressors cx cx
• Identify/modify daily routine stressors cx cx cx
• Caregiver support/training cx
• Behavior modification cx
• Group/individual therapy cx
• Problem solving cx
• Distraction
• Provide outlets for pent-up energy (exercise, activities)
cx cx cx cx cx cx
• Avoid behavior triggers
cx cx
• Increase social engagement cx cx
• Relaxation techniques cx
• Reminiscence therapy cx
• Music therapy cx
• Aromatherapy
• Pet therapy
cx
Tx dementia-related psychosis – ANSWER Pimavanserin
cx cx cx cx cx
-hypothetically reduces overactivity in the psychosis network caused by plaques,
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
tangles, Lewy bodies, or strokes, presumably by lowering the normal 5HT2A
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
stimulation to surviving glutamate neurons that have lost their GABA inhibition by
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
neurodegeneration
cx
-approved for the treatment of Parkinson's disease psychosis & there are positive
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
trials in dementia-related psychosis
cx cx cx cx
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
A+ GRADED ANSWERS cx cx cx
NR 546 / NR546 Final Exam Guide 2025/2026:
Chamberlain’s Verified Q&A for Psychopharmacology
(New!!!)
If an AD medication is discontinued: - ANSWER the medication may not be as
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
effective if restarted
cx cx cx
Current gold standard of treatment for cognitive symptoms includes: - ANSWER
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
pharmacologic management with a cholinesterase inhibitor (ChEIs) and an N-
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist.
cx cx cx cx
Four Major causes of Dementia - ANSWER_-Alzheimer Disease (AD)
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
-vascular dementia cx
-Lewy body dementias (LBD)
cx cx cx
-frontotemporal dementia (FTD) cx cx
three pathological hallmarks of AD seen in the brain at autopsy are: -
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
ANSWER_(1) amyloid-beta (Aβ), aggregated into plaques cx cx cx cx cx
, NR 546 FINAL EXAM (NR546 ACTUAL) WITH CORRECT
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
A+ GRADED ANSWERS cx cx cx
(2) neurofibrillary tangles composed of hyperphosphorylated tau protein
cx cx cx cx cx cx
(3) substantial neuronal cell loss cx cx cx
Differential diagnosis, clinical presentation: Vascular dementia - ANSWER_-
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
Impaired abstraction, mental flexibility, processing speed, and working memory
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
-Verbal memory is better preserved
cx cx cx cx
-Slower cognitive decline
cx cx
-Dementia occurs within several months of a stroke
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
Differential diagnosis, clinical presentation: Lewy body dementias (LBD) -
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
ANSWER_-Visual hallucinations
cx cx
-Spontaneous parkinsonism cx
-Cognitive fluctuationscx
, NR 546 FINAL EXAM (NR546 ACTUAL) WITH CORRECT
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
A+ GRADED ANSWERS cx cx cx
-Visuospatial, attention, and executive function deficits are worse cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
-Memory impairment is not as severe cx cx cx cx cx
-Earlier presentation of psychosis and personality changes
cx cx cx cx cx cx
-Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep disturbances
cx cx cx cx cx
Differential diagnosis, clinical presentation: Frontotemporal degeneration (FTD) -
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
ANSWER_-Progressive behavioral and personality changes that impair social
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
conduct (apathy, disinhibition, etc.)
cx cx cx cx
-Language impairment cx
-Possibly preserved episodic memory cx cx cx
Lewy Body Dementias (LBD) - ANSWER_Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB)
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
and the related Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD)
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
-10-15% of all cases of dementia cx cx cx cx cx
-abnormal accumulation of a protein called α-synuclein
cx cx cx cx cx cx
• aggregate to form oligomers, eventually turning into "Lewy bodies" & Lewy
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
neurites, as neurons degenerate
cx cx cx cx
The Amyloid cascade Hypothesis - ANSWER_Alzheimer disease (AD) is caused
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
by the accumulation of toxic Aβ, which form into plaques, hyperphosphorylation
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
of tau, neurofibrillary tangle formation, synaptic dysfunction, and ultimately
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
neuron loss with memory loss and dementia
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
risk of developing AD - ANSWER_-inheritance of two copies of APOE4 leads to a
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
tenfold increased AD risk
cx cx cx cx
-APOE2 gene appears to offer some protection from AD
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
-APOE3 gene (the most common form of the APOE gene) conveys a risk that falls
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
between APOE2 and APOE4
cx cx cx cx
, NR 546 FINAL EXAM (NR546 ACTUAL) WITH CORRECT
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
A+ GRADED ANSWERS cx cx cx
Non-pharmacological options for behavioral symptoms in dementia - ANSWER_• cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
Address unmet needs (hunger, pain, thirst, boredom)
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
• Identify/modify environmental stressors cx cx
• Identify/modify daily routine stressors cx cx cx
• Caregiver support/training cx
• Behavior modification cx
• Group/individual therapy cx
• Problem solving cx
• Distraction
• Provide outlets for pent-up energy (exercise, activities)
cx cx cx cx cx cx
• Avoid behavior triggers
cx cx
• Increase social engagement cx cx
• Relaxation techniques cx
• Reminiscence therapy cx
• Music therapy cx
• Aromatherapy
• Pet therapy
cx
Tx dementia-related psychosis – ANSWER Pimavanserin
cx cx cx cx cx
-hypothetically reduces overactivity in the psychosis network caused by plaques,
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
tangles, Lewy bodies, or strokes, presumably by lowering the normal 5HT2A
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
stimulation to surviving glutamate neurons that have lost their GABA inhibition by
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
neurodegeneration
cx
-approved for the treatment of Parkinson's disease psychosis & there are positive
cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx cx
trials in dementia-related psychosis
cx cx cx cx
