1
NR 546 Psychopharmacology
Midterm 2025/2026 –
Complete 200 Questions with
Verified Detailed Answers |
Already Graded A+
1. Neurotransmitter Functions
1. Which neurotransmitter is primarily responsible for regulating mood, sleep, and appetite,
and is a key target for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)?
A. Dopamine
B. Norepinephrine
C. Serotonin
D. GABA
C. Serotonin
Rationale: Serotonin modulates mood, sleep, and appetite. SSRIs work by blocking the
reuptake of serotonin, increasing its availability in the synaptic cleft, which helps
alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety. Dopamine (A) is associated with reward
and movement, norepinephrine (B) with arousal and attention, and GABA (D) with
inhibition.
2. Which of the following neurotransmitters is the primary excitatory neurotransmitter in
the central nervous system?
A. GABA
B. Glutamate
C. Acetylcholine
D. Histamine
B. Glutamate
Rationale: Glutamate is the most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter, facilitating
neuronal activation. Elevated levels are associated with psychosis, while medications like
lamotrigine inhibit glutamate to manage bipolar disorder. GABA (A) is inhibitory,
, 2
acetylcholine (C) modulates memory and arousal, and histamine (D) promotes
wakefulness.
3. A deficiency in which neurotransmitter is implicated in the motor symptoms of
Parkinson’s disease?
A. Serotonin
B. Dopamine
C. Norepinephrine
D. Acetylcholine
B. Dopamine
Rationale: Dopamine deficiency in the substantia nigra leads to motor symptoms like
tremors and rigidity in Parkinson’s disease. Serotonin (A) affects mood, norepinephrine
(C) regulates arousal, and acetylcholine (D) is involved in memory and muscle activation.
4. Which neurotransmitter acts as the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain,
reducing neuronal excitability?
A. Dopamine
B. Serotonin
C. GABA
D. Glutamate
C. GABA
Rationale: GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is the chief inhibitory neurotransmitter,
reducing neuronal excitability and managing anxiety, seizures, and impulse control.
Dopamine (A) and serotonin (B) regulate reward and mood, respectively, while
glutamate (D) is excitatory.
5. Which neurotransmitter is associated with the reward pathway and is targeted by
medications for addiction treatment?
A. Acetylcholine
B. Dopamine
C. Norepinephrine
D. Histamine
B. Dopamine
Rationale: Dopamine is critical in the mesolimbic reward pathway, influencing
motivation and addiction. Medications like bupropion target dopamine to reduce
cravings. Acetylcholine (A) affects memory, norepinephrine (C) arousal, and histamine
(D) wakefulness.
2. Psychotropic Medications
, 3
6. Which of the following medications is classified as a selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitor (SSRI)?
A. Venlafaxine
B. Fluoxetine
C. Bupropion
D. Amitriptyline
B. Fluoxetine
Rationale: Fluoxetine is an SSRI, primarily used for depression, OCD, and anxiety
disorders by increasing serotonin levels. Venlafaxine (A) is an SNRI, bupropion (C) is an
NDRI, and amitriptyline (D) is a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA).
7. Which medication is considered the gold standard for treating bipolar disorder,
particularly mania?
A. Carbamazepine
B. Lithium
C. Lamotrigine
D. Olanzapine
B. Lithium
Rationale: Lithium is the gold standard for bipolar disorder, particularly for mania and
maintenance, due to its mood-stabilizing effects on multiple neurotransmitters.
Carbamazepine (A) and lamotrigine (C) are used for bipolar disorder but are not first -
line, and olanzapine (D) is an antipsychotic.
8. Which of the following is an atypical antipsychotic used to treat schizophrenia?
A. Haloperidol
B. Risperidone
C. Chlorpromazine
D. Fluphenazine
B. Risperidone
Rationale: Risperidone is an atypical antipsychotic, effective for schizophrenia by
targeting dopamine and serotonin receptors. Haloperidol (A), chlorpromazine (C), and
fluphenazine (D) are typical antipsychotics.
9. Which medication is used to treat generalized anxiety disorder by mimicking the effects
of GABA?
A. Fluoxetine
B. Pregabalin
C. Venlafaxine
D. Bupropion
B. Pregabalin
Rationale: Pregabalin enhances GABA activity, reducing anxiety and seizures.
, 4
Fluoxetine (A) and venlafaxine (C) target serotonin, while bupropion (C) affects
dopamine and norepinephrine.
10. Which medication is a cholinesterase inhibitor used for mild to moderate Alzheimer’s
disease?
A. Memantine
B. Donepezil
C. Lithium
D. Valproate
B. Donepezil
Rationale: Donepezil prevents acetylcholine breakdown, improving memory in
Alzheimer’s disease. Memantine (A) is an NMDA antagonist, lithium (C) is a mood
stabilizer, and valproate (D) is an anticonvulsant used for bipolar disorder.
3. Side Effects
11. What is a common side effect of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)?
A. Weight loss
B. Sexual dysfunction
C. Hypertension
D. Seizures
B. Sexual dysfunction
Rationale: Sexual dysfunction, including decreased libido and delayed ejaculation, is a
common SSRI side effect due to serotonin modulation. Weight gain, not loss (A), is more
common, hypertension (C) is rare, and seizures (D) are associated with bupropion, not
SSRIs.
12. Which side effect is associated with lithium toxicity?
A. Sedation
B. Tremors
C. Weight loss
D. Hypothermia
B. Tremors
Rationale: Tremors are a hallmark of lithium toxicity, along with nausea, vomiting, and
confusion. Sedation (A) is less common, weight gain, not loss (C), is typical, and
hypothermia (D) is not associated.
13. Which of the following is a serious adverse effect of lamotrigine?
A. Weight gain
B. Stevens-Johnson syndrome
NR 546 Psychopharmacology
Midterm 2025/2026 –
Complete 200 Questions with
Verified Detailed Answers |
Already Graded A+
1. Neurotransmitter Functions
1. Which neurotransmitter is primarily responsible for regulating mood, sleep, and appetite,
and is a key target for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)?
A. Dopamine
B. Norepinephrine
C. Serotonin
D. GABA
C. Serotonin
Rationale: Serotonin modulates mood, sleep, and appetite. SSRIs work by blocking the
reuptake of serotonin, increasing its availability in the synaptic cleft, which helps
alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety. Dopamine (A) is associated with reward
and movement, norepinephrine (B) with arousal and attention, and GABA (D) with
inhibition.
2. Which of the following neurotransmitters is the primary excitatory neurotransmitter in
the central nervous system?
A. GABA
B. Glutamate
C. Acetylcholine
D. Histamine
B. Glutamate
Rationale: Glutamate is the most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter, facilitating
neuronal activation. Elevated levels are associated with psychosis, while medications like
lamotrigine inhibit glutamate to manage bipolar disorder. GABA (A) is inhibitory,
, 2
acetylcholine (C) modulates memory and arousal, and histamine (D) promotes
wakefulness.
3. A deficiency in which neurotransmitter is implicated in the motor symptoms of
Parkinson’s disease?
A. Serotonin
B. Dopamine
C. Norepinephrine
D. Acetylcholine
B. Dopamine
Rationale: Dopamine deficiency in the substantia nigra leads to motor symptoms like
tremors and rigidity in Parkinson’s disease. Serotonin (A) affects mood, norepinephrine
(C) regulates arousal, and acetylcholine (D) is involved in memory and muscle activation.
4. Which neurotransmitter acts as the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain,
reducing neuronal excitability?
A. Dopamine
B. Serotonin
C. GABA
D. Glutamate
C. GABA
Rationale: GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is the chief inhibitory neurotransmitter,
reducing neuronal excitability and managing anxiety, seizures, and impulse control.
Dopamine (A) and serotonin (B) regulate reward and mood, respectively, while
glutamate (D) is excitatory.
5. Which neurotransmitter is associated with the reward pathway and is targeted by
medications for addiction treatment?
A. Acetylcholine
B. Dopamine
C. Norepinephrine
D. Histamine
B. Dopamine
Rationale: Dopamine is critical in the mesolimbic reward pathway, influencing
motivation and addiction. Medications like bupropion target dopamine to reduce
cravings. Acetylcholine (A) affects memory, norepinephrine (C) arousal, and histamine
(D) wakefulness.
2. Psychotropic Medications
, 3
6. Which of the following medications is classified as a selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitor (SSRI)?
A. Venlafaxine
B. Fluoxetine
C. Bupropion
D. Amitriptyline
B. Fluoxetine
Rationale: Fluoxetine is an SSRI, primarily used for depression, OCD, and anxiety
disorders by increasing serotonin levels. Venlafaxine (A) is an SNRI, bupropion (C) is an
NDRI, and amitriptyline (D) is a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA).
7. Which medication is considered the gold standard for treating bipolar disorder,
particularly mania?
A. Carbamazepine
B. Lithium
C. Lamotrigine
D. Olanzapine
B. Lithium
Rationale: Lithium is the gold standard for bipolar disorder, particularly for mania and
maintenance, due to its mood-stabilizing effects on multiple neurotransmitters.
Carbamazepine (A) and lamotrigine (C) are used for bipolar disorder but are not first -
line, and olanzapine (D) is an antipsychotic.
8. Which of the following is an atypical antipsychotic used to treat schizophrenia?
A. Haloperidol
B. Risperidone
C. Chlorpromazine
D. Fluphenazine
B. Risperidone
Rationale: Risperidone is an atypical antipsychotic, effective for schizophrenia by
targeting dopamine and serotonin receptors. Haloperidol (A), chlorpromazine (C), and
fluphenazine (D) are typical antipsychotics.
9. Which medication is used to treat generalized anxiety disorder by mimicking the effects
of GABA?
A. Fluoxetine
B. Pregabalin
C. Venlafaxine
D. Bupropion
B. Pregabalin
Rationale: Pregabalin enhances GABA activity, reducing anxiety and seizures.
, 4
Fluoxetine (A) and venlafaxine (C) target serotonin, while bupropion (C) affects
dopamine and norepinephrine.
10. Which medication is a cholinesterase inhibitor used for mild to moderate Alzheimer’s
disease?
A. Memantine
B. Donepezil
C. Lithium
D. Valproate
B. Donepezil
Rationale: Donepezil prevents acetylcholine breakdown, improving memory in
Alzheimer’s disease. Memantine (A) is an NMDA antagonist, lithium (C) is a mood
stabilizer, and valproate (D) is an anticonvulsant used for bipolar disorder.
3. Side Effects
11. What is a common side effect of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)?
A. Weight loss
B. Sexual dysfunction
C. Hypertension
D. Seizures
B. Sexual dysfunction
Rationale: Sexual dysfunction, including decreased libido and delayed ejaculation, is a
common SSRI side effect due to serotonin modulation. Weight gain, not loss (A), is more
common, hypertension (C) is rare, and seizures (D) are associated with bupropion, not
SSRIs.
12. Which side effect is associated with lithium toxicity?
A. Sedation
B. Tremors
C. Weight loss
D. Hypothermia
B. Tremors
Rationale: Tremors are a hallmark of lithium toxicity, along with nausea, vomiting, and
confusion. Sedation (A) is less common, weight gain, not loss (C), is typical, and
hypothermia (D) is not associated.
13. Which of the following is a serious adverse effect of lamotrigine?
A. Weight gain
B. Stevens-Johnson syndrome
