Psychosis Exam Questions with 100%
Correct Answers
Schizophrenia and psychosis are synonymous. Correct Answer False
A 22-year old woman presents with schizophrenia characterized by the presence of
positive, negative, cognitive and affective symptoms. The symptom dimension of
schizophrenia most effectively treated with first generation antipsychotics is: Correct
Answer Positive
A 24-year-old male initially presents with acute auditory hallucinations and is treated
with medication. Four days later he arrives at your office for evaluation. You observe
that he is neatly dressed, avoids eye contact, and gives very short answers to your
initial questions. Which of the following questions would be most beneficial for
determining his degree of negative symptoms? Correct Answer How often have you
visited with friends in the past week?
Symptoms of schizophrenia are hypothetically attributable to malfunctioning in the:
Correct Answer Mesocortical and mesolimbic pathways
A 24-year-old woman is hospitalized after an altercation in which she screamed at and
attacked her neighbor when he knocked on her door. Her mother reports that she has
been increasingly erratic recently, with emotional outbursts and impulsive behavior.
Which of the following brain regions is theoretically most closely associated with these
symptoms? Correct Answer Orbital frontal cortex
The activation of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors requires the presence of:
Correct Answer Glutamate and glycine
The activation of AMPA (alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionic acid)
receptors requires the presence of: Correct Answer Glutamate only
A leading hypothesis of schizophrenia is: Correct Answer Hypofunctioning NMDA
receptors
During cognitive challenges, individuals with schizophrenia demonstrate: Correct
Answer Hypoactivation in the DLPFC
Why are medications typically dosed based upon their half-life? Correct Answer
Medications are typically dosed based upon their half-life so the provider has an idea of
how long it will take for the medication to reach a steady state and how long it will take
for the medication to leave the patient's body. This will ensure the medication is present
in the patient's blood stream at consistent levels through out the day. For example, if a
, medication has a half-life of 24 hours, these medications are given daily. If medication
has a half-life of 12 hours, it is dosed BID.
What is risk associated with drugs with a short half-life? Correct Answer Drugs with a
short half-life can have withdrawal effects when stopping the medication because they
quickly leave the body. Examples provided include: SSRIs, SNRIs, and
benzodiazepines. Side effects could include electric shock sensations, ringing in ears,
drowsiness, dizziness, and headaches.
How often is an ANC monitored for a patient prescribed Clozapine? What website must
this information be uploaded to? Correct Answer · Weekly from start to 6 months
· Every 2 weeks from 6-12 months
· Monthly after 12 months
· Hospice patients: every 6 months
Website: http://www.clonzapinerems.com
What three syndromes can appear with antipsychotic use? Correct Answer 1. Metabolic
Syndrome
2. Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
3. Movement disorders? - Akathisia, Drug Induced Parkinsonism, Tardive dyskinesia
When considering a LAI medication, does oral overlap need to occur? Correct Answer
With LAI medication, whether or not oral overlap is needed is drug dependent.
Examples of requiring oral overlap: Fluephenazine, Haloperidol (unless using "loading
dose" method), Aripiprazole (14 days), Arpiprazole lauroxil (21 days unless following
special protocol), Risperidone - Risperdal Consta (3 weeks)
Examples of NOT requiring oral overlap: Olanzapine, Paliperidone palmitate,
Risperidone - Perseris
A 24-year-old male initially presents with acute auditory hallucinations and is treated
with medication. Four days later he arrives at your office for evaluation. You observe
that he is neatly dressed, avoids eye contact, and gives very short answers to your
initial questions. Which of the following questions would be most beneficial for
determining his degree of negative symptoms? Correct Answer How often have you
visited with friends in the past week
This is a useful question when assessing for negative symptoms, as an important
component of negative symptoms is reduced social drive.
· Have the voices you've heard persisted or returned: Although this question is useful for
determining the presence of positive symptoms, it is not applicable to assessment of
negative symptoms.
· Have you ever thought about hurting yourself or someone else: This question can help
assess for risk of suicide as well as any possible aggression risk, but these are not part
of the negative symptom domain.
Correct Answers
Schizophrenia and psychosis are synonymous. Correct Answer False
A 22-year old woman presents with schizophrenia characterized by the presence of
positive, negative, cognitive and affective symptoms. The symptom dimension of
schizophrenia most effectively treated with first generation antipsychotics is: Correct
Answer Positive
A 24-year-old male initially presents with acute auditory hallucinations and is treated
with medication. Four days later he arrives at your office for evaluation. You observe
that he is neatly dressed, avoids eye contact, and gives very short answers to your
initial questions. Which of the following questions would be most beneficial for
determining his degree of negative symptoms? Correct Answer How often have you
visited with friends in the past week?
Symptoms of schizophrenia are hypothetically attributable to malfunctioning in the:
Correct Answer Mesocortical and mesolimbic pathways
A 24-year-old woman is hospitalized after an altercation in which she screamed at and
attacked her neighbor when he knocked on her door. Her mother reports that she has
been increasingly erratic recently, with emotional outbursts and impulsive behavior.
Which of the following brain regions is theoretically most closely associated with these
symptoms? Correct Answer Orbital frontal cortex
The activation of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors requires the presence of:
Correct Answer Glutamate and glycine
The activation of AMPA (alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionic acid)
receptors requires the presence of: Correct Answer Glutamate only
A leading hypothesis of schizophrenia is: Correct Answer Hypofunctioning NMDA
receptors
During cognitive challenges, individuals with schizophrenia demonstrate: Correct
Answer Hypoactivation in the DLPFC
Why are medications typically dosed based upon their half-life? Correct Answer
Medications are typically dosed based upon their half-life so the provider has an idea of
how long it will take for the medication to reach a steady state and how long it will take
for the medication to leave the patient's body. This will ensure the medication is present
in the patient's blood stream at consistent levels through out the day. For example, if a
, medication has a half-life of 24 hours, these medications are given daily. If medication
has a half-life of 12 hours, it is dosed BID.
What is risk associated with drugs with a short half-life? Correct Answer Drugs with a
short half-life can have withdrawal effects when stopping the medication because they
quickly leave the body. Examples provided include: SSRIs, SNRIs, and
benzodiazepines. Side effects could include electric shock sensations, ringing in ears,
drowsiness, dizziness, and headaches.
How often is an ANC monitored for a patient prescribed Clozapine? What website must
this information be uploaded to? Correct Answer · Weekly from start to 6 months
· Every 2 weeks from 6-12 months
· Monthly after 12 months
· Hospice patients: every 6 months
Website: http://www.clonzapinerems.com
What three syndromes can appear with antipsychotic use? Correct Answer 1. Metabolic
Syndrome
2. Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
3. Movement disorders? - Akathisia, Drug Induced Parkinsonism, Tardive dyskinesia
When considering a LAI medication, does oral overlap need to occur? Correct Answer
With LAI medication, whether or not oral overlap is needed is drug dependent.
Examples of requiring oral overlap: Fluephenazine, Haloperidol (unless using "loading
dose" method), Aripiprazole (14 days), Arpiprazole lauroxil (21 days unless following
special protocol), Risperidone - Risperdal Consta (3 weeks)
Examples of NOT requiring oral overlap: Olanzapine, Paliperidone palmitate,
Risperidone - Perseris
A 24-year-old male initially presents with acute auditory hallucinations and is treated
with medication. Four days later he arrives at your office for evaluation. You observe
that he is neatly dressed, avoids eye contact, and gives very short answers to your
initial questions. Which of the following questions would be most beneficial for
determining his degree of negative symptoms? Correct Answer How often have you
visited with friends in the past week
This is a useful question when assessing for negative symptoms, as an important
component of negative symptoms is reduced social drive.
· Have the voices you've heard persisted or returned: Although this question is useful for
determining the presence of positive symptoms, it is not applicable to assessment of
negative symptoms.
· Have you ever thought about hurting yourself or someone else: This question can help
assess for risk of suicide as well as any possible aggression risk, but these are not part
of the negative symptom domain.
