NSG 552 Exam 1 Psychopharmacology –2
versions Actual Practice Questions & Answers –
Wilkes University – Latest 2026/2027 – Graded A+
| Instant Pdf Download
INTRO:
*This original exam is designed for students preparing for NSG 552 Exam 1 at Wilkes
University. Topics include pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, CYP450 system,
neurobiology, neurotransmitters, antipsychotic medications (FGAs and SGAs),
extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS), tardive dyskinesia (TD), neuroleptic malignant syndrome
(NMS), clozapine monitoring, and adverse effects. Answers are in bold italic * with
italicized rationales. This resource contains original practice questions for NSG 552
Exam 1 (Psychopharmacology) at Wilkes University. Covers pharmacokinetics,
pharmacodynamics, CYP450 system, neurobiology, neurotransmitters,
antipsychotics (FGAs/SGAs), EPS, tardive dyskinesia, NMS, clozapine monitoring,
and adverse effects. Answers in bold italic with detailed italicized rationales.
1. What is the definition of psychopharmacology?
A) The study of how the body affects drugs
B) The study of the use of psychotropic medications to treat psychiatric disorders
C) The study of how drugs affect the body at receptor sites
D) The clinical application of drugs to prevent disease
Answer: B
Psychopharmacology is the study of the use of psychotropic medications in the treatment of
psychiatric disorders. Pharmacokinetics is what the body does to the drug.
Pharmacodynamics is what the drug does to the body.
2. What does pharmacokinetics involve?
A) The drug's mechanism of action at receptor sites
,B) Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion (ADME)
C) The clinical application of drugs
D) The study of drug interactions only
Answer: B
Pharmacokinetics involves Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion (ADME) –
what the body does to the drug. Pharmacodynamics is what the drug does to the body.
3. What does pharmacodynamics study?
A) How the body absorbs medication
B) How the body excretes medication
C) What the drug does to the body at receptor sites
D) The side effects of medication only
Answer: C
Pharmacodynamics is the study of what the drug does to the body, focusing on the drug's
mechanism of action at receptor sites and the resulting effects.
4. A patient is taking a medication that is metabolized by CYP3A4. The patient starts
taking a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor. What effect will this have on the medication level?
A) Decreased medication level
B) Increased medication level and risk of toxicity
C) No change in medication level
D) The medication will be excreted faster
Answer: B
CYP450 inhibitors slow down metabolism, leading to increased drug levels and risk of
toxicity. Inducers speed up metabolism, decreasing drug levels.
5. Which of the following is a CYP450 inducer?
A) Valproate
B) Ketoconazole
C) Carbamazepine
D) Grapefruit juice
Answer: C
Carbamazepine is a CYP450 inducer that speeds up metabolism, decreasing drug levels.
Valproate, ketoconazole, and grapefruit juice are inhibitors.
6. Which of the following is a CYP450 inhibitor?
A) Rifampin
B) Carbamazepine
, C) Phenytoin
D) Valproate
Answer: D
Valproate is a CYP450 inhibitor that slows metabolism, increasing drug levels. Rifampin,
carbamazepine, and phenytoin are inducers.
7. What is neuroplasticity?
A) The brain's ability to reorganize by forming new neural connections
B) The death of brain cells
C) The brain's inability to change
D) The process of drug metabolism in the brain
Answer: A
Neuroplasticity is the brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections
throughout life, allowing adaptation and recovery.
8. Which brain region regulates powerful emotions such as fear and rage?
A) Hypothalamus
B) Amygdala
C) Frontal lobe
D) Broca's area
Answer: B
The amygdala regulates powerful emotions such as fear and rage. The hypothalamus
maintains homeostasis. The frontal lobe handles executive functions.
9. Which brain region maintains homeostasis and controls basic needs like sleep-
wake cycles?
A) Amygdala
B) Hippocampus
C) Hypothalamus
D) Cerebellum
Answer: C
The hypothalamus maintains homeostasis and controls basic needs like sleep-wake cycles,
hunger, thirst, and body temperature.
10. Damage to Broca's area results in which type of aphasia?
A) Receptive aphasia (difficulty understanding language)
B) Expressive aphasia (difficulty producing speech)
versions Actual Practice Questions & Answers –
Wilkes University – Latest 2026/2027 – Graded A+
| Instant Pdf Download
INTRO:
*This original exam is designed for students preparing for NSG 552 Exam 1 at Wilkes
University. Topics include pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, CYP450 system,
neurobiology, neurotransmitters, antipsychotic medications (FGAs and SGAs),
extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS), tardive dyskinesia (TD), neuroleptic malignant syndrome
(NMS), clozapine monitoring, and adverse effects. Answers are in bold italic * with
italicized rationales. This resource contains original practice questions for NSG 552
Exam 1 (Psychopharmacology) at Wilkes University. Covers pharmacokinetics,
pharmacodynamics, CYP450 system, neurobiology, neurotransmitters,
antipsychotics (FGAs/SGAs), EPS, tardive dyskinesia, NMS, clozapine monitoring,
and adverse effects. Answers in bold italic with detailed italicized rationales.
1. What is the definition of psychopharmacology?
A) The study of how the body affects drugs
B) The study of the use of psychotropic medications to treat psychiatric disorders
C) The study of how drugs affect the body at receptor sites
D) The clinical application of drugs to prevent disease
Answer: B
Psychopharmacology is the study of the use of psychotropic medications in the treatment of
psychiatric disorders. Pharmacokinetics is what the body does to the drug.
Pharmacodynamics is what the drug does to the body.
2. What does pharmacokinetics involve?
A) The drug's mechanism of action at receptor sites
,B) Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion (ADME)
C) The clinical application of drugs
D) The study of drug interactions only
Answer: B
Pharmacokinetics involves Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion (ADME) –
what the body does to the drug. Pharmacodynamics is what the drug does to the body.
3. What does pharmacodynamics study?
A) How the body absorbs medication
B) How the body excretes medication
C) What the drug does to the body at receptor sites
D) The side effects of medication only
Answer: C
Pharmacodynamics is the study of what the drug does to the body, focusing on the drug's
mechanism of action at receptor sites and the resulting effects.
4. A patient is taking a medication that is metabolized by CYP3A4. The patient starts
taking a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor. What effect will this have on the medication level?
A) Decreased medication level
B) Increased medication level and risk of toxicity
C) No change in medication level
D) The medication will be excreted faster
Answer: B
CYP450 inhibitors slow down metabolism, leading to increased drug levels and risk of
toxicity. Inducers speed up metabolism, decreasing drug levels.
5. Which of the following is a CYP450 inducer?
A) Valproate
B) Ketoconazole
C) Carbamazepine
D) Grapefruit juice
Answer: C
Carbamazepine is a CYP450 inducer that speeds up metabolism, decreasing drug levels.
Valproate, ketoconazole, and grapefruit juice are inhibitors.
6. Which of the following is a CYP450 inhibitor?
A) Rifampin
B) Carbamazepine
, C) Phenytoin
D) Valproate
Answer: D
Valproate is a CYP450 inhibitor that slows metabolism, increasing drug levels. Rifampin,
carbamazepine, and phenytoin are inducers.
7. What is neuroplasticity?
A) The brain's ability to reorganize by forming new neural connections
B) The death of brain cells
C) The brain's inability to change
D) The process of drug metabolism in the brain
Answer: A
Neuroplasticity is the brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections
throughout life, allowing adaptation and recovery.
8. Which brain region regulates powerful emotions such as fear and rage?
A) Hypothalamus
B) Amygdala
C) Frontal lobe
D) Broca's area
Answer: B
The amygdala regulates powerful emotions such as fear and rage. The hypothalamus
maintains homeostasis. The frontal lobe handles executive functions.
9. Which brain region maintains homeostasis and controls basic needs like sleep-
wake cycles?
A) Amygdala
B) Hippocampus
C) Hypothalamus
D) Cerebellum
Answer: C
The hypothalamus maintains homeostasis and controls basic needs like sleep-wake cycles,
hunger, thirst, and body temperature.
10. Damage to Broca's area results in which type of aphasia?
A) Receptive aphasia (difficulty understanding language)
B) Expressive aphasia (difficulty producing speech)
