NSG 552 Exam 3 Psychopharmacology (Wilkes University) |
Latest Questions with Answers & Rationales | 2026–2027
Final Practice Exam
INTRODUCTION
This NSG 552 Exam 3 Psychopharmacology Practice Exam is a comprehensive, high-yield
study resource designed for graduate nursing students at Wilkes University preparing for
advanced psychiatric pharmacology assessments.
The exam includes 100 scenario-based, NCLEX-style and graduate-level questions focused
on real-world clinical decision-making, medication safety, and psychopharmacologic principles.
Each question is structured to strengthen understanding of drug mechanisms, adverse effects,
contraindications, and nursing interventions, helping students master both theory and clinical
application.
WHAT THIS EXAM COVERS
This practice exam provides in-depth coverage of essential psychopharmacology topics,
including:
💊 Antidepressants (SSRIs, SNRIs, TCAs, MAOIs)
🧠 Antipsychotics (typical & atypical, EPS, NMS, metabolic effects)
⚡ Mood stabilizers (Lithium, Valproate, Carbamazepine, Lamotrigine)
😴 Anxiolytics & sedative-hypnotics (benzodiazepines, buspirone)
🧠 ADHD medications (stimulants & non-stimulants)
⚠️ Drug interactions & serotonin syndrome
🧠 Pharmacokinetics & pharmacodynamics (CYP450 interactions)
👩⚕️ Patient safety, monitoring, and special populations
1. A 28-year-old patient with major depressive disorder starts sertraline. After 5 days,
they report increased anxiety, restlessness, and insomnia. What is the best
explanation?
,A. Medication failure
B. Early SSRI activation side effect
C. Serotonin syndrome
D. Allergy reaction
✔ Answer: B
Explanation: Early SSRI treatment can temporarily increase anxiety before therapeutic
effects stabilize.
2. A patient taking phenelzine develops a severe headache, sweating, and BP of
210/110 after eating pepperoni pizza. What is the priority concern?
A. Hypoglycemia
B. Hypertensive crisis from tyramine interaction
C. Stroke
D. Lithium toxicity
✔ Answer: B
Explanation: MAOIs + tyramine foods cause dangerous catecholamine surge and
hypertensive crisis.
3. A patient on haloperidol is found confused with a temperature of 40°C, muscle
rigidity, and unstable BP. What is the priority action?
A. Give another dose of antipsychotic
B. Suspect neuroleptic malignant syndrome and stop drug
C. Encourage fluids only
D. Give SSRI
✔ Answer: B
Explanation: NMS is life-threatening and requires immediate discontinuation of
antipsychotic therapy.
4. A patient taking lithium reports diarrhea, tremors, and difficulty walking. What does
this indicate?
A. Therapeutic effect
B. Mild toxicity
,C. Infection
D. Anxiety
✔ Answer: B
Explanation: These are early signs of lithium toxicity requiring urgent evaluation.
5. A patient with schizophrenia on risperidone develops involuntary lip smacking and
tongue movements. What condition is suspected?
A. Acute dystonia
B. Tardive dyskinesia
C. Serotonin syndrome
D. Seizure disorder
✔ Answer: B
Explanation: Tardive dyskinesia is a late EPS side effect of long-term antipsychotic use.
6. A patient prescribed alprazolam for anxiety asks why it should not be used long-
term. What is the best response?
A. It causes kidney damage
B. It leads to dependence and tolerance
C. It increases serotonin
D. It cures anxiety permanently
✔ Answer: B
Explanation: Benzodiazepines have high dependence risk with long-term use.
7. A patient on fluoxetine develops agitation, tremor, hyperreflexia, and fever. What is
most likely occurring?
A. Anxiety attack
B. Serotonin syndrome
C. Stroke
D. Hypoglycemia
✔ Answer: B
Explanation: Excess serotonin causes neuromuscular and autonomic hyperactivity.
, 8. A bipolar patient on lithium is admitted with vomiting, confusion, and coarse
tremors. What is the priority intervention?
A. Increase lithium dose
B. Stop lithium and assess levels
C. Give antidepressant
D. Encourage exercise
✔ Answer: B
Explanation: These are signs of lithium toxicity requiring immediate discontinuation.
9. A patient with depression is prescribed bupropion. What additional benefit may
this medication provide?
A. Weight gain
B. Smoking cessation support
C. Sedation
D. Treat psychosis
✔ Answer: B
Explanation: Bupropion is also used for smoking cessation.
10. A patient on antipsychotics develops muscle stiffness, shuffling gait, and
drooling. What is this condition?
A. Parkinsonism side effect
B. Serotonin syndrome
C. Mania
D. Anxiety
✔ Answer: A
Explanation: Dopamine blockade causes extrapyramidal symptoms resembling
Parkinson’s disease.
11. A patient taking MAOIs is instructed to avoid which food?
Latest Questions with Answers & Rationales | 2026–2027
Final Practice Exam
INTRODUCTION
This NSG 552 Exam 3 Psychopharmacology Practice Exam is a comprehensive, high-yield
study resource designed for graduate nursing students at Wilkes University preparing for
advanced psychiatric pharmacology assessments.
The exam includes 100 scenario-based, NCLEX-style and graduate-level questions focused
on real-world clinical decision-making, medication safety, and psychopharmacologic principles.
Each question is structured to strengthen understanding of drug mechanisms, adverse effects,
contraindications, and nursing interventions, helping students master both theory and clinical
application.
WHAT THIS EXAM COVERS
This practice exam provides in-depth coverage of essential psychopharmacology topics,
including:
💊 Antidepressants (SSRIs, SNRIs, TCAs, MAOIs)
🧠 Antipsychotics (typical & atypical, EPS, NMS, metabolic effects)
⚡ Mood stabilizers (Lithium, Valproate, Carbamazepine, Lamotrigine)
😴 Anxiolytics & sedative-hypnotics (benzodiazepines, buspirone)
🧠 ADHD medications (stimulants & non-stimulants)
⚠️ Drug interactions & serotonin syndrome
🧠 Pharmacokinetics & pharmacodynamics (CYP450 interactions)
👩⚕️ Patient safety, monitoring, and special populations
1. A 28-year-old patient with major depressive disorder starts sertraline. After 5 days,
they report increased anxiety, restlessness, and insomnia. What is the best
explanation?
,A. Medication failure
B. Early SSRI activation side effect
C. Serotonin syndrome
D. Allergy reaction
✔ Answer: B
Explanation: Early SSRI treatment can temporarily increase anxiety before therapeutic
effects stabilize.
2. A patient taking phenelzine develops a severe headache, sweating, and BP of
210/110 after eating pepperoni pizza. What is the priority concern?
A. Hypoglycemia
B. Hypertensive crisis from tyramine interaction
C. Stroke
D. Lithium toxicity
✔ Answer: B
Explanation: MAOIs + tyramine foods cause dangerous catecholamine surge and
hypertensive crisis.
3. A patient on haloperidol is found confused with a temperature of 40°C, muscle
rigidity, and unstable BP. What is the priority action?
A. Give another dose of antipsychotic
B. Suspect neuroleptic malignant syndrome and stop drug
C. Encourage fluids only
D. Give SSRI
✔ Answer: B
Explanation: NMS is life-threatening and requires immediate discontinuation of
antipsychotic therapy.
4. A patient taking lithium reports diarrhea, tremors, and difficulty walking. What does
this indicate?
A. Therapeutic effect
B. Mild toxicity
,C. Infection
D. Anxiety
✔ Answer: B
Explanation: These are early signs of lithium toxicity requiring urgent evaluation.
5. A patient with schizophrenia on risperidone develops involuntary lip smacking and
tongue movements. What condition is suspected?
A. Acute dystonia
B. Tardive dyskinesia
C. Serotonin syndrome
D. Seizure disorder
✔ Answer: B
Explanation: Tardive dyskinesia is a late EPS side effect of long-term antipsychotic use.
6. A patient prescribed alprazolam for anxiety asks why it should not be used long-
term. What is the best response?
A. It causes kidney damage
B. It leads to dependence and tolerance
C. It increases serotonin
D. It cures anxiety permanently
✔ Answer: B
Explanation: Benzodiazepines have high dependence risk with long-term use.
7. A patient on fluoxetine develops agitation, tremor, hyperreflexia, and fever. What is
most likely occurring?
A. Anxiety attack
B. Serotonin syndrome
C. Stroke
D. Hypoglycemia
✔ Answer: B
Explanation: Excess serotonin causes neuromuscular and autonomic hyperactivity.
, 8. A bipolar patient on lithium is admitted with vomiting, confusion, and coarse
tremors. What is the priority intervention?
A. Increase lithium dose
B. Stop lithium and assess levels
C. Give antidepressant
D. Encourage exercise
✔ Answer: B
Explanation: These are signs of lithium toxicity requiring immediate discontinuation.
9. A patient with depression is prescribed bupropion. What additional benefit may
this medication provide?
A. Weight gain
B. Smoking cessation support
C. Sedation
D. Treat psychosis
✔ Answer: B
Explanation: Bupropion is also used for smoking cessation.
10. A patient on antipsychotics develops muscle stiffness, shuffling gait, and
drooling. What is this condition?
A. Parkinsonism side effect
B. Serotonin syndrome
C. Mania
D. Anxiety
✔ Answer: A
Explanation: Dopamine blockade causes extrapyramidal symptoms resembling
Parkinson’s disease.
11. A patient taking MAOIs is instructed to avoid which food?
