NU673 MIDTERM 2026 ASSESSMENT SCRIPT
QUESTION BANK DETAILED RESPONSES
◉ How antipsychotic drugs work.
Answer: hypothesis: individuals have too much dopamine --
antipsychotics block dopamine receptors
◉ dopamine pathways.
Answer: involved with diseases such as schizophrenia and
Parkinson's disease
◉ Dopamine antagonists.
Answer: Drugs that directly block dopamine from binding to
receptors in the chemotrigger zone and the intestinal tract, causing
food to move more quickly through the GI tract.
◉ mesolimbic dopamine pathway.
Answer: Transmits dopamine from the midbrain VTA to the ventral
striatum. It includes the nucleus accumbens which is associated with
motivation emotions and rewards. This is thought to be responsible
for the positive symptoms of schizophrenia like hallucinations,
delusions, & thought disorder which are reduced with anti-
psychotics.
,◉ mesocortical dopamine pathway.
Answer: Transmits dopamine from the mid brain to the prefrontal
cortex. Hypo function of this pathway is thought to be responsible
for the negative symptoms in schizophrenia apathy low motivation
social withdrawal & self neglect.
◉ Nigrostriatal pathway.
Answer: transmits 80% of the brains dopamine from the PARS
COMPACTA of the substantial nigra to the caudate nucleus and
putamen. Antipsychotics that reduce dopamine can induce
extrapyramidal SE similar to Parkinson's disease. 1st Gen
antipsychotics dystonia, akathisia, parkinsonism, and tarditive
dyskinesia
◉ Tuberoinfundibular pathway.
Answer: Transmits dopamine from the hypothalamus to the
pituitary gland. Dopamine in this pathway acts to inhibit prolactin.
Blockade of D2 receptors by antipsychotic results in
hyperprolactinaemia & breast enlargement, Galactorrhea reduce
libido and erectile dysfunction.
◉ Schizophrenia: Assessment.
Answer: -prodromal period (early signs before full criteria).
-ID of prodromal period = early intervention/prevention. disorder
continues longer without treatment.
, -occupational profile/interview
-MMSE
-if criteria for mental illness occurs a person can be hospitalized.
once hospitalized more assessments are completed to make
accurate dx, identify specific cognitive deficits, family evals.
-functional and cognitive evals by OT and psych.
◉ schizophrenia assessment scales.
Answer: AIMS-12 item involuntary movement scale. monitors TD,
facial movements, dyskinesia, patient distress due to movement.
BPRS- Brief psychiatric rating scale observe two through three days
self-report observed behavior clinical interview.
PANSS- positive and negative syndrome scale rated one - seven out
of 30 symptoms interviewed by clinician family Hossel staff
observations.
◉ positive schizophrenia symptoms.
Answer: delusions and hallucinations. symptom clusters include
hallucinations, delusions, disorganized behaviors, hostility,
grandiosity, mania, and paranoia.
◉ negative schizophrenia symptoms.
QUESTION BANK DETAILED RESPONSES
◉ How antipsychotic drugs work.
Answer: hypothesis: individuals have too much dopamine --
antipsychotics block dopamine receptors
◉ dopamine pathways.
Answer: involved with diseases such as schizophrenia and
Parkinson's disease
◉ Dopamine antagonists.
Answer: Drugs that directly block dopamine from binding to
receptors in the chemotrigger zone and the intestinal tract, causing
food to move more quickly through the GI tract.
◉ mesolimbic dopamine pathway.
Answer: Transmits dopamine from the midbrain VTA to the ventral
striatum. It includes the nucleus accumbens which is associated with
motivation emotions and rewards. This is thought to be responsible
for the positive symptoms of schizophrenia like hallucinations,
delusions, & thought disorder which are reduced with anti-
psychotics.
,◉ mesocortical dopamine pathway.
Answer: Transmits dopamine from the mid brain to the prefrontal
cortex. Hypo function of this pathway is thought to be responsible
for the negative symptoms in schizophrenia apathy low motivation
social withdrawal & self neglect.
◉ Nigrostriatal pathway.
Answer: transmits 80% of the brains dopamine from the PARS
COMPACTA of the substantial nigra to the caudate nucleus and
putamen. Antipsychotics that reduce dopamine can induce
extrapyramidal SE similar to Parkinson's disease. 1st Gen
antipsychotics dystonia, akathisia, parkinsonism, and tarditive
dyskinesia
◉ Tuberoinfundibular pathway.
Answer: Transmits dopamine from the hypothalamus to the
pituitary gland. Dopamine in this pathway acts to inhibit prolactin.
Blockade of D2 receptors by antipsychotic results in
hyperprolactinaemia & breast enlargement, Galactorrhea reduce
libido and erectile dysfunction.
◉ Schizophrenia: Assessment.
Answer: -prodromal period (early signs before full criteria).
-ID of prodromal period = early intervention/prevention. disorder
continues longer without treatment.
, -occupational profile/interview
-MMSE
-if criteria for mental illness occurs a person can be hospitalized.
once hospitalized more assessments are completed to make
accurate dx, identify specific cognitive deficits, family evals.
-functional and cognitive evals by OT and psych.
◉ schizophrenia assessment scales.
Answer: AIMS-12 item involuntary movement scale. monitors TD,
facial movements, dyskinesia, patient distress due to movement.
BPRS- Brief psychiatric rating scale observe two through three days
self-report observed behavior clinical interview.
PANSS- positive and negative syndrome scale rated one - seven out
of 30 symptoms interviewed by clinician family Hossel staff
observations.
◉ positive schizophrenia symptoms.
Answer: delusions and hallucinations. symptom clusters include
hallucinations, delusions, disorganized behaviors, hostility,
grandiosity, mania, and paranoia.
◉ negative schizophrenia symptoms.
