STAHL ESSENTIALS
PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY FULL REVIEW
2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED
A+
⩥ Bipolar II. Answer: hypomania that alternates with episodes of major
depression
⩥ Cyclothymia. Answer: mood swings between hypomania and
dysthymia but without any full manic or major depressive episodes
⩥ MDD symptoms. Answer: S leep changes
I nterest (loss): of interest in activities
G uilt: feelings of worthlessness
E nergy: decreased, fatigue
C oncentration: difficulty concentrating
A ppetite increase or decrease
P sychomotor: agitation or slowing
S uicide death preoccupation.
⩥ valproic acid (Depakote) range. Answer: 80-125
,⩥ carbamazepine (Tegretol) range. Answer: 8-12
⩥ lithium range. Answer: 0.6-1.2
⩥ carbamazepine plasma level. Answer: decreases after 3-5 days
requiring dose increase
⩥ TCA side effects. Answer: anticholinergic
antiadrenergic
antihistaminergic
unsafe with cardiac disease
can induce hypomania
high risk for suicidal patients
⩥ imipramine. Answer: TCA used for enuresis
⩥ clomipramine. Answer: TCA used for OCD
⩥ ANC less than 1000. Answer: Lab value that indicates discontinuation
of clozaril treatment is needed.
, ⩥ 5HT2A antagonist activity. Answer: What differentiates atypical
antipsychotic medications from first-generation antipsychotic
medications?
⩥ negative symptoms. Answer: You have been working with a 54-year-
old man who has been treated for schizophrenia since age 19. He has
limited social interactions, likes to be alone, and has never dated nor had
a desire to date. His symptoms are best explained by which of the
following?
⩥ raphe nuclei. Answer: Where serotonin is produced.
⩥ limbic system. Answer: Brain area that governs mood and memory.
⩥ mesolimbic. Answer: Dopamine pathway responsible for positive
symptoms.
⩥ mesocortical. Answer: Dopamine pathway responsible for negative
symptoms.
⩥ hypothalamus. Answer: Part of the brain that controls appetite, libido,
and sleep.
⩥ frontal lobe. Answer: Part of the brain responsible for speech and
decision making.
PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY FULL REVIEW
2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED
A+
⩥ Bipolar II. Answer: hypomania that alternates with episodes of major
depression
⩥ Cyclothymia. Answer: mood swings between hypomania and
dysthymia but without any full manic or major depressive episodes
⩥ MDD symptoms. Answer: S leep changes
I nterest (loss): of interest in activities
G uilt: feelings of worthlessness
E nergy: decreased, fatigue
C oncentration: difficulty concentrating
A ppetite increase or decrease
P sychomotor: agitation or slowing
S uicide death preoccupation.
⩥ valproic acid (Depakote) range. Answer: 80-125
,⩥ carbamazepine (Tegretol) range. Answer: 8-12
⩥ lithium range. Answer: 0.6-1.2
⩥ carbamazepine plasma level. Answer: decreases after 3-5 days
requiring dose increase
⩥ TCA side effects. Answer: anticholinergic
antiadrenergic
antihistaminergic
unsafe with cardiac disease
can induce hypomania
high risk for suicidal patients
⩥ imipramine. Answer: TCA used for enuresis
⩥ clomipramine. Answer: TCA used for OCD
⩥ ANC less than 1000. Answer: Lab value that indicates discontinuation
of clozaril treatment is needed.
, ⩥ 5HT2A antagonist activity. Answer: What differentiates atypical
antipsychotic medications from first-generation antipsychotic
medications?
⩥ negative symptoms. Answer: You have been working with a 54-year-
old man who has been treated for schizophrenia since age 19. He has
limited social interactions, likes to be alone, and has never dated nor had
a desire to date. His symptoms are best explained by which of the
following?
⩥ raphe nuclei. Answer: Where serotonin is produced.
⩥ limbic system. Answer: Brain area that governs mood and memory.
⩥ mesolimbic. Answer: Dopamine pathway responsible for positive
symptoms.
⩥ mesocortical. Answer: Dopamine pathway responsible for negative
symptoms.
⩥ hypothalamus. Answer: Part of the brain that controls appetite, libido,
and sleep.
⩥ frontal lobe. Answer: Part of the brain responsible for speech and
decision making.
