WILKES UNIVERSITY
NSG 552 — Psychopharmacology Exam 2
NSG 552 Psychopharmacology
Academic Year:
Comprehensive Question Bank
Question 1
Which class of medications are used as first-line therapy for PTSD?
A. Benzodiazepines
B. SSRIs
C. Atypical antipsychotics
D. Tricyclic antidepressants
CORRECT ANSWER: B. SSRIs
RATIONALE:
SSRIs such as sertraline and paroxetine are FDA-approved and considered first-line
pharmacotherapy for PTSD due to their efficacy and favorable side-effect profile.
, Question 2
What do you need to monitor if a patient is on Prazosin?
A. Heart rate
B. Blood pressure
C. Liver function
D. Renal function
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Blood pressure
RATIONALE:
Prazosin is an alpha-1 blocker used for PTSD nightmares; it can cause orthostatic hypotension,
so blood pressure monitoring is essential.
Question 3
Why are benzodiazepines contraindicated in PTSD treatment?
A. They are ineffective for PTSD symptoms
B. They interfere with psychological processes needed for CBT and have high addiction
risk with comorbid SUD
C. They cause severe weight gain
D. They are too expensive
CORRECT ANSWER:
B. They interfere with psychological processes needed for CBT and have high
addiction risk with comorbid SUD
RATIONALE:
Benzodiazepines can impair the extinction learning needed for CBT and have high abuse
potential, especially in patients with comorbid substance use disorders.
, Question 4
Which medications are FDA approved to treat PTSD?
A. Fluoxetine and paroxetine
B. Sertraline and paroxetine
C. Venlafaxine and duloxetine
D. Alprazolam and lorazepam
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Sertraline and paroxetine
RATIONALE:
Sertraline and paroxetine are the only two medications FDA-approved for the treatment of
PTSD.
Question 5
When would you augment treatment of PTSD with an atypical antipsychotic?
A. First-line treatment
B. In mild cases
C. Only in SEVERE cases
D. As monotherapy
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Only in SEVERE cases
RATIONALE:
Atypical antipsychotics are reserved for severe, refractory PTSD cases due to their side-effect
profile and limited evidence.
, Question 6
What co-occurring disorder do patients with DID typically have?
A. Bipolar disorder
B. PTSD
C. Schizophrenia
D. OCD
CORRECT ANSWER: B. PTSD
RATIONALE:
Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) commonly co-occurs with PTSD due to the severe
childhood trauma that underlies both conditions.
Question 7
What are SSRIs effective for in DID?
A. Core dissociative symptoms
B. Co-occurring depressive or PTSD symptoms
C. Identity fragmentation
D. Self-injurious behaviors
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Co-occurring depressive or PTSD symptoms
RATIONALE:
SSRIs do not treat the core dissociative symptoms but are effective for comorbid depression
and PTSD symptoms in DID.
NSG 552 — Psychopharmacology Exam 2
NSG 552 Psychopharmacology
Academic Year:
Comprehensive Question Bank
Question 1
Which class of medications are used as first-line therapy for PTSD?
A. Benzodiazepines
B. SSRIs
C. Atypical antipsychotics
D. Tricyclic antidepressants
CORRECT ANSWER: B. SSRIs
RATIONALE:
SSRIs such as sertraline and paroxetine are FDA-approved and considered first-line
pharmacotherapy for PTSD due to their efficacy and favorable side-effect profile.
, Question 2
What do you need to monitor if a patient is on Prazosin?
A. Heart rate
B. Blood pressure
C. Liver function
D. Renal function
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Blood pressure
RATIONALE:
Prazosin is an alpha-1 blocker used for PTSD nightmares; it can cause orthostatic hypotension,
so blood pressure monitoring is essential.
Question 3
Why are benzodiazepines contraindicated in PTSD treatment?
A. They are ineffective for PTSD symptoms
B. They interfere with psychological processes needed for CBT and have high addiction
risk with comorbid SUD
C. They cause severe weight gain
D. They are too expensive
CORRECT ANSWER:
B. They interfere with psychological processes needed for CBT and have high
addiction risk with comorbid SUD
RATIONALE:
Benzodiazepines can impair the extinction learning needed for CBT and have high abuse
potential, especially in patients with comorbid substance use disorders.
, Question 4
Which medications are FDA approved to treat PTSD?
A. Fluoxetine and paroxetine
B. Sertraline and paroxetine
C. Venlafaxine and duloxetine
D. Alprazolam and lorazepam
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Sertraline and paroxetine
RATIONALE:
Sertraline and paroxetine are the only two medications FDA-approved for the treatment of
PTSD.
Question 5
When would you augment treatment of PTSD with an atypical antipsychotic?
A. First-line treatment
B. In mild cases
C. Only in SEVERE cases
D. As monotherapy
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Only in SEVERE cases
RATIONALE:
Atypical antipsychotics are reserved for severe, refractory PTSD cases due to their side-effect
profile and limited evidence.
, Question 6
What co-occurring disorder do patients with DID typically have?
A. Bipolar disorder
B. PTSD
C. Schizophrenia
D. OCD
CORRECT ANSWER: B. PTSD
RATIONALE:
Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) commonly co-occurs with PTSD due to the severe
childhood trauma that underlies both conditions.
Question 7
What are SSRIs effective for in DID?
A. Core dissociative symptoms
B. Co-occurring depressive or PTSD symptoms
C. Identity fragmentation
D. Self-injurious behaviors
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Co-occurring depressive or PTSD symptoms
RATIONALE:
SSRIs do not treat the core dissociative symptoms but are effective for comorbid depression
and PTSD symptoms in DID.
