PSYCHOPHARM EXAM WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS 2026/2027 /GRADED A+
1. The PMHNP is evaluating a 68-year-old man for symptoms of
major depression. While assessing the appearance of the
patient, an obvious left-sided ptosis is noted. Which cranial
nerve is directly linked to this condition?
a. III
b. IV
c. V
d. VI - ANSWER-A
2. A 55-year-old woman has been referred for a psychiatric
evaluation for a change in personality, lack of impulse control,
and increasingly reckless decision-making. Which area of the
brain would be responsible for these symptoms?
a. Parietal lobe
b. Broca's area
c. Wernicke's area
d. Frontal lobe - ANSWER-D
3. A patient was recently started on a dopamine antagonist, and
complains of breast tenderness and a milky discharge. What is
the most likely explanation for these symptoms?
a. Dopamine transmission in the nigrostriatal pathway
b. Dopamine transmission in the tuberoinfundibular
pathway
c. Dopamine transmission in the mesolimbic pathway
d. Dopamine increases throughout the basal ganglia -
ANSWER-B
4. A patient who was recently started on haloperidol for
psychosis begins to manifest hand tremor, and a shuffling gait.
What is the most likely explanation for these symptoms?
, a. Dopamine transmission in the nigrostriatal pathway
b. Dopamine transmission in the tuberoinfundibular
pathway
c. Dopamine transmission in the mesolimbic pathway
d. Dopamine increases throughout the basal ganglia -
ANSWER-A
5. A 72-year-old man with a comorbid history of uncontrolled
hypertension is referred to the PMHNP for dementia secondary
to depression. The mental status exam reveals difficulty
speaking fluently, inappropriate and confabulated responses,
incongruent affect, and poor judgment. A cerebrovascular
accident in which region of the brain would better explain
these symptoms?
a. Parietal lobe
b. Wernicke's area
c. Broca's area
d. Occipital lobe - ANSWER-C
6. Which region of the brain is associated with sensory
integration, spatial awareness, and conscious awareness of
the opposite side of the body?
a. Occipital lobe
b. Wernicke's area
c. Broca's area
d. Parietal lobe - ANSWER-D
7. A patient appears internally preoccupied and responding to
auditory hallucination. This patient may have a pathology
affecting which lobe of the brain?
a. Temporal lobe
b. Occipital lobe
c. Parietal lobe
d. Cerebellum - ANSWER-A
,8. A patient presents with atypical symptoms of psychosis that
include inconsistent auditory hallucinations without
disorganization. What is the best definition of an EEG and its
utility?
a. Radiologic test utilizing magnets and radio waves to
provide a detailed image of the structures of the brain
b. Electrophysiologic test that depicts electrical activity on
the surface of the brain
c. A serum test to indicate nutritional deficiencies that
inhibit the formation of neurotransmitters
d. A neuropsychological test to distinguish psychosis from a
psychosomatic illness. - ANSWER-B
9. Neurons that only travel from the body to the brain are called:
a. Sensory neurons
b. Motor neurons
c. Inter neurons
d. Astrocytes - ANSWER-A
10. The part of the neuron that takes in and receives
messages is called:
a. Dendrite
b. Axon
c. Synapse
d. Node of Ranvier - ANSWER-A
11. What is the fatty layer that prevents interference and
increases the speed of impulse transmission along the axon?
a. Dendrite
b. Axon
c. Synapse
d. Myelin sheath - ANSWER-D
12. Which of the following receives messages and conducts
impulses to the soma?
a. Dendrite
, b. Axon
c. Synapse
d. Myelin sheath - ANSWER-A
13. The junction between two neurons is known as the:
a. Dendrite
b. Node of Ranvier
c. Synapse
d. Soma - ANSWER-C
14. When explaining the means by which neurotransmitters
relate to mental illness, a patient ask, "What is a
neurotransmitter?" The best answer is:
a. A fatty layer covering the axon
b. A chemical messenger
c. A nerve cell
d. The space between nerve cells - ANSWER-B
15. A patient is diagnosed with major depressive disorder
with the most prominent feature of apathy, anhedonia, and
isolation. Which neurotransmitter is associated with the
symptoms?
a. Serotonin
b. Gamma-amino benzoic acid (GABA)
c. Dopamine
d. Cannabinoids - ANSWER-C
16. The PMHNP prescribes fluoxetine to treat depression.
Which neurotransmitter will be made readily available in the
synapse?
a. Dopamine
b. Serotonin
c. Gamma-amino benzoic acid (GABA)
d. Acetylcholine - ANSWER-B
ANSWERS 2026/2027 /GRADED A+
1. The PMHNP is evaluating a 68-year-old man for symptoms of
major depression. While assessing the appearance of the
patient, an obvious left-sided ptosis is noted. Which cranial
nerve is directly linked to this condition?
a. III
b. IV
c. V
d. VI - ANSWER-A
2. A 55-year-old woman has been referred for a psychiatric
evaluation for a change in personality, lack of impulse control,
and increasingly reckless decision-making. Which area of the
brain would be responsible for these symptoms?
a. Parietal lobe
b. Broca's area
c. Wernicke's area
d. Frontal lobe - ANSWER-D
3. A patient was recently started on a dopamine antagonist, and
complains of breast tenderness and a milky discharge. What is
the most likely explanation for these symptoms?
a. Dopamine transmission in the nigrostriatal pathway
b. Dopamine transmission in the tuberoinfundibular
pathway
c. Dopamine transmission in the mesolimbic pathway
d. Dopamine increases throughout the basal ganglia -
ANSWER-B
4. A patient who was recently started on haloperidol for
psychosis begins to manifest hand tremor, and a shuffling gait.
What is the most likely explanation for these symptoms?
, a. Dopamine transmission in the nigrostriatal pathway
b. Dopamine transmission in the tuberoinfundibular
pathway
c. Dopamine transmission in the mesolimbic pathway
d. Dopamine increases throughout the basal ganglia -
ANSWER-A
5. A 72-year-old man with a comorbid history of uncontrolled
hypertension is referred to the PMHNP for dementia secondary
to depression. The mental status exam reveals difficulty
speaking fluently, inappropriate and confabulated responses,
incongruent affect, and poor judgment. A cerebrovascular
accident in which region of the brain would better explain
these symptoms?
a. Parietal lobe
b. Wernicke's area
c. Broca's area
d. Occipital lobe - ANSWER-C
6. Which region of the brain is associated with sensory
integration, spatial awareness, and conscious awareness of
the opposite side of the body?
a. Occipital lobe
b. Wernicke's area
c. Broca's area
d. Parietal lobe - ANSWER-D
7. A patient appears internally preoccupied and responding to
auditory hallucination. This patient may have a pathology
affecting which lobe of the brain?
a. Temporal lobe
b. Occipital lobe
c. Parietal lobe
d. Cerebellum - ANSWER-A
,8. A patient presents with atypical symptoms of psychosis that
include inconsistent auditory hallucinations without
disorganization. What is the best definition of an EEG and its
utility?
a. Radiologic test utilizing magnets and radio waves to
provide a detailed image of the structures of the brain
b. Electrophysiologic test that depicts electrical activity on
the surface of the brain
c. A serum test to indicate nutritional deficiencies that
inhibit the formation of neurotransmitters
d. A neuropsychological test to distinguish psychosis from a
psychosomatic illness. - ANSWER-B
9. Neurons that only travel from the body to the brain are called:
a. Sensory neurons
b. Motor neurons
c. Inter neurons
d. Astrocytes - ANSWER-A
10. The part of the neuron that takes in and receives
messages is called:
a. Dendrite
b. Axon
c. Synapse
d. Node of Ranvier - ANSWER-A
11. What is the fatty layer that prevents interference and
increases the speed of impulse transmission along the axon?
a. Dendrite
b. Axon
c. Synapse
d. Myelin sheath - ANSWER-D
12. Which of the following receives messages and conducts
impulses to the soma?
a. Dendrite
, b. Axon
c. Synapse
d. Myelin sheath - ANSWER-A
13. The junction between two neurons is known as the:
a. Dendrite
b. Node of Ranvier
c. Synapse
d. Soma - ANSWER-C
14. When explaining the means by which neurotransmitters
relate to mental illness, a patient ask, "What is a
neurotransmitter?" The best answer is:
a. A fatty layer covering the axon
b. A chemical messenger
c. A nerve cell
d. The space between nerve cells - ANSWER-B
15. A patient is diagnosed with major depressive disorder
with the most prominent feature of apathy, anhedonia, and
isolation. Which neurotransmitter is associated with the
symptoms?
a. Serotonin
b. Gamma-amino benzoic acid (GABA)
c. Dopamine
d. Cannabinoids - ANSWER-C
16. The PMHNP prescribes fluoxetine to treat depression.
Which neurotransmitter will be made readily available in the
synapse?
a. Dopamine
b. Serotonin
c. Gamma-amino benzoic acid (GABA)
d. Acetylcholine - ANSWER-B
