Page 1 of 54
KAPLAN & SADOCK'S SYNOPSIS OF PSYCHIATRY
COMPLETE REVIEW WITH VERIFIED QUESTIONS DETAILED
RATIONALES GRADED A+
Kaplan & Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry — Practice Questions
Chapter 1: Neural Sciences
1. Which neurotransmitter is primarily synthesized from the amino acid tryptophan?
A) Dopamine
B) Norepinephrine
C) Serotonin
D) Acetylcholine
Answer: C
Rationale: Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) is synthesized from tryptophan via the intermediate
5-hydroxytryptophan. This pathway is clinically relevant because SSRIs enhance serotonergic
neurotransmission by blocking reuptake .
2. The blood-brain barrier is primarily maintained by which cell type?
A) Microglia
B) Oligodendrocytes
C) Astrocytes
D) Ependymal cells
Answer: C
Rationale: Astrocytes send projections called end-feet that wrap around capillary endothelial
cells, regulating tight junctions and restricting passage of substances into the brain .
3. Which brain lobe is primarily responsible for executive functioning and personality?
A) Temporal lobe
B) Parietal lobe
C) Frontal lobe
D) Occipital lobe
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Answer: C
Rationale: The frontal lobe, particularly the prefrontal cortex, governs executive functions such
as planning, decision-making, impulse control, and personality expression .
4. Long-term potentiation (LTP), the cellular basis of memory, primarily involves which
receptor?
A) GABA-A receptor
B) NMDA receptor
C) Dopamine D2 receptor
D) Serotonin 5-HT2A receptor
Answer: B
Rationale: NMDA receptors are voltage-gated and ligand-gated ion channels critical for synaptic
plasticity. Their activation allows calcium influx, triggering signaling cascades that strengthen
synaptic connections .
5. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is most dysregulated in which psychiatric
condition?
A) Bipolar I disorder
B) Major depressive disorder
C) Obsessive-compulsive disorder
D) Autism spectrum disorder
Answer: B
Rationale: Major depressive disorder is associated with chronic HPA axis hyperactivation,
elevated cortisol levels, and failure of the dexamethasone suppression test .
6. Which brain structure serves as the primary relay station for sensory information to the
cortex?
A) Hypothalamus
B) Thalamus
C) Amygdala
D) Hippocampus
Answer: B
Rationale: The thalamus acts as the primary relay and integration center for sensory and motor
signals traveling between the brain and the body .
7. Which neurotransmitter is most implicated in the reward pathway and central to substance
use disorders?
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A) Serotonin
B) Dopamine
C) Acetylcholine
D) Glutamate
Answer: B
Rationale: Dopamine is the primary neurotransmitter of the mesolimbic reward pathway,
originating in the ventral tegmental area and projecting to the nucleus accumbens. Substance
use disorders involve dysregulation of this circuit .
8. The hippocampus is primarily involved in which function?
A) Regulation of body temperature
B) Consolidation of long-term memory
C) Coordination of voluntary movement
D) Processing of visual information
Answer: B
Rationale: The hippocampus is critical for the consolidation of short-term memory into long-
term memory. Damage produces anterograde amnesia.
9. Which neurotransmitter is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous
system?
A) Glutamate
B) GABA
C) Dopamine
D) Serotonin
Answer: B
Rationale: GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter.
Benzodiazepines and barbiturates enhance GABA-A receptor activity.
10. The amygdala is most closely associated with which function?
A) Motor coordination
B) Emotional processing, especially fear
C) Language comprehension
D) Endocrine regulation
Answer: B
Rationale: The amygdala is central to emotional processing, particularly fear conditioning and
threat detection. It is implicated in anxiety disorders and PTSD.
, Page 4 of 54
11. Which of the following is a catecholamine neurotransmitter?
A) Serotonin
B) Acetylcholine
C) Norepinephrine
D) GABA
Answer: C
Rationale: Norepinephrine is a catecholamine, along with dopamine and epinephrine.
Serotonin is an indolamine; acetylcholine is a cholinergic neurotransmitter.
12. The basal ganglia are primarily involved in which function?
A) Regulation of movement
B) Memory consolidation
C) Emotional regulation
D) Hormone secretion
Answer: A
Rationale: The basal ganglia are critical for voluntary motor control, procedural learning, and
habit formation. Dysfunction is seen in Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease.
13. Which neurotransmitter is deficient in Alzheimer's disease and is targeted by donepezil?
A) Dopamine
B) Serotonin
C) Acetylcholine
D) Glutamate
Answer: C
Rationale: Alzheimer's disease involves degeneration of cholinergic neurons. Donepezil inhibits
acetylcholinesterase to increase acetylcholine levels.
14. The prefrontal cortex is responsible for all of the following EXCEPT:
A) Working memory
B) Impulse control
C) Reflexive movement
D) Decision-making
Answer: C
Rationale: Reflexive movement is mediated by spinal reflexes and lower brain structures, not
the prefrontal cortex.
KAPLAN & SADOCK'S SYNOPSIS OF PSYCHIATRY
COMPLETE REVIEW WITH VERIFIED QUESTIONS DETAILED
RATIONALES GRADED A+
Kaplan & Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry — Practice Questions
Chapter 1: Neural Sciences
1. Which neurotransmitter is primarily synthesized from the amino acid tryptophan?
A) Dopamine
B) Norepinephrine
C) Serotonin
D) Acetylcholine
Answer: C
Rationale: Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) is synthesized from tryptophan via the intermediate
5-hydroxytryptophan. This pathway is clinically relevant because SSRIs enhance serotonergic
neurotransmission by blocking reuptake .
2. The blood-brain barrier is primarily maintained by which cell type?
A) Microglia
B) Oligodendrocytes
C) Astrocytes
D) Ependymal cells
Answer: C
Rationale: Astrocytes send projections called end-feet that wrap around capillary endothelial
cells, regulating tight junctions and restricting passage of substances into the brain .
3. Which brain lobe is primarily responsible for executive functioning and personality?
A) Temporal lobe
B) Parietal lobe
C) Frontal lobe
D) Occipital lobe
,Page 2 of 54
Answer: C
Rationale: The frontal lobe, particularly the prefrontal cortex, governs executive functions such
as planning, decision-making, impulse control, and personality expression .
4. Long-term potentiation (LTP), the cellular basis of memory, primarily involves which
receptor?
A) GABA-A receptor
B) NMDA receptor
C) Dopamine D2 receptor
D) Serotonin 5-HT2A receptor
Answer: B
Rationale: NMDA receptors are voltage-gated and ligand-gated ion channels critical for synaptic
plasticity. Their activation allows calcium influx, triggering signaling cascades that strengthen
synaptic connections .
5. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is most dysregulated in which psychiatric
condition?
A) Bipolar I disorder
B) Major depressive disorder
C) Obsessive-compulsive disorder
D) Autism spectrum disorder
Answer: B
Rationale: Major depressive disorder is associated with chronic HPA axis hyperactivation,
elevated cortisol levels, and failure of the dexamethasone suppression test .
6. Which brain structure serves as the primary relay station for sensory information to the
cortex?
A) Hypothalamus
B) Thalamus
C) Amygdala
D) Hippocampus
Answer: B
Rationale: The thalamus acts as the primary relay and integration center for sensory and motor
signals traveling between the brain and the body .
7. Which neurotransmitter is most implicated in the reward pathway and central to substance
use disorders?
,Page 3 of 54
A) Serotonin
B) Dopamine
C) Acetylcholine
D) Glutamate
Answer: B
Rationale: Dopamine is the primary neurotransmitter of the mesolimbic reward pathway,
originating in the ventral tegmental area and projecting to the nucleus accumbens. Substance
use disorders involve dysregulation of this circuit .
8. The hippocampus is primarily involved in which function?
A) Regulation of body temperature
B) Consolidation of long-term memory
C) Coordination of voluntary movement
D) Processing of visual information
Answer: B
Rationale: The hippocampus is critical for the consolidation of short-term memory into long-
term memory. Damage produces anterograde amnesia.
9. Which neurotransmitter is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous
system?
A) Glutamate
B) GABA
C) Dopamine
D) Serotonin
Answer: B
Rationale: GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter.
Benzodiazepines and barbiturates enhance GABA-A receptor activity.
10. The amygdala is most closely associated with which function?
A) Motor coordination
B) Emotional processing, especially fear
C) Language comprehension
D) Endocrine regulation
Answer: B
Rationale: The amygdala is central to emotional processing, particularly fear conditioning and
threat detection. It is implicated in anxiety disorders and PTSD.
, Page 4 of 54
11. Which of the following is a catecholamine neurotransmitter?
A) Serotonin
B) Acetylcholine
C) Norepinephrine
D) GABA
Answer: C
Rationale: Norepinephrine is a catecholamine, along with dopamine and epinephrine.
Serotonin is an indolamine; acetylcholine is a cholinergic neurotransmitter.
12. The basal ganglia are primarily involved in which function?
A) Regulation of movement
B) Memory consolidation
C) Emotional regulation
D) Hormone secretion
Answer: A
Rationale: The basal ganglia are critical for voluntary motor control, procedural learning, and
habit formation. Dysfunction is seen in Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease.
13. Which neurotransmitter is deficient in Alzheimer's disease and is targeted by donepezil?
A) Dopamine
B) Serotonin
C) Acetylcholine
D) Glutamate
Answer: C
Rationale: Alzheimer's disease involves degeneration of cholinergic neurons. Donepezil inhibits
acetylcholinesterase to increase acetylcholine levels.
14. The prefrontal cortex is responsible for all of the following EXCEPT:
A) Working memory
B) Impulse control
C) Reflexive movement
D) Decision-making
Answer: C
Rationale: Reflexive movement is mediated by spinal reflexes and lower brain structures, not
the prefrontal cortex.
