PASSPOINTPRO Advanced Psychiatric Mental Health Practice
D345
ANTIDEPRESSANTS &
MOOD STABILIZERS TEST
100 Questions with Answers & Explanations
100 A-D 2
QUESTIONS MCQ FORMAT CORE DOMAINS
SSRIs • SNRIs • TCAs • MAOIs • lithium • valproate • lamotrigine • carbamazepine
,D345 ANTIDEPRESSANTS & MOOD STABILIZERS PASSPOINTPRO
Test Overview
This focused D345 test concentrates on antidepressants and mood stabilizers through clinical scenarios,
mechanisms, adverse effects, interactions, monitoring, patient teaching, and medication-safety decisions.
Questions are mixed rather than separated into predictable sections.
Format 100 multiple-choice questions with four options (A-D).
Feedback The correct answer and a focused explanation appear immediately after every
question.
Antidepressants SSRIs, SNRIs, bupropion, mirtazapine, trazodone, multimodal agents, TCAs, MAOIs,
switching, discontinuation, serotonin toxicity, and patient counseling.
Mood stabilizers Lithium, valproate, lamotrigine, carbamazepine, interactions, monitoring,
reproductive safety, and bipolar clinical application.
Coverage: 60 antidepressant-focused questions • 40 mood-stabilizer and bipolar-application questions
1. A patient taking an SSRI asks why nausea and loose stools occurred during the first
week. Which explanation is most accurate?
A. The effect proves the medication is not being absorbed
B. The medication blocks acetylcholine in the bowel
C. Serotonin receptors in the gastrointestinal tract can produce early GI effects
D. The drug is causing acute pancreatitis in all new users
Answer: C - Serotonin receptors in the gastrointestinal tract can produce early GI effects
Explanation: Serotonin has important gastrointestinal actions, so nausea, diarrhea, or other GI effects may occur
early in SSRI treatment. These effects may lessen with continued therapy in some patients.
2. A patient taking bupropion develops worsening insomnia after an evening dose. Which
pharmacologic characteristic fits this complaint?
A. Bupropion produces universal bradycardia
B. Bupropion is a potent sedating antihistamine
C. Bupropion is a benzodiazepine agonist
D. Bupropion can be activating and may interfere with sleep
Answer: D - Bupropion can be activating and may interfere with sleep
Explanation: Bupropion’s norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake effects can be activating. Timing and
formulation can influence sleep-related adverse effects.
3. Which rare adverse effect requires urgent evaluation in a patient taking trazodone?
A. Permanent pupil dilation
B. Blue-gray skin pigmentation
C. Priapism
D. Aplastic anemia as the expected effect
Answer: C - Priapism
Explanation: Trazodone is associated with rare priapism, which is a medical emergency. More common effects
include sedation and orthostatic hypotension.
100-Question Test • Answers & explanations included Page 2
, D345 ANTIDEPRESSANTS & MOOD STABILIZERS PASSPOINTPRO
4. A patient on lithium develops coarse tremor, ataxia, slurred speech, and worsening
confusion. What should be suspected?
A. Acute dystonia from dopamine blockade
B. Simple SSRI discontinuation
C. Lithium toxicity
D. Tyramine withdrawal
Answer: C - Lithium toxicity
Explanation: Neurologic findings such as coarse tremor, ataxia, dysarthria, and confusion are concerning for
lithium toxicity, especially if accompanied by GI symptoms or an interacting medication or dehydration.
5. A patient with depression and obesity is concerned about further weight gain. Which
antidepressant tends to be more weight-neutral and may sometimes reduce appetite?
A. Mirtazapine
B. Amitriptyline
C. Bupropion
D. Paroxetine
Answer: C - Bupropion
Explanation: Bupropion is generally less associated with weight gain than mirtazapine, many TCAs, or paroxetine.
Medication choice should still be individualized rather than based on weight effects alone.
6. Which statement best distinguishes escitalopram from citalopram?
A. Escitalopram is a tricyclic antidepressant
B. Escitalopram irreversibly inhibits monoamine oxidase
C. Escitalopram is the S-enantiomer of citalopram
D. Escitalopram is primarily a dopamine reuptake inhibitor
Answer: C - Escitalopram is the S-enantiomer of citalopram
Explanation: Escitalopram is the therapeutically active S-enantiomer of citalopram. Both are SSRIs, although their
approved doses and individual safety considerations differ.
7. A patient taking carbamazepine starts a combined oral contraceptive and later has
breakthrough bleeding. Which mechanism may explain reduced contraceptive effect?
A. Carbamazepine induces hepatic enzymes that increase hormone metabolism
B. The contraceptive prevents carbamazepine absorption
C. Carbamazepine causes universal infertility
D. Carbamazepine blocks estrogen receptors directly
Answer: A - Carbamazepine induces hepatic enzymes that increase hormone metabolism
Explanation: Carbamazepine’s enzyme induction can reduce concentrations of hormonal contraceptives and
other medications. Alternative or additional contraceptive strategies may be needed.
100-Question Test • Answers & explanations included Page 3
D345
ANTIDEPRESSANTS &
MOOD STABILIZERS TEST
100 Questions with Answers & Explanations
100 A-D 2
QUESTIONS MCQ FORMAT CORE DOMAINS
SSRIs • SNRIs • TCAs • MAOIs • lithium • valproate • lamotrigine • carbamazepine
,D345 ANTIDEPRESSANTS & MOOD STABILIZERS PASSPOINTPRO
Test Overview
This focused D345 test concentrates on antidepressants and mood stabilizers through clinical scenarios,
mechanisms, adverse effects, interactions, monitoring, patient teaching, and medication-safety decisions.
Questions are mixed rather than separated into predictable sections.
Format 100 multiple-choice questions with four options (A-D).
Feedback The correct answer and a focused explanation appear immediately after every
question.
Antidepressants SSRIs, SNRIs, bupropion, mirtazapine, trazodone, multimodal agents, TCAs, MAOIs,
switching, discontinuation, serotonin toxicity, and patient counseling.
Mood stabilizers Lithium, valproate, lamotrigine, carbamazepine, interactions, monitoring,
reproductive safety, and bipolar clinical application.
Coverage: 60 antidepressant-focused questions • 40 mood-stabilizer and bipolar-application questions
1. A patient taking an SSRI asks why nausea and loose stools occurred during the first
week. Which explanation is most accurate?
A. The effect proves the medication is not being absorbed
B. The medication blocks acetylcholine in the bowel
C. Serotonin receptors in the gastrointestinal tract can produce early GI effects
D. The drug is causing acute pancreatitis in all new users
Answer: C - Serotonin receptors in the gastrointestinal tract can produce early GI effects
Explanation: Serotonin has important gastrointestinal actions, so nausea, diarrhea, or other GI effects may occur
early in SSRI treatment. These effects may lessen with continued therapy in some patients.
2. A patient taking bupropion develops worsening insomnia after an evening dose. Which
pharmacologic characteristic fits this complaint?
A. Bupropion produces universal bradycardia
B. Bupropion is a potent sedating antihistamine
C. Bupropion is a benzodiazepine agonist
D. Bupropion can be activating and may interfere with sleep
Answer: D - Bupropion can be activating and may interfere with sleep
Explanation: Bupropion’s norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake effects can be activating. Timing and
formulation can influence sleep-related adverse effects.
3. Which rare adverse effect requires urgent evaluation in a patient taking trazodone?
A. Permanent pupil dilation
B. Blue-gray skin pigmentation
C. Priapism
D. Aplastic anemia as the expected effect
Answer: C - Priapism
Explanation: Trazodone is associated with rare priapism, which is a medical emergency. More common effects
include sedation and orthostatic hypotension.
100-Question Test • Answers & explanations included Page 2
, D345 ANTIDEPRESSANTS & MOOD STABILIZERS PASSPOINTPRO
4. A patient on lithium develops coarse tremor, ataxia, slurred speech, and worsening
confusion. What should be suspected?
A. Acute dystonia from dopamine blockade
B. Simple SSRI discontinuation
C. Lithium toxicity
D. Tyramine withdrawal
Answer: C - Lithium toxicity
Explanation: Neurologic findings such as coarse tremor, ataxia, dysarthria, and confusion are concerning for
lithium toxicity, especially if accompanied by GI symptoms or an interacting medication or dehydration.
5. A patient with depression and obesity is concerned about further weight gain. Which
antidepressant tends to be more weight-neutral and may sometimes reduce appetite?
A. Mirtazapine
B. Amitriptyline
C. Bupropion
D. Paroxetine
Answer: C - Bupropion
Explanation: Bupropion is generally less associated with weight gain than mirtazapine, many TCAs, or paroxetine.
Medication choice should still be individualized rather than based on weight effects alone.
6. Which statement best distinguishes escitalopram from citalopram?
A. Escitalopram is a tricyclic antidepressant
B. Escitalopram irreversibly inhibits monoamine oxidase
C. Escitalopram is the S-enantiomer of citalopram
D. Escitalopram is primarily a dopamine reuptake inhibitor
Answer: C - Escitalopram is the S-enantiomer of citalopram
Explanation: Escitalopram is the therapeutically active S-enantiomer of citalopram. Both are SSRIs, although their
approved doses and individual safety considerations differ.
7. A patient taking carbamazepine starts a combined oral contraceptive and later has
breakthrough bleeding. Which mechanism may explain reduced contraceptive effect?
A. Carbamazepine induces hepatic enzymes that increase hormone metabolism
B. The contraceptive prevents carbamazepine absorption
C. Carbamazepine causes universal infertility
D. Carbamazepine blocks estrogen receptors directly
Answer: A - Carbamazepine induces hepatic enzymes that increase hormone metabolism
Explanation: Carbamazepine’s enzyme induction can reduce concentrations of hormonal contraceptives and
other medications. Alternative or additional contraceptive strategies may be needed.
100-Question Test • Answers & explanations included Page 3
