NR 546 MIDTERM EXAM - ADVANCED
PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY QUESTIONS
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS (LATEST
), (A+ GUARANTEE).
1. Which dopamine pathway is primarily responsible for the negative and cognitive
symptoms associated with schizophrenia when dopamine levels are low?
A. Mesolimbic pathway
B. Tuberoinfundibular pathway
C. Nigrostriatal pathway
D. Mesocortical pathway
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: The mesocortical pathway projects to the prefrontal cortex; a
deficit of dopamine in this area is linked to cognitive impairment and negative symptoms
(affective flattening, alogia).
2. A patient taking Clozapine must have their Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) monitored
regularly due to the risk of which life-threatening condition?
A. Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
B. Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
,C. Agranulocytosis
D. Metabolic Syndrome
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Clozapine carries a Black Box Warning for agranulocytosis, a
severe drop in white blood cell count that increases infection risk, requiring strict ANC
monitoring via the REMS program.
3. What is the mechanism of action of the antidepressant Mirtazapine?
A. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibition
B. Alpha-2 adrenergic antagonism
C. Dopamine and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibition
D. Monoamine Oxidase Inhibition
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Mirtazapine is a Noradrenergic and Specific Serotonergic
Antidepressant (NaSSA). By blocking alpha-2 presynaptic autoreceptors, it increases the
release of both norepinephrine and serotonin.
4. Which enzyme system is most frequently involved in the metabolism of psychotropic
medications, potentially leading to drug-drug interactions?
A. Monoamine Oxidase (MAO)
B. Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT)
, C. Acetylcholinesterase
D. Cytochrome P450 (CYP450)
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: The CYP450 enzyme system in the liver is responsible for
metabolizing most psychotropic drugs. Inhibition or induction of these enzymes (especially
2D6, 3A4) causes many drug interactions.
5. If a drug is an ‘agonist’ at a receptor site, what is the expected cellular response?
A. Initiation of the full biological response
B. Blockage of the signal transduction
C. Partial activation of the receptor
D. Opposite effect of the natural ligand
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: An agonist binds to a receptor and stimulates the maximum
biological response identical to the endogenous neurotransmitter.
6. Which neurotransmitter is considered the primary ‘inhibitory’ signal in the central nervous
system?
A. Glutamate
B. Dopamine
C. GABA
PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY QUESTIONS
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS (LATEST
), (A+ GUARANTEE).
1. Which dopamine pathway is primarily responsible for the negative and cognitive
symptoms associated with schizophrenia when dopamine levels are low?
A. Mesolimbic pathway
B. Tuberoinfundibular pathway
C. Nigrostriatal pathway
D. Mesocortical pathway
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: The mesocortical pathway projects to the prefrontal cortex; a
deficit of dopamine in this area is linked to cognitive impairment and negative symptoms
(affective flattening, alogia).
2. A patient taking Clozapine must have their Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) monitored
regularly due to the risk of which life-threatening condition?
A. Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
B. Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
,C. Agranulocytosis
D. Metabolic Syndrome
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Clozapine carries a Black Box Warning for agranulocytosis, a
severe drop in white blood cell count that increases infection risk, requiring strict ANC
monitoring via the REMS program.
3. What is the mechanism of action of the antidepressant Mirtazapine?
A. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibition
B. Alpha-2 adrenergic antagonism
C. Dopamine and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibition
D. Monoamine Oxidase Inhibition
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Mirtazapine is a Noradrenergic and Specific Serotonergic
Antidepressant (NaSSA). By blocking alpha-2 presynaptic autoreceptors, it increases the
release of both norepinephrine and serotonin.
4. Which enzyme system is most frequently involved in the metabolism of psychotropic
medications, potentially leading to drug-drug interactions?
A. Monoamine Oxidase (MAO)
B. Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT)
, C. Acetylcholinesterase
D. Cytochrome P450 (CYP450)
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: The CYP450 enzyme system in the liver is responsible for
metabolizing most psychotropic drugs. Inhibition or induction of these enzymes (especially
2D6, 3A4) causes many drug interactions.
5. If a drug is an ‘agonist’ at a receptor site, what is the expected cellular response?
A. Initiation of the full biological response
B. Blockage of the signal transduction
C. Partial activation of the receptor
D. Opposite effect of the natural ligand
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: An agonist binds to a receptor and stimulates the maximum
biological response identical to the endogenous neurotransmitter.
6. Which neurotransmitter is considered the primary ‘inhibitory’ signal in the central nervous
system?
A. Glutamate
B. Dopamine
C. GABA
