WILKES NSG 552 EXAM 2
PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY (2026) ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES
2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF.
Core Domains
1. Neurobiology, Neurotransmitters, and Receptor Pharmacology
2. Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, and Pharmacogenomics
3. Antidepressants: SSRIs, SNRIs, TCAs, MAOIs, and Atypicals
4. Antipsychotics: First-Generation and Second-Generation Agents
5. Mood Stabilizers: Lithium, Valproate, Lamotrigine, and Carbamazepine
6. Anxiolytics and Hypnotics: Benzodiazepines, Buspirone, and Z-Drugs
7. Substance Use Disorder Pharmacotherapy
8. ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder Pharmacotherapy
9. Trauma, OCD, Somatic, and Dissociative Disorders
10. Geriatric Psychopharmacology, Ethics, and Clinical Decision-Making
Introduction
This comprehensive examination evaluates advanced psychopharmacological
knowledge and clinical decision-making skills essential for psychiatric-mental
health nurse practitioner practice. It covers neurotransmitter systems, receptor
pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and major
psychotropic drug classes including antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood
stabilizers, anxiolytics, and substance use disorder medications. Questions are
designed as multiple-choice and scenario-based items requiring clinical
reasoning, prioritization, and evidence-based prescribing. The assessment
emphasizes real-world application, medication safety, and the delivery of high-
quality mental health care across the lifespan.
,SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–200
1. A nurse practitioner explains to a patient that "what the body does to
the drug" is known as:
A. Pharmacodynamics
B. Pharmacokinetics
C. Pharmacotherapeutics
D. Pharmacogenomics
B. Pharmacokinetics
RATIONALE: Pharmacokinetics describes the processes of absorption,
distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME)—what the body does to the
drug. Pharmacodynamics is what the drug does to the body.
2. The opening of which ion channel is primarily responsible for
initiating an action potential?
A. Potassium channels
B. Calcium channels
C. Sodium channels
D. Chloride channels
C. Sodium channels
RATIONALE: Voltage-gated sodium channels open, allowing sodium
influx and depolarization of the neuron, which initiates the action potential.
3. Which neurotransmitter is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter
in the central nervous system?
A. Glutamate
B. Dopamine
,C. GABA
D. Norepinephrine
C. GABA
RATIONALE: GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is the primary
inhibitory neurotransmitter in the CNS. It reduces neuronal excitability by
increasing chloride influx.
4. A drug that is a CYP450 inducer will have what effect on a substrate
medication?
A. Increase the substrate's plasma level
B. Decrease the substrate's plasma level
C. No effect
D. Prolong the substrate's half-life
B. Decrease the substrate's plasma level
RATIONALE: Enzyme inducers increase the rate of metabolism of
substrate drugs, reducing their plasma levels and potentially decreasing
therapeutic efficacy.
5. A drug with high affinity for a receptor will:
A. Produce a greater maximum effect
B. Bind readily to the receptor at low concentrations
C. Require a high dose to produce 50% of its maximum effect
D. Be metabolized slowly by the liver
B. Bind readily to the receptor at low concentrations
RATIONALE: Affinity refers to the strength of binding between a drug
and its receptor. A drug with high affinity binds more readily and can occupy
receptors at lower concentrations.
, 6. What is the difference between pharmacodynamics and
pharmacokinetics?
A. Pharmacodynamics is what the body does to the drug; pharmacokinetics is
what the drug does to the body
B. Pharmacodynamics is what the drug does to the body; pharmacokinetics is
what the body does to the drug
C. They are the same process
D. Pharmacodynamics involves metabolism only
B. Pharmacodynamics is what the drug does to the body;
pharmacokinetics is what the body does to the drug
RATIONALE: Pharmacodynamics is what the drug does to the body
(receptor binding and effects). Pharmacokinetics is what the body does to the
drug (ADME).
7. Which neurotransmitter profile is associated with anxiety disorders?
A. ↑ Dopamine, ↓ Serotonin, ↑ GABA
B. ↑ Norepinephrine, ↓ Serotonin, ↑ GABA
C. ↓ Norepinephrine, ↑ Serotonin, ↑ GABA
D. ↑ Serotonin, ↑ GABA, ↓ Norepinephrine
B. ↑ Norepinephrine, ↓ Serotonin, ↑ GABA
RATIONALE: Anxiety disorders are associated with increased
norepinephrine, decreased serotonin, and decreased GABA
neurotransmission.
8. The amygdala is primarily responsible for:
PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY (2026) ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES
2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF.
Core Domains
1. Neurobiology, Neurotransmitters, and Receptor Pharmacology
2. Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, and Pharmacogenomics
3. Antidepressants: SSRIs, SNRIs, TCAs, MAOIs, and Atypicals
4. Antipsychotics: First-Generation and Second-Generation Agents
5. Mood Stabilizers: Lithium, Valproate, Lamotrigine, and Carbamazepine
6. Anxiolytics and Hypnotics: Benzodiazepines, Buspirone, and Z-Drugs
7. Substance Use Disorder Pharmacotherapy
8. ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder Pharmacotherapy
9. Trauma, OCD, Somatic, and Dissociative Disorders
10. Geriatric Psychopharmacology, Ethics, and Clinical Decision-Making
Introduction
This comprehensive examination evaluates advanced psychopharmacological
knowledge and clinical decision-making skills essential for psychiatric-mental
health nurse practitioner practice. It covers neurotransmitter systems, receptor
pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and major
psychotropic drug classes including antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood
stabilizers, anxiolytics, and substance use disorder medications. Questions are
designed as multiple-choice and scenario-based items requiring clinical
reasoning, prioritization, and evidence-based prescribing. The assessment
emphasizes real-world application, medication safety, and the delivery of high-
quality mental health care across the lifespan.
,SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–200
1. A nurse practitioner explains to a patient that "what the body does to
the drug" is known as:
A. Pharmacodynamics
B. Pharmacokinetics
C. Pharmacotherapeutics
D. Pharmacogenomics
B. Pharmacokinetics
RATIONALE: Pharmacokinetics describes the processes of absorption,
distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME)—what the body does to the
drug. Pharmacodynamics is what the drug does to the body.
2. The opening of which ion channel is primarily responsible for
initiating an action potential?
A. Potassium channels
B. Calcium channels
C. Sodium channels
D. Chloride channels
C. Sodium channels
RATIONALE: Voltage-gated sodium channels open, allowing sodium
influx and depolarization of the neuron, which initiates the action potential.
3. Which neurotransmitter is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter
in the central nervous system?
A. Glutamate
B. Dopamine
,C. GABA
D. Norepinephrine
C. GABA
RATIONALE: GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is the primary
inhibitory neurotransmitter in the CNS. It reduces neuronal excitability by
increasing chloride influx.
4. A drug that is a CYP450 inducer will have what effect on a substrate
medication?
A. Increase the substrate's plasma level
B. Decrease the substrate's plasma level
C. No effect
D. Prolong the substrate's half-life
B. Decrease the substrate's plasma level
RATIONALE: Enzyme inducers increase the rate of metabolism of
substrate drugs, reducing their plasma levels and potentially decreasing
therapeutic efficacy.
5. A drug with high affinity for a receptor will:
A. Produce a greater maximum effect
B. Bind readily to the receptor at low concentrations
C. Require a high dose to produce 50% of its maximum effect
D. Be metabolized slowly by the liver
B. Bind readily to the receptor at low concentrations
RATIONALE: Affinity refers to the strength of binding between a drug
and its receptor. A drug with high affinity binds more readily and can occupy
receptors at lower concentrations.
, 6. What is the difference between pharmacodynamics and
pharmacokinetics?
A. Pharmacodynamics is what the body does to the drug; pharmacokinetics is
what the drug does to the body
B. Pharmacodynamics is what the drug does to the body; pharmacokinetics is
what the body does to the drug
C. They are the same process
D. Pharmacodynamics involves metabolism only
B. Pharmacodynamics is what the drug does to the body;
pharmacokinetics is what the body does to the drug
RATIONALE: Pharmacodynamics is what the drug does to the body
(receptor binding and effects). Pharmacokinetics is what the body does to the
drug (ADME).
7. Which neurotransmitter profile is associated with anxiety disorders?
A. ↑ Dopamine, ↓ Serotonin, ↑ GABA
B. ↑ Norepinephrine, ↓ Serotonin, ↑ GABA
C. ↓ Norepinephrine, ↑ Serotonin, ↑ GABA
D. ↑ Serotonin, ↑ GABA, ↓ Norepinephrine
B. ↑ Norepinephrine, ↓ Serotonin, ↑ GABA
RATIONALE: Anxiety disorders are associated with increased
norepinephrine, decreased serotonin, and decreased GABA
neurotransmission.
8. The amygdala is primarily responsible for:
