BBH 451 Final Exam Questions and
Correct Answers
Why are barbiturates considered to be more toxic than benzodiazepines?
Barbiturates bind to a separate protein that activates the GABA receptor to facilitate the
influx of chloride ions.
Benzodiazepines bind separate protein that activates the GABA receptor to facilitate the
influx of chloride ions.
Barbiturates act directly on the GABA receptor to open the chloride ion channel.
Benzodiazepines act directly on the GABA receptor to open the chloride ion channel.
✅Barbiturates act directly on the GABA receptor to open the chloride ion channel.
Which of the following is NOT one of the reason's that barbiturate use has declined?
They can result in serotonin syndrome from overuse.
They interact dangerously with other drugs
They are lethal in overdose.
They have a narrow therapeutic-to-toxic range. ✅They can result in serotonin
syndrome from overuse.
True or false: Benzodiazepines are in fact not antidepressants, they intensify
depression in the same way that alcohol does. ✅true
Which of the following is an example of an inhaled anesthetic agent?
Alprazolam
Zolpidem
Midazolam
Nitrous oxide ✅Nitrous oxide
Benzodiazepines are well absorbed when they are taken orally; peak plasma
concentrations are achieved in:
10 hours
Two hours
30 min
About one hour ✅about one hur
What is the lifetime prevalence of bipolar disorder across all populations globally?
6.5 percent
,2 percent
1 percent
0.5 percent ✅1 percent
Which of the following correctly describes bipolar I and bipolar II disorder? ✅bipolar 1-
Full manic cycles with possibility of depression.
bipolar 2-Hypomania (mania but less severe) combined with full depression over an
extended period of time
Which classic mood stabilizer is typically used in the treatment of Bipolar disorder?
Lithium
Barbiturates
Potassium
Benzodiazepines ✅lithium
Research is under way to determine if techniques such as can help identify epigenetic
biomarkers that can reliably predict if individuals who present in a depressed state are
likely to have unipolar or bipolar depression. ✅
According to DSM-5, before what age must symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity and
impulsivity be present to diagnose the individual with ADHD?
12 years
18 years
8 years
15 years ✅12 years
Which of the following is NOT one of the drugs used in medical treatment of ADHD?
Methylphenidate
Dextroamphetamine
Benzedrine
Acetaminophen ✅Acetaminophen
True or false: One daily dose of Concerta results in the same plasma concentration as
three daily doses of methylphenidate. ✅true
What is the ratio of d-amphetamine to l-amphetamine in the drug known as Adderall?
4:1
2:1
3:1
1:1 ✅3:1
About to percent of ADHD patients do not respond adequately to stimulants and are
considered to be treatment-resistant.
, 0.1;10
10; 30
5;10
20;40 ✅10;30
Which of the following symptoms does NOT describe Parkinson's disease?
Loss of dopamine neurons
Resting tremor and impairment of postural balance
Loss of serotonin and norepinephrine neurons
Bradykinesia and muscle rigidity ✅Loss of serotonin and norepinephrine neurons
Which of the following describes the mechanism of Levodopa?
It can cross the blood brain barrier and is a precursor for dopamine
It can cross the blood brain barrier and it is dopamine
It cannot cross the blood brain barrier and is a precursor for dopamine
It cannot cross the blood brain barrier and it is dopamine ✅It can cross the blood brain
barrier and is a precursor for dopamine
True or false: Parkinson's disease is the most common neurodegenerative disease,
followed by Alzheimer's disease as the second most common. ✅false
Why was the COMT drug tolcapone (Tasmar) withdrawn from the market?
It did not increase the half-life of levodopa and it caused metabolic syndrome
It increased the half-life of levodopa but caused metabolic syndrome
Although it increases the half-life of levodopa, it caused severe liver toxicity
It did not increase the half-life of levodopa and was found to be insufficiently effective
✅Although it increases the half-life of levodopa, it caused severe liver toxicity
Current research suggests that Parkinson's disease is not only a motor disorder but also
presents with nonmotor symptoms that may actually precede the onset of motor deficits
by a period of to years.
1;5
10;30
5;20
20;25 ✅5;20
What are the two main areas of the brain where cholinergic neurons are lost?
Hypothalamus and cerebral cortex
Parietal lobe and occipital lobe.
Hippocampus and parietal lobe
Hippocampus and cerebral cortex ✅Hippocampus and cerebral cortex
Correct Answers
Why are barbiturates considered to be more toxic than benzodiazepines?
Barbiturates bind to a separate protein that activates the GABA receptor to facilitate the
influx of chloride ions.
Benzodiazepines bind separate protein that activates the GABA receptor to facilitate the
influx of chloride ions.
Barbiturates act directly on the GABA receptor to open the chloride ion channel.
Benzodiazepines act directly on the GABA receptor to open the chloride ion channel.
✅Barbiturates act directly on the GABA receptor to open the chloride ion channel.
Which of the following is NOT one of the reason's that barbiturate use has declined?
They can result in serotonin syndrome from overuse.
They interact dangerously with other drugs
They are lethal in overdose.
They have a narrow therapeutic-to-toxic range. ✅They can result in serotonin
syndrome from overuse.
True or false: Benzodiazepines are in fact not antidepressants, they intensify
depression in the same way that alcohol does. ✅true
Which of the following is an example of an inhaled anesthetic agent?
Alprazolam
Zolpidem
Midazolam
Nitrous oxide ✅Nitrous oxide
Benzodiazepines are well absorbed when they are taken orally; peak plasma
concentrations are achieved in:
10 hours
Two hours
30 min
About one hour ✅about one hur
What is the lifetime prevalence of bipolar disorder across all populations globally?
6.5 percent
,2 percent
1 percent
0.5 percent ✅1 percent
Which of the following correctly describes bipolar I and bipolar II disorder? ✅bipolar 1-
Full manic cycles with possibility of depression.
bipolar 2-Hypomania (mania but less severe) combined with full depression over an
extended period of time
Which classic mood stabilizer is typically used in the treatment of Bipolar disorder?
Lithium
Barbiturates
Potassium
Benzodiazepines ✅lithium
Research is under way to determine if techniques such as can help identify epigenetic
biomarkers that can reliably predict if individuals who present in a depressed state are
likely to have unipolar or bipolar depression. ✅
According to DSM-5, before what age must symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity and
impulsivity be present to diagnose the individual with ADHD?
12 years
18 years
8 years
15 years ✅12 years
Which of the following is NOT one of the drugs used in medical treatment of ADHD?
Methylphenidate
Dextroamphetamine
Benzedrine
Acetaminophen ✅Acetaminophen
True or false: One daily dose of Concerta results in the same plasma concentration as
three daily doses of methylphenidate. ✅true
What is the ratio of d-amphetamine to l-amphetamine in the drug known as Adderall?
4:1
2:1
3:1
1:1 ✅3:1
About to percent of ADHD patients do not respond adequately to stimulants and are
considered to be treatment-resistant.
, 0.1;10
10; 30
5;10
20;40 ✅10;30
Which of the following symptoms does NOT describe Parkinson's disease?
Loss of dopamine neurons
Resting tremor and impairment of postural balance
Loss of serotonin and norepinephrine neurons
Bradykinesia and muscle rigidity ✅Loss of serotonin and norepinephrine neurons
Which of the following describes the mechanism of Levodopa?
It can cross the blood brain barrier and is a precursor for dopamine
It can cross the blood brain barrier and it is dopamine
It cannot cross the blood brain barrier and is a precursor for dopamine
It cannot cross the blood brain barrier and it is dopamine ✅It can cross the blood brain
barrier and is a precursor for dopamine
True or false: Parkinson's disease is the most common neurodegenerative disease,
followed by Alzheimer's disease as the second most common. ✅false
Why was the COMT drug tolcapone (Tasmar) withdrawn from the market?
It did not increase the half-life of levodopa and it caused metabolic syndrome
It increased the half-life of levodopa but caused metabolic syndrome
Although it increases the half-life of levodopa, it caused severe liver toxicity
It did not increase the half-life of levodopa and was found to be insufficiently effective
✅Although it increases the half-life of levodopa, it caused severe liver toxicity
Current research suggests that Parkinson's disease is not only a motor disorder but also
presents with nonmotor symptoms that may actually precede the onset of motor deficits
by a period of to years.
1;5
10;30
5;20
20;25 ✅5;20
What are the two main areas of the brain where cholinergic neurons are lost?
Hypothalamus and cerebral cortex
Parietal lobe and occipital lobe.
Hippocampus and parietal lobe
Hippocampus and cerebral cortex ✅Hippocampus and cerebral cortex
