ANCC PMHNP Exam Prep UPDATED
Actual Questions and CORRECT Answers
mesocortical pathway - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔executive function: attention, focus,
depression
nigrostriatal pathway - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔from substantia nigra (brainstem) to
striatum (muscles): Parkinson's
mesolimbic pathway - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔projects to nucleus accumbens (part of
limbic system). Pleasure, reward, positive symptoms of schizophrenia: Addiction, gambling
Tuberoinfundibular pathway - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔regulation of prolactin (acts on
pituitary). Hypersexuality in mania
Dopamine - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔produced in substania nigra and VTA. D2 & D4
receptors most important. Elevated in the mesolimbic pathway associated with pleasure and
psychosis. Antispychotics block dopamine. travels through mesocoritcal, mesolimbic,
nigrostriatal, and tuberinfundibular pathways
Serotonin - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔5-HT. produced in raphe nucleus. emotion, impulses,
dreams. 5HT2A receptors = atypical antipsychotics.
Norepinephrine - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔produced in locus coeruleus. arousal and
vigilance
GABA - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔inhibitory. produces calm in conjunction with
benzodiazepines.
ACTH - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔motor control, learning, memory, sleep, and dreams.
Helps with balance. Decrease in Alzheimer's disease
hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔CRH, ACTH, then
cortisol. Worsens with stress and depression
, hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔TRH, TSH, T4.
Hypothyroid causes depression, weight gain, slow metabolism. Hyperthyroid is opposite.
hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔GnRH, FSH, LH.
Malfunctions cause infertility problems.
gray matter - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔neurons are found
frontal lobe - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔executive function, voluntary movement, speech
(Broca's area)
Temporal lobe - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔memory, cognition, speech, emotions (aka limbic
area)
parietal lobe - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔receive and process sensory input
Wernicke's area - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔temporal and parietal lobes; speech
amygdala - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔fear response.
hippocampus - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔memory. Make up limbic system with amydgala
HIPAA - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔1. education about privacy protection, 2. access to own
medical records, 3. request amendment to health information to which they object, 4. require
permission for disclosure of medical issues
forensic nursing - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔based on crime committed and investigational
aspects
correctional nursing - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔offender's current mental health and
medical condition
Actual Questions and CORRECT Answers
mesocortical pathway - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔executive function: attention, focus,
depression
nigrostriatal pathway - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔from substantia nigra (brainstem) to
striatum (muscles): Parkinson's
mesolimbic pathway - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔projects to nucleus accumbens (part of
limbic system). Pleasure, reward, positive symptoms of schizophrenia: Addiction, gambling
Tuberoinfundibular pathway - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔regulation of prolactin (acts on
pituitary). Hypersexuality in mania
Dopamine - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔produced in substania nigra and VTA. D2 & D4
receptors most important. Elevated in the mesolimbic pathway associated with pleasure and
psychosis. Antispychotics block dopamine. travels through mesocoritcal, mesolimbic,
nigrostriatal, and tuberinfundibular pathways
Serotonin - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔5-HT. produced in raphe nucleus. emotion, impulses,
dreams. 5HT2A receptors = atypical antipsychotics.
Norepinephrine - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔produced in locus coeruleus. arousal and
vigilance
GABA - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔inhibitory. produces calm in conjunction with
benzodiazepines.
ACTH - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔motor control, learning, memory, sleep, and dreams.
Helps with balance. Decrease in Alzheimer's disease
hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔CRH, ACTH, then
cortisol. Worsens with stress and depression
, hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔TRH, TSH, T4.
Hypothyroid causes depression, weight gain, slow metabolism. Hyperthyroid is opposite.
hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔GnRH, FSH, LH.
Malfunctions cause infertility problems.
gray matter - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔neurons are found
frontal lobe - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔executive function, voluntary movement, speech
(Broca's area)
Temporal lobe - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔memory, cognition, speech, emotions (aka limbic
area)
parietal lobe - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔receive and process sensory input
Wernicke's area - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔temporal and parietal lobes; speech
amygdala - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔fear response.
hippocampus - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔memory. Make up limbic system with amydgala
HIPAA - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔1. education about privacy protection, 2. access to own
medical records, 3. request amendment to health information to which they object, 4. require
permission for disclosure of medical issues
forensic nursing - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔based on crime committed and investigational
aspects
correctional nursing - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔offender's current mental health and
medical condition
