Stahl's Essential Psychopharmacology Neuroscientific
Basis and Practical Applications Real Exam Questions And
Solved Answers 2025 Latest Update
__________________________________________________
Chapter I: Chemical Neurotransmission
At admission, the nurse learns that some time ago the patient had an infarct in the right
cerebral cortex. During assessment, the nurse would expect to find that the patient:
a. Demonstrates major deficiencies in speech
b. Is unable to effectively hold a spoon in the left hand
c. Has difficulty explaining how to go about using the telephone
d. Cannot use his right hand to shave himself or comb his own hair
Is unable to effectively hold a spoon in the left hand
A patient with chronic schizophrenia had a stroke involving the hippocampus. The patient
will be discharged on low doses of haloperidol. The nurse will need to individualize the
patients medication teaching by:
a. Including the patients caregiver in the education
b. Being careful to stress the importance of taking the medication as prescribed
c. Providing the education at a time when the patient is emotionally calm and relaxed
d. Encouraging the patient to crush or dissolve the medication to help with swallowing
Including the patients caregiver in the education
The physician tells the nurse, The medication Im prescribing for the patient enhances the
g-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system. Which patient behavior will provide evidence that the
medication therapy is successful?
a. The patient is actively involved in playing cards with other patients.
,b. The patient reports that, I don't feel as anxious as I did a couple of days ago.
c. The patient reports that both auditory and visual hallucinations have decreased.
d. The patient says that, I am much happier than before I came to the hospital
The patient reports that, I don't feel as anxious as I did a couple of days ago.
The patients family asks whether a diagnosis of Parkinsons disease creates an increased
risk for any mental health issues. What question would the nurse ask to assess for such a
comorbid condition?
a. Has your father exhibited any signs of depression?
b. Does your father seem to experience mood swings?
c. Have you noticed your father talking about seeing things you cant see?
d. Is your dad preoccupied with behaviors that he needs to repeat over and over?
Has your father exhibited any signs of depression?
Which explanation for the prescription of donepezil (Aricept) would the nurse provide for
a patient in the early stage of Alzheimer's disease?
a. It will increase the metabolism of excess GABA.
b. Excess dopamine will be prevented from attaching to receptor sites.
c. Serotonin deficiency will be managed through a prolonged reuptake period.
d. The acetylcholine deficiency will be managed by inhibiting cholinesterase.
The acetylcholine deficiency will be managed by inhibiting cholinesterase.
There remains a stigma attached to psychiatric illnesses. The psychiatric nurse makes the
greatest impact on this sociological problem when:
a. Providing educational programming for patients and the public
b. Arranging for adequate and appropriate social support for the patient
c. Assisting the patient to achieve the maximum level of independent functioning
d. Regularly praising the patient for seeking and complying with appropriate treatment
Providing educational programming for patients and the public
,The wife of a patient with paranoid schizophrenia tells the nurse, Ive learned that my
husband has several close relatives with the same disorder. Does this problem run in
families? The response based on recent discoveries in the field of genetics would be:
a. Your children should be monitored closely for the disorder.
b. Research tends to support a familiar tendency to schizophrenia.
c. There is no concrete evidence; it is just as likely a coincidence.
d. Only bipolar disorder has been identified to have a genetic component.
Research tends to support a familiar tendency to schizophrenia.
A patient whose symptoms of mild depression have been managed with antidepressants
is concerned about the affect of accepting a promotion that will require working the night
shift. What will be the basis of the response the nurse gives to address the patients
concern?
a. The connection between a new job and possible depression does exist.
b. The medication can be adjusted to manage any increase in depression.
c. The interruption in normal wake-sleep patterns can influence mood disorders.
d. The change in sleep routine can be managed with a healthy sleep hygiene routine.
The interruption in normal wake-sleep patterns can influence mood disorders.
The nurse is discouraged because the patient exhibiting negative symptoms of
schizophrenia has shown no improvement with the planned interventions to reduce the
symptoms. The mentors remark that helps place the problem in perspective is:
a. You aren't responsible for the behavior of any other person.
b. Patients can be perverse and cling to symptoms despite our efforts.
c. Negative symptoms have been associated with genetic pathology.
d. It will take several trail and error attempts to get the right combination care.
Negative symptoms have been associated with genetic pathology.
, What assessment data would reinforce the diagnosis of temporal lobe injury in patient
who experienced head trauma?
Select all that apply.
a. Inability to balance a checkbook
b. Uncharacteristically aggressive c. Affect fluctuates dramatically
d. Increased interest in sexual behaviors
e. Difficulty remembering the names of family members
C,D,E
A patient has begun experiencing dysfunction of the hypothalamus. What nursing
interventions will the nurse include in the patients plan of care?
Select all that apply. a. Reinforcing clear physical boundaries
b. Assisting the patient with completing daily menus
c. Learning about healthy sleep hygiene habits
d. Monitoring and recording temperature every 4 hours
e. Monitoring and recording blood pressure every 4 hours
B,C,D
The nurse is preparing a patient for a positron emission tomography (PET) scan. Which
instructions will the nurse include?
Select all that apply.
a. There will likely be a 30 to 45 minute wait between the injection and the beginning of
the scan.
b. A blindfold and earplugs may be used to help decrease reaction to the environment
during the scan.
c. Make every attempt to lie still during the scan because movement will affect the
imaging produced.
d. No food or fluids are to be ingested for at least 8 full hours before the scan and none
during the scan.
Basis and Practical Applications Real Exam Questions And
Solved Answers 2025 Latest Update
__________________________________________________
Chapter I: Chemical Neurotransmission
At admission, the nurse learns that some time ago the patient had an infarct in the right
cerebral cortex. During assessment, the nurse would expect to find that the patient:
a. Demonstrates major deficiencies in speech
b. Is unable to effectively hold a spoon in the left hand
c. Has difficulty explaining how to go about using the telephone
d. Cannot use his right hand to shave himself or comb his own hair
Is unable to effectively hold a spoon in the left hand
A patient with chronic schizophrenia had a stroke involving the hippocampus. The patient
will be discharged on low doses of haloperidol. The nurse will need to individualize the
patients medication teaching by:
a. Including the patients caregiver in the education
b. Being careful to stress the importance of taking the medication as prescribed
c. Providing the education at a time when the patient is emotionally calm and relaxed
d. Encouraging the patient to crush or dissolve the medication to help with swallowing
Including the patients caregiver in the education
The physician tells the nurse, The medication Im prescribing for the patient enhances the
g-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system. Which patient behavior will provide evidence that the
medication therapy is successful?
a. The patient is actively involved in playing cards with other patients.
,b. The patient reports that, I don't feel as anxious as I did a couple of days ago.
c. The patient reports that both auditory and visual hallucinations have decreased.
d. The patient says that, I am much happier than before I came to the hospital
The patient reports that, I don't feel as anxious as I did a couple of days ago.
The patients family asks whether a diagnosis of Parkinsons disease creates an increased
risk for any mental health issues. What question would the nurse ask to assess for such a
comorbid condition?
a. Has your father exhibited any signs of depression?
b. Does your father seem to experience mood swings?
c. Have you noticed your father talking about seeing things you cant see?
d. Is your dad preoccupied with behaviors that he needs to repeat over and over?
Has your father exhibited any signs of depression?
Which explanation for the prescription of donepezil (Aricept) would the nurse provide for
a patient in the early stage of Alzheimer's disease?
a. It will increase the metabolism of excess GABA.
b. Excess dopamine will be prevented from attaching to receptor sites.
c. Serotonin deficiency will be managed through a prolonged reuptake period.
d. The acetylcholine deficiency will be managed by inhibiting cholinesterase.
The acetylcholine deficiency will be managed by inhibiting cholinesterase.
There remains a stigma attached to psychiatric illnesses. The psychiatric nurse makes the
greatest impact on this sociological problem when:
a. Providing educational programming for patients and the public
b. Arranging for adequate and appropriate social support for the patient
c. Assisting the patient to achieve the maximum level of independent functioning
d. Regularly praising the patient for seeking and complying with appropriate treatment
Providing educational programming for patients and the public
,The wife of a patient with paranoid schizophrenia tells the nurse, Ive learned that my
husband has several close relatives with the same disorder. Does this problem run in
families? The response based on recent discoveries in the field of genetics would be:
a. Your children should be monitored closely for the disorder.
b. Research tends to support a familiar tendency to schizophrenia.
c. There is no concrete evidence; it is just as likely a coincidence.
d. Only bipolar disorder has been identified to have a genetic component.
Research tends to support a familiar tendency to schizophrenia.
A patient whose symptoms of mild depression have been managed with antidepressants
is concerned about the affect of accepting a promotion that will require working the night
shift. What will be the basis of the response the nurse gives to address the patients
concern?
a. The connection between a new job and possible depression does exist.
b. The medication can be adjusted to manage any increase in depression.
c. The interruption in normal wake-sleep patterns can influence mood disorders.
d. The change in sleep routine can be managed with a healthy sleep hygiene routine.
The interruption in normal wake-sleep patterns can influence mood disorders.
The nurse is discouraged because the patient exhibiting negative symptoms of
schizophrenia has shown no improvement with the planned interventions to reduce the
symptoms. The mentors remark that helps place the problem in perspective is:
a. You aren't responsible for the behavior of any other person.
b. Patients can be perverse and cling to symptoms despite our efforts.
c. Negative symptoms have been associated with genetic pathology.
d. It will take several trail and error attempts to get the right combination care.
Negative symptoms have been associated with genetic pathology.
, What assessment data would reinforce the diagnosis of temporal lobe injury in patient
who experienced head trauma?
Select all that apply.
a. Inability to balance a checkbook
b. Uncharacteristically aggressive c. Affect fluctuates dramatically
d. Increased interest in sexual behaviors
e. Difficulty remembering the names of family members
C,D,E
A patient has begun experiencing dysfunction of the hypothalamus. What nursing
interventions will the nurse include in the patients plan of care?
Select all that apply. a. Reinforcing clear physical boundaries
b. Assisting the patient with completing daily menus
c. Learning about healthy sleep hygiene habits
d. Monitoring and recording temperature every 4 hours
e. Monitoring and recording blood pressure every 4 hours
B,C,D
The nurse is preparing a patient for a positron emission tomography (PET) scan. Which
instructions will the nurse include?
Select all that apply.
a. There will likely be a 30 to 45 minute wait between the injection and the beginning of
the scan.
b. A blindfold and earplugs may be used to help decrease reaction to the environment
during the scan.
c. Make every attempt to lie still during the scan because movement will affect the
imaging produced.
d. No food or fluids are to be ingested for at least 8 full hours before the scan and none
during the scan.
