THE ULTIMATE 2025 NURS 6630 FINAL EXAM PREP
BOOK; OVER 500 VERIFIED PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS FOR WALDEN UNIVERSITY PMHNP
STUDENTS STUDYING ADVANCED
PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
1. Which neurotransmitter is primarily targeted by SSRIs?
A. Dopamine
B. Norepinephrine
C. Serotonin
D. GABA
Answer: C. Serotonin
2. Which medication is a selective serotonin and norepinephrine
reuptake inhibitor (SNRI)?
A. Fluoxetine
B. Sertraline
C. Venlafaxine
D. Bupropion
Answer: C. Venlafaxine
3. Which of the following antipsychotics is associated with the highest
risk of agranulocytosis?
A. Haloperidol
B. Risperidone
C. Clozapine
D. Olanzapine
Answer: C. Clozapine
4. A black box warning for increased risk of suicidal ideation applies to:
A. Benzodiazepines
B. Antidepressants in children and adolescents
C. Mood stabilizers in elderly patients
D. Typical antipsychotics
Answer: B. Antidepressants in children and adolescents
5. Which drug is considered a mood stabilizer and is also used for
seizure disorders?
A. Lithium
B. Lamotrigine
C. Haloperidol
, D. Diazepam
Answer: B. Lamotrigine
6. Which neurotransmitter imbalance is most associated with
Parkinsonian side effects from antipsychotics?
A. Serotonin
B. Dopamine
C. Acetylcholine
D. Glutamate
Answer: B. Dopamine
7. Which antidepressant has a notable side effect of priapism?
A. Sertraline
B. Trazodone
C. Fluoxetine
D. Duloxetine
Answer: B. Trazodone
8. A patient taking MAOIs should avoid foods high in:
A. Fiber
B. Calcium
C. Tyramine
D. Potassium
Answer: C. Tyramine
9. Which medication is commonly used to treat opioid dependence?
A. Naltrexone
B. Naloxone
C. Methadone
D. Buprenorphine
Answer: D. Buprenorphine
10.Which of the following is a partial dopamine agonist?
A. Aripiprazole
B. Haloperidol
C. Clozapine
D. Olanzapine
Answer: A. Aripiprazole
11.Which of the following medications is classified as a benzodiazepine?
A. Buspirone
B. Lorazepam
C. Trazodone
D. Fluoxetine
Answer: B. Lorazepam
12.Which lab value should be closely monitored when a patient is taking
lithium?
A. Hemoglobin A1c
B. White blood cell count
, C. Creatinine
D. Sodium
Answer: D. Sodium
13.What is a common side effect of SSRI medications during initial
treatment?
A. Psychosis
B. Weight loss
C. Sexual dysfunction
D. Insomnia
Answer: C. Sexual dysfunction
14.What is the mechanism of action of bupropion (Wellbutrin)?
A. SSRI
B. MAOI
C. Dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor
D. GABA enhancer
Answer: C. Dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor
15.Which medication requires regular blood level monitoring to avoid
toxicity?
A. Fluoxetine
B. Lithium
C. Risperidone
D. Trazodone
Answer: B. Lithium
16.Which side effect is most concerning in a patient taking clozapine?
A. Dry mouth
B. Weight gain
C. Agranulocytosis
D. Sedation
Answer: C. Agranulocytosis
17.The use of SSRIs in elderly patients increases the risk of:
A. Renal failure
B. Serotonin syndrome
C. Hyponatremia
D. Hyperkalemia
Answer: C. Hyponatremia
18.Which of the following medications is most effective for treating
PTSD-related nightmares?
A. Sertraline
B. Prazosin
C. Clonazepam
D. Bupropion
Answer: B. Prazosin
, 19.Which of the following antidepressants has the lowest risk of sexual
side effects?
A. Sertraline
B. Fluoxetine
C. Bupropion
D. Paroxetine
Answer: C. Bupropion
20.A key sign of serotonin syndrome is:
A. Hyperreflexia
B. Hypothermia
C. Bradycardia
D. Miosis
Answer: A. Hyperreflexia
21.Which medication is contraindicated in patients with a seizure
disorder?
A. Bupropion
B. Sertraline
C. Aripiprazole
D. Risperidone
Answer: A. Bupropion
22.Which medication is used as a first-line treatment for generalized
anxiety disorder (GAD)?
A. Haloperidol
B. Diazepam
C. Escitalopram
D. Carbamazepine
Answer: C. Escitalopram
23.Which antipsychotic is known for causing the most weight gain and
metabolic issues?
A. Aripiprazole
B. Risperidone
C. Ziprasidone
D. Olanzapine
Answer: D. Olanzapine
24.Which drug class is most effective for acute anxiety attacks?
A. SSRIs
B. MAOIs
C. Benzodiazepines
D. Antipsychotics
Answer: C. Benzodiazepines
25.Which neurotransmitter is most associated with anxiety and
sedation?
A. Dopamine
BOOK; OVER 500 VERIFIED PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS FOR WALDEN UNIVERSITY PMHNP
STUDENTS STUDYING ADVANCED
PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
1. Which neurotransmitter is primarily targeted by SSRIs?
A. Dopamine
B. Norepinephrine
C. Serotonin
D. GABA
Answer: C. Serotonin
2. Which medication is a selective serotonin and norepinephrine
reuptake inhibitor (SNRI)?
A. Fluoxetine
B. Sertraline
C. Venlafaxine
D. Bupropion
Answer: C. Venlafaxine
3. Which of the following antipsychotics is associated with the highest
risk of agranulocytosis?
A. Haloperidol
B. Risperidone
C. Clozapine
D. Olanzapine
Answer: C. Clozapine
4. A black box warning for increased risk of suicidal ideation applies to:
A. Benzodiazepines
B. Antidepressants in children and adolescents
C. Mood stabilizers in elderly patients
D. Typical antipsychotics
Answer: B. Antidepressants in children and adolescents
5. Which drug is considered a mood stabilizer and is also used for
seizure disorders?
A. Lithium
B. Lamotrigine
C. Haloperidol
, D. Diazepam
Answer: B. Lamotrigine
6. Which neurotransmitter imbalance is most associated with
Parkinsonian side effects from antipsychotics?
A. Serotonin
B. Dopamine
C. Acetylcholine
D. Glutamate
Answer: B. Dopamine
7. Which antidepressant has a notable side effect of priapism?
A. Sertraline
B. Trazodone
C. Fluoxetine
D. Duloxetine
Answer: B. Trazodone
8. A patient taking MAOIs should avoid foods high in:
A. Fiber
B. Calcium
C. Tyramine
D. Potassium
Answer: C. Tyramine
9. Which medication is commonly used to treat opioid dependence?
A. Naltrexone
B. Naloxone
C. Methadone
D. Buprenorphine
Answer: D. Buprenorphine
10.Which of the following is a partial dopamine agonist?
A. Aripiprazole
B. Haloperidol
C. Clozapine
D. Olanzapine
Answer: A. Aripiprazole
11.Which of the following medications is classified as a benzodiazepine?
A. Buspirone
B. Lorazepam
C. Trazodone
D. Fluoxetine
Answer: B. Lorazepam
12.Which lab value should be closely monitored when a patient is taking
lithium?
A. Hemoglobin A1c
B. White blood cell count
, C. Creatinine
D. Sodium
Answer: D. Sodium
13.What is a common side effect of SSRI medications during initial
treatment?
A. Psychosis
B. Weight loss
C. Sexual dysfunction
D. Insomnia
Answer: C. Sexual dysfunction
14.What is the mechanism of action of bupropion (Wellbutrin)?
A. SSRI
B. MAOI
C. Dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor
D. GABA enhancer
Answer: C. Dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor
15.Which medication requires regular blood level monitoring to avoid
toxicity?
A. Fluoxetine
B. Lithium
C. Risperidone
D. Trazodone
Answer: B. Lithium
16.Which side effect is most concerning in a patient taking clozapine?
A. Dry mouth
B. Weight gain
C. Agranulocytosis
D. Sedation
Answer: C. Agranulocytosis
17.The use of SSRIs in elderly patients increases the risk of:
A. Renal failure
B. Serotonin syndrome
C. Hyponatremia
D. Hyperkalemia
Answer: C. Hyponatremia
18.Which of the following medications is most effective for treating
PTSD-related nightmares?
A. Sertraline
B. Prazosin
C. Clonazepam
D. Bupropion
Answer: B. Prazosin
, 19.Which of the following antidepressants has the lowest risk of sexual
side effects?
A. Sertraline
B. Fluoxetine
C. Bupropion
D. Paroxetine
Answer: C. Bupropion
20.A key sign of serotonin syndrome is:
A. Hyperreflexia
B. Hypothermia
C. Bradycardia
D. Miosis
Answer: A. Hyperreflexia
21.Which medication is contraindicated in patients with a seizure
disorder?
A. Bupropion
B. Sertraline
C. Aripiprazole
D. Risperidone
Answer: A. Bupropion
22.Which medication is used as a first-line treatment for generalized
anxiety disorder (GAD)?
A. Haloperidol
B. Diazepam
C. Escitalopram
D. Carbamazepine
Answer: C. Escitalopram
23.Which antipsychotic is known for causing the most weight gain and
metabolic issues?
A. Aripiprazole
B. Risperidone
C. Ziprasidone
D. Olanzapine
Answer: D. Olanzapine
24.Which drug class is most effective for acute anxiety attacks?
A. SSRIs
B. MAOIs
C. Benzodiazepines
D. Antipsychotics
Answer: C. Benzodiazepines
25.Which neurotransmitter is most associated with anxiety and
sedation?
A. Dopamine
