BESTSOLUTIONS1 2025
STAHL'S
ESSENTIAL
PSYCHOPHARMAC
OLOGY
NEUROSCIENTIFIC
BASIS AND
PRACTICAL
APPLICATIONS 5TH
EDITION
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, BESTSOLUTIONS1 2025
TESTBANK/STUDY
GUIDE
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, BESTSOLUTIONS1 2025
Neuroscientific Basis and Practical Applications 5th Edition Testbank/Study Guide
Chapter 1 Chemical neurotransmission
MU L TIPLE CHOICE
1. A patient with depression mentions to the nurse, My mother says depression is a chemical
disorder. What does she mean? The nurses response is based on the theory that depression
primarily involves which of the following neurotransmitters?
a. Cortisol and GABA
b. COMT and glutamate
c. Monamine and glycine
d. Serotonin and norepinephrine
ANSWER: D
One possible cause of depression is thought to involve one or more neurotransmitters. Serotonin and
norepinephrine have been found to be important in the regulation of depression. There is no
research to support that the other options play a significant role in the development of depression.
2. A patient has experienced a stroke (cerebral vascular accident) that has resulted in damage to
the Broca area. Which evaluation does the nurse conduct to reinforce this diagnosis?
a. Observing the patient pick up a spoon
b. Asking the patient to recite the alphabet
c. Monitoring the patients blood pressure
d. Comparing the patients grip strength in both hands
ANSWER: B
Accidents or strokes that damage Brocas area may result in the inability to speak (i.e., motor
aphasia). Fine motor skills, blood pressure control, and muscle strength are not controlled by the
Broca area of the left frontal lobe.
3. The patient diagnosed with schizophrenia asks why psychotropic medications are always
prescribed by the doctor. The nurses answer will be based on information that the therapeutic
action of psychotropic drugs is the result of their effect on:
a. The temporal lobe; especially Wernickes area
b. Dendrites and their ability to transmit electrical impulses
c. The regulation of neurotransmitters especially dopamine
d. The peripheral nervous system sensitivity to the psychotropic medications
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ANSWER: C
Medications used to treat psychiatric disorders operate in and around the synaptic cleft and have
action at the neurotransmitter level, especially in the case of schizophrenia, on dopamine. The
Wernickes area, dendrite function, or the sensitivity of the peripheral nervous system are not
relevant to either schizophrenia or psychotropic medications.
4. A student nurse mutters that it seems entirely unnecessary to have to struggle with
understanding the anatomy and physiology of the neurologic system. The mentor would base a
response on the understanding that it is:
Necessary but generally for psychiatric nurses who focus primarily on behavioral
a. interventions
A complex undertaking that advance practice psychiatric nurses frequently use in their
b. practice
Important primarily for the nursing assessment of patients with brain
c. traumacaused cognitive symptoms
Necessary for planning psychiatric care for all patients especially those
d. experiencing psychiatric disorders
ANSWER: D
Nurses must understand that many symptoms of psychiatric disorders have a neurologic basis,
although the symptoms are manifested behaviorally. This understanding facilitates effective care
planning. The foundation of knowledge is not used exclusively by advanced practice psychiatric
nurses nor is it relevant for only behavior therapies or brain trauma since dealing with the results
of normal and abnormal brain function is a responsibility of all nurses providing all types of care to
the psychiatric patient.
5. A patient asks the nurse, My wife has breast cancer. Could it be caused by her chronic
depression? Which response is supported by research data?
a. Too much stress has been proven to cause all kinds of cancer.
b. There have been no research studies done on stress and disease yet.
c. Stress does cause the release of factors that suppress the immune system.
d. There appears to be little connection between stress and diseases of the body
ANSWER: C
Research indicates that stress causes a release of corticotropin-releasing factors that suppress the
immune system. Studies indicate that psychiatric disorders such as mood disorders are sometimes
associated with decreased functioning of the immune system. Research does not support a connection
between many cancers and stress. There is a significant amount of research about stress and the
body. Research has shown that there are some connections between stress and physical disease.
WWW.TESTBANKTANK.COM
STAHL'S
ESSENTIAL
PSYCHOPHARMAC
OLOGY
NEUROSCIENTIFIC
BASIS AND
PRACTICAL
APPLICATIONS 5TH
EDITION
WWW.TESTBANKTANK.COM
, BESTSOLUTIONS1 2025
TESTBANK/STUDY
GUIDE
WWW.TESTBANKTANK.COM
, BESTSOLUTIONS1 2025
Neuroscientific Basis and Practical Applications 5th Edition Testbank/Study Guide
Chapter 1 Chemical neurotransmission
MU L TIPLE CHOICE
1. A patient with depression mentions to the nurse, My mother says depression is a chemical
disorder. What does she mean? The nurses response is based on the theory that depression
primarily involves which of the following neurotransmitters?
a. Cortisol and GABA
b. COMT and glutamate
c. Monamine and glycine
d. Serotonin and norepinephrine
ANSWER: D
One possible cause of depression is thought to involve one or more neurotransmitters. Serotonin and
norepinephrine have been found to be important in the regulation of depression. There is no
research to support that the other options play a significant role in the development of depression.
2. A patient has experienced a stroke (cerebral vascular accident) that has resulted in damage to
the Broca area. Which evaluation does the nurse conduct to reinforce this diagnosis?
a. Observing the patient pick up a spoon
b. Asking the patient to recite the alphabet
c. Monitoring the patients blood pressure
d. Comparing the patients grip strength in both hands
ANSWER: B
Accidents or strokes that damage Brocas area may result in the inability to speak (i.e., motor
aphasia). Fine motor skills, blood pressure control, and muscle strength are not controlled by the
Broca area of the left frontal lobe.
3. The patient diagnosed with schizophrenia asks why psychotropic medications are always
prescribed by the doctor. The nurses answer will be based on information that the therapeutic
action of psychotropic drugs is the result of their effect on:
a. The temporal lobe; especially Wernickes area
b. Dendrites and their ability to transmit electrical impulses
c. The regulation of neurotransmitters especially dopamine
d. The peripheral nervous system sensitivity to the psychotropic medications
WWW.TESTBANKTANK.COM
, BESTSOLUTIONS1 2025
ANSWER: C
Medications used to treat psychiatric disorders operate in and around the synaptic cleft and have
action at the neurotransmitter level, especially in the case of schizophrenia, on dopamine. The
Wernickes area, dendrite function, or the sensitivity of the peripheral nervous system are not
relevant to either schizophrenia or psychotropic medications.
4. A student nurse mutters that it seems entirely unnecessary to have to struggle with
understanding the anatomy and physiology of the neurologic system. The mentor would base a
response on the understanding that it is:
Necessary but generally for psychiatric nurses who focus primarily on behavioral
a. interventions
A complex undertaking that advance practice psychiatric nurses frequently use in their
b. practice
Important primarily for the nursing assessment of patients with brain
c. traumacaused cognitive symptoms
Necessary for planning psychiatric care for all patients especially those
d. experiencing psychiatric disorders
ANSWER: D
Nurses must understand that many symptoms of psychiatric disorders have a neurologic basis,
although the symptoms are manifested behaviorally. This understanding facilitates effective care
planning. The foundation of knowledge is not used exclusively by advanced practice psychiatric
nurses nor is it relevant for only behavior therapies or brain trauma since dealing with the results
of normal and abnormal brain function is a responsibility of all nurses providing all types of care to
the psychiatric patient.
5. A patient asks the nurse, My wife has breast cancer. Could it be caused by her chronic
depression? Which response is supported by research data?
a. Too much stress has been proven to cause all kinds of cancer.
b. There have been no research studies done on stress and disease yet.
c. Stress does cause the release of factors that suppress the immune system.
d. There appears to be little connection between stress and diseases of the body
ANSWER: C
Research indicates that stress causes a release of corticotropin-releasing factors that suppress the
immune system. Studies indicate that psychiatric disorders such as mood disorders are sometimes
associated with decreased functioning of the immune system. Research does not support a connection
between many cancers and stress. There is a significant amount of research about stress and the
body. Research has shown that there are some connections between stress and physical disease.
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