Test Bank For Stahl's Essential Psychopharmacology: Neuroscientific Basis and Practical Applications (5TH) by Stahl All Chapters 1-14 Covered LATEST VERSION 2025/2026

,Chapter 1 Chemical neurotransmission
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Stahl: Stahl's Essential Psychopharmacology: Neuroscientific Basis and Practical
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Applications 5th Edition
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MULTIPLE CHOICE xx



1. A patient with depression mentions to the nurse, My mother says depression
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is a chemical disorder. What does she mean? The nurses response is based on
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the theory that depression primarily involves which of the following
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neurotransmitters?
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a. Cortisol and GABA xx xx




b. COMT and glutamate xx xx




c. Monamine and glycine xx xx



d. Serotonin and norepinephrine xx xx



ANS: D xx


One possible cause of depression is thought to involve one or more
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neurotransmitters. Serotonin and norepinephrine have been found to be important
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in the regulation of depression. There is no research to support that the other
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options play a significant role in the development of depression.
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2. A patient has experienced a stroke (cerebral vascular accident) that has resulted
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in damage to the Broca area. Which evaluation does the nurse conduct to
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reinforce this diagnosis?
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a. Observing the patient pick up a spoon xx xx xx xx xx xx




b. Asking the patient to recite the alphabet
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c. Monitoring the patients blood pressure xx xx xx xx



d. Comparing the patients grip strength in both hands xx xx xx xx xx xx xx



ANS: B xx



Accidents or strokes that damage Brocas area may result in the inability to speak
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(i.e., motor aphasia). Fine motor skills, blood pressure control, and muscle
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strength are not controlled by the Broca area of the left frontal lobe.
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3. The patient diagnosed with schizophrenia asks why psychotropic medications
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are always prescribed by the doctor. The nurses answer will be based on
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information that the therapeutic action of psychotropic drugs is the result of their
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effect
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a. on:The temporal lobe; especially Wernickes area
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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

,ANS: C xx


Medications used to treat psychiatric disorders operate in and around the synaptic
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cleft and have action at the neurotransmitter level, especially in the case of
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schizophrenia, on dopamine. The Wernickes area, dendrite function, or the
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sensitivity of the peripheral nervous system are not relevant to either
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schizophrenia or psychotropic medications.
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4. A student nurse mutters that it seems entirely unnecessary to have to struggle
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with understanding the anatomy and physiology of the neurologic system. The
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mentor would base a response on the understanding that it is:
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Necessary but generally for psychiatric nurses who focus primarily on xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx



a. behavioral interventions
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A complex undertaking that advance practice psychiatric nurses frequently
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b. use in their practice
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Important primarily for the nursing assessment of patients with brain
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c. traumacaused cognitive symptoms
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Necessary for planning psychiatric care for all patients especially those
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d. experiencing psychiatric disorders
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ANS: D xx


Nurses must understand that many symptoms of psychiatric disorders have a
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neurologic basis, although the symptoms are manifested behaviorally. This
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understanding facilitates effective care planning. The foundation of knowledge is
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not used exclusively by advanced practice psychiatric nurses nor is it relevant for
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only behavior therapies or brain trauma since dealing with the results of normal
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and abnormal brain function is a responsibility of all nurses providing all types of
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care to the psychiatric patient.
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5. A patient asks the nurse, My wife has breast cancer. Could it be caused by
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her chronic depression? Which response is supported by research data?
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a. Too much stress has been proven to cause all kinds of cancer.
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b. There have been no research studies done on stress and disease yet.
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c. Stress does cause the release of factors that suppress the immune system.
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d. There appears to be little connection between stress and diseases of the body
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ANS: C xx


Research indicates that stress causes a release of corticotropin-releasing factors
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that suppress the immune system. Studies indicate that psychiatric disorders such
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as mood disorders are sometimes associated with decreased functioning of the
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immune system. Research does not support a connection between many cancers
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and stress. There is a significant amount of research about stress and the body.
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Research has shown that there are some connections between stress and physical
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disease.
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, 6. A patient who has a parietal lobe injury is being evaluated for psychiatric
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rehabilitation needs. Of the aspects of functioning listed, which will the nurse
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identify as a focus of nursing intervention?
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a. Expression of emotion xx xx




b. Detecting auditory stimuli xx xx




c. Receiving visual images xx xx



d. Processing associations xx




ANS: D xx


The parietal lobe is responsible for associating and processing sensory information
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that allows for functions such as following directions on a map, reading a clock,
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dressing self, keeping appointments, and distinguishing right from left. Emotional
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expression is associated with frontal lobe function. Detecting auditory stimuli is a
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temporal lobe function. Receiving visual images is related to occipital lobe
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function.
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7. At admission, the nurse learns that some time ago the patient had an infarct in
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the right cerebral cortex. During assessment, the nurse would expect to find
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that the patient:
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a. Demonstrates major deficiencies in speech xx xx xx xx




b. Is unable to effectively hold a spoon in the left hand
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c. Has difficulty explaining how to go about using the telephone
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d. Cannot use his right hand to shave himself or comb his own hair
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ANS: B xx


The cerebral hemispheres are responsible for functions such as control of muscles.
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The right hemisphere mainly controls the motor and sensory functions on the left
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side of the body. Damage to the right side would result in impaired function on
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the left side of the body. The motor cortex controls voluntary motor activity.
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Brocas area controls motor speech. Cognitive functions are attributed to the
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association cortex.
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The right side of the bodys motor activity is controlled by the left cerebral cortex.
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8. A patient with chronic schizophrenia had a stroke involving the hippocampus.
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The patient will be discharged on low doses of haloperidol. The nurse will need
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to individualize the patients medication teaching by:
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a. Including the patients caregiver in the education xx xx xx xx xx xx




b. Being careful to stress the importance of taking the medication as prescribed
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Providing the education at a time when the patient is emotionally calm and
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c. relaxed
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Encouraging the patient to crush or dissolve the medication to help with
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d. swallowing
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ANS: A xx