exam questions and detailed correct and
verified answers.
Ameeta, a 42-year-old female, presents to the primary care clinic with a three-month history
of "feeling low and sad" with poor energy, inability to concentrate, and irritability. She
indicates that the symptoms were initially present once per week but have increased to 4-5
times per week. She reports making an error last week at the grocery store where she works
as a cashier and snapping at the customer when the error was brought to her attention. She
is concerned about her loss of interest in her usual social activities and a 20-pound weight
gain. She also reports frequent headaches, difficulty getting out of bed in the morning,
feeling worthless, and low libido. She acknowledges that she feels guilty daily as she has not
visited her son in 6 months and believes that she has "let him down". Thinking about it keeps
her "up at night". She has difficulty falling and staying asleep every night. She denies suicidal
idea - Correct Answer citalopram 20 mg po daily
Rationale: Although all three drugs are appropriate to use when treating unipolar depression,
Citalopram is an SSRI and is considered a first-line choice.
Medications for depression - Correct Answer SSRIs
SNRIs
SDRIs
TCAs
MAOIs
SSRIs - Correct Answer -Action: inhibit 5-HT reuptake
-Examples: citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline
-Adverse effects:
• nausea
• agitation
• diarrhea
• headache
• weight gain
• sexual side effects
SNRIs - Correct Answer -inhibit 5-HT reuptake
-inhibit NE reuptake (↑ energy, focus)
-increase DA in prefrontal cortex (↑ cognition)
-Examples: desvenlafaxine, duloxetine, levomilnacipran, venlafaxine
,-Adverse effects:
• elevated blood pressure
• nausea
• sweating
• tremors
• anxiety
• insomnia
• constipation
• anorexia
• sexual dysfunction
SDRIs - Correct Answer -inhibit DA reuptake (↑alertness, motivation)
-inhibit NE reuptake (↑energy)
-Adverse effects:
• agitation
• headache
• dry mouth
• constipation
• weight loss
TCAs - Correct Answer -Action: inhibits the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine; blocks
norepinephrine, histamine, and acetylcholine receptors
-Examples: amitriptyline, clomipramine, desipramine, doxepin
-Common Side Effects:
• dry mouth
• constipation
• blurred vision
• urinary retention
• sedation
• weight gain
• hypotension
• tachycardia
• sexual dysfunction
MAOIs - Correct Answer -Action: increases norepinephrine and serotonin by inhibiting the
enzyme that inactivates it
-Examples: isocarboxazid, phenelzine, tranylcypromine
-Common Side Effects:
,• sedation
• dizziness
• sexual dysfunction
• hypertensive crisis
Prescribing pearls: citalopram (Celexa) - Correct Answer mild antihistamine effects
Prescribing pearls: escitalopram (Lexapro) - Correct Answer no known drug interactions
Prescribing pearls: fluoxetine (Prozac) - Correct Answer longest half-life
Prescribing pearls: paroxetine (Paxil) - Correct Answer also treats social anxiety and insomnia
Prescribing pearls: fluvoxamine (Luvox) - Correct Answer treats anxious depression smokers
require increased dose
Prescribing pearls: sertraline (Zoloft) - Correct Answer also treats social anxiety and
hypersomnolence
Prescribing pearls: bupropion (Wellbutrin) - Correct Answer NDRI may improve energy,
alertness, and motivation; not first line treatment for anxiety; contraindicated in clients with a
history of seizures
Prescribing pearls: duloxetine (Cymbalta) - Correct Answer effective for atypical pain at
higher doses; appropriate for clients who present with somatic symptoms of depression;
effective for atypical pain, such as fibromyalgia and diabetic neuropathy
Prescribing pearls: venlafaxine (Effexor) - Correct Answer treats both depression and anxiety
disorders, ensure trial of higher dose before switching to a different medication
Prescribing pearls: desvenlafaxine (Pristiq) - Correct Answer effective for perimenopausal
vasomotor symptoms
considered when selecting a medication: - Correct Answer -Client preference
-Prior treatment response
-Anticipated adverse effects
-Comorbidities
-Half-life and interactions
-Cost
if a medication is not achieving efficacy: - Correct Answer -Increase dose gradually
-Switch to a different drug within the same class
-Switch to drug in a different class
-Add a second medication
Use to protect against suicide - Correct Answer lithium
MDD and BPD genetics - Correct Answer genetic factors contribute 31-42% of the disease
risk in MDD and 59-85% in BPD
monoamine hypothesis of depression - Correct Answer -posits that depression occurs as a
result of a deficiency of one or all three monoamine transmitters
• serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine
, -while mania may result from an excess
*Emphasis is now shifted from the monoamines to their receptors and other downstream
events such as the regulation of gene expression, growth factors, environmental factors, and
epigenetic changes
- Correct Answer Three principal neurotransmitters
-norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), and serotonin 5HT
• comprise the monoamine neurotransmitter system
• implications for the pathophysiology and treatment of mood disorders
• All known pharmacologic treatments for mood disorders act upon one or more of these
three neurotransmitters
-Many of the symptoms of mood disorders are hypothesized to involve dysfunction of various
combinations of the monoamine neurotransmitters
Mood disorders include ____________________ and ___________________ - Correct
Answer depressive disorders and bipolar disorders
Major depressive disorder (MDD) - Correct Answer one of the most prevalent psychiatric
disorders
-estimated that more than 300 million people suffer from
-leading cause of disability worldwide
-7.1% of adults and 13.3% of adolescents in the U.S. had at least one major depressive
episode
-An imbalance of specific neurotransmitters, including dopamine, serotonin, and
norepinephrine, can influence brain activity and result in depression
-decreased neurotransmitter activity in the prefrontal cortex (PFC)
MDD dx - Correct Answer -occurrence of at least one episode of major depression lasting at
least two weeks.
-must experience 5 or more of the following symptoms in two weeks to be diagnosed with a
major depressive episode:
• feeling low most of the day for most days
• decreased interest in activities
• substantial weight loss, significant change in appetite
• fidgeting, random movement (i.e. pacing)
• decreased energy
• sense of guilt or worthlessness
• lack of focus or ability to make decisions
• repeated thoughts of death and suicide
risk factors associated with major depressive disorder (MDD) - Correct Answer female gender
older adults with multiple health problems and disabilities