Questions and Answers Latest Updated
2025/2026 (GRADED A+)
Know what a painful muscle spasm with neck muscles pulling a patient's head to the
side called and Name a common drug therapy to relieve this symptom. - Dystonia
Know the role of buspirone in the treatment of anxiety and the recommended dose and
time for onset of action. - Takes 3 to 4 weeks for full effect
Know what medication may be an option for patients noncompliant on antipsychotics
resulting in multiple hospital stays. - Risperdal Consta (risperidone)
Know baseline labs and vital measurements tests for the patient who will be prescribed
an antipsychotic such as quetiapine (Seroquel). - Lipid, Fasting Blood Sugar, Family
History **NOT CPK**
Know the common effects of smoking along with antipsychotic drug therapy such as olanzapine.
- Decreases the plasma levels of Olanzapine (Zyprexa) because of its metabolism at CYP450
enzyme.
Describe common side effects/disadvantages of antihistamines. - anticholinergic effects
Identify 3-4 disorders/situations when benzodiazepines may be indicated. - Alcohol withdrawal,
Benzodiazepine withdrawal, Acute Agitation, Panic Attack, Sleep Disorder, Seizures
Know and describe the name of long-acting olanzapine and a key adverse side effect. -
Zyprexa Relprevv **Post injection delirium syndrome**
Know and describe screening tools for depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and mania
symptoms. - Mood Disorder Questionnaire
Be able to describe baseline labs you would want to have prior to ordering antipsychotics. - CBC,
CMP, LFTs, Lipid Panel, HgbA1c, U/A, Urine Drug Screen
**NOT CPK**
Describe 2-3 common side effects of atypical antipsychotics. - Weight gain, Sedation,
,Metabolic Syndrome
Know the route of administration for newer agent asenapine (Saphris) and what
instructions should be given to the patient regarding administration. - Sublingua
l
Know and describe the top atypical antipsychotic with greatest incidence of prolonged
QTc interval. - Ziprasidone (Geodon).
Know which antipsychotics have specific instructions for minimum food intake or diet
restrictions. - Lurasidone (Latuda)
Know an alternative atypical antipsychotic for a patient who has developed diabetes and
has a significant weight gain from treatment with olanzapine. - Aripiprazole (Abilify)
Know whether a patient is demonstrating efficacy to clozapine 500 mg/day if this week's
granulocyte count is less than 500mm3. What is the most appropriate recommendation for drug
therapy? - Discontinue and do not re-start
What group/population has the shortest life span? - Black males
Know which organ systems need to be evaluated prior to and at scheduled intervals
when prescribing Depakote (valproate acid). - liver
What medications are used to treat an overdose of a benzodiazepine? - Flumazenil
(Romazicon)
Know the most common medications used to treat Alzheimer's Disease via transdermal.
- rivastigmine (Exelon)
Know and describe cognitive therapy strategies and how these are used to treat anxiety. - Keep a
diary of symptoms to link symptoms and to work on reframing
worry apprehension expectations, obsessions is what part of brain - cohticostraital
thalamic circuit
Best medications to treat borderline personality disorder? - No usual group of
medications are used.
, What medication is used to treat flu-like symptoms of opioid withdrawal? - Clonidine
What population across the lifespan are most at risk for suicide? How does your health, gender,
and genetics play a role in being at a higher risk for suicide? - Previous attempts, Substance use,
Means and plan, anniversary of a death of a loved one, **all of the above**
What medication would NOT be used together for treatment resistant depression? -
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors & SSRIs
What would be a lab used to monitor for NMS? - Elevated CPK
levels of anxiety - 1-normative, perceptual field broadened
2-normative, perceptual field mild narrow
3-pathological, VS changes
4-pathological, panic
ataque de nervios - a self-labeled syndrome found in Latinos in which they experience a
mixture of anxiety, panic, depression, and anger
older adult anxiety symptoms - somatic concerns
DSM5 anxiety disorders - panic disorder
agorabphobia
social anxiety disorder
generalized anxiety disorder
selective mutism
fear vs anxiety - panic attacks are fear response
fear is imminent threat
anxiety is perceived/future
2 components of anxiety - awareness of physiological sensations I.e. VS
awareness of being nervous/frightened
limbic system - amygdala, hypothalamus, hippocampus
thalamus
mild anxiety - eustress
motivating
normal
___% pts with GAD have 1 other psychiatric disorder - 90%