BCPP TESTBANK QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS ALL CORRECT
A 28 year old patient recently diagnosed with MDD presents to the mental health clinic
for a follow-up assessment and medication check. This individual was started on
bupropion sustained-release 150 mg by mouth 2 weeks ago. The patient was to take
this for 3 days, then add in the second 150 mg dose by mouth (take in the late
afternoon). The patient's physician administers the MADRS during the visit, and the
patient's score is 33 today. This score on the MADRS indicates which level of
depression?
A) Mild
B) Moderate
C) Severe
D) Very severe - Answer- B
A 35 year old patient recently diagnosed with MDD asks you about different
antidepressant options. The individual's medical co-morbidities include diabetes,
neuropathic pain, and seizures. Current medications include metformin 1000 mg by
mouth twice daily and gabapentin 600 mg by mouth three times daily. All laboratory
values and vital signs are within normal limits. You inquire about the patient's daily
adherence, and the patient reports very few missed medication doses. Which of the
following medications would be most appropriate to initiate for this patient?
A) Amitriptyline
B) Bupropion
C) Duloxetine
D) Fluoxetine - Answer- C
Which of the following medications would be best for an individual with MDD that
endorses partial adherence with medication?
A) Fluoxetine
B) Fluvoxamine
C) Paroxetine
D) Venlafaxine - Answer- A
A 27-year-old patient is started on sertraline 50 mg by mouth daily, is increased to 100
mg by mouth daily 2 weeks after initiating it, and is reassessed in 8 weeks. The patient
reports little improvement in her presenting symptoms which included a depressed
mood, anhedonia, concentration difficulties, insomnia, and excessive guilt. Based on
findings from the STARD trials, which of the following is the best course of action?
, A) Increase sertraline to 150 mg/day
B) Augment sertraline with aripiprazole 5 mg/day
C) Switch sertraline to amitriptyline 25 mg/day
D) Switch sertraline to escitalopram 10 mg/day - Answer- D
A 51 year old patient presents to the mental health clinic with complaints of a depressed
mood, difficulty sleeping, pessimism, hopelessness, psychomotor retardation, and
decreased energy. The patient reports a decreased desire for sexual activity as well as
a 20 pound weight loss over the past few weeks. Past medical history is significant for
hypertension (with elevated readings in the clinic today). The individual reports receiving
psychotherapy in the past but denies taking any antidepressants. Which of the following
regimens would be most appropriate to initiate for this patient?
A) Amitriptyline 50 mg PO at bedtime
B) Citalopram 20 mg PO daily
C) Mirtazapine 15 mg PO at bedtime
D) Venlafaxine ER 150 mg PO d - Answer- C
The physician wants to initiate citalopram 10 mg daily in a 61-year-old patient. Per
previous records, the patient had responded well to this 10 years ago for treatment of a
major depressive episode. Which of the following baseline assessments should be
obtained prior to starting citalopram?
A) CBC
B) Glucose
C) Lipids
D) Potassium - Answer- D
A 24-year-old women is 10 weeks into her first planned pregnancy. She presents to the
mental health clinic with complaints of anhedonia, feelings of worthlessness, insomnia,
depressed mood, and poor appetite. She is diagnosed with MDD and wants to start
medications after a lengthy conversation with her physician and pharmacist. Which of
the following is the most appropriate to initiate for this patient?
A) Amitriptyline
B) Paroxetine
C) Sertraline
D) Venlafaxine - Answer- C
A 29-year-old patient new to antidepressant therapy comes to your patient medication
education group. The patient would like to know when an improvement in depressed
mood will be seen. Which of the following time frames do you provide?
A) After a few days of teatment
B) After the first week of treatment
C) After the fourth week of treatment
D) After the eighth week of treatment - Answer- C
Which of the following is a chronic suicide risk factor?
A) Anxiety
ANSWERS ALL CORRECT
A 28 year old patient recently diagnosed with MDD presents to the mental health clinic
for a follow-up assessment and medication check. This individual was started on
bupropion sustained-release 150 mg by mouth 2 weeks ago. The patient was to take
this for 3 days, then add in the second 150 mg dose by mouth (take in the late
afternoon). The patient's physician administers the MADRS during the visit, and the
patient's score is 33 today. This score on the MADRS indicates which level of
depression?
A) Mild
B) Moderate
C) Severe
D) Very severe - Answer- B
A 35 year old patient recently diagnosed with MDD asks you about different
antidepressant options. The individual's medical co-morbidities include diabetes,
neuropathic pain, and seizures. Current medications include metformin 1000 mg by
mouth twice daily and gabapentin 600 mg by mouth three times daily. All laboratory
values and vital signs are within normal limits. You inquire about the patient's daily
adherence, and the patient reports very few missed medication doses. Which of the
following medications would be most appropriate to initiate for this patient?
A) Amitriptyline
B) Bupropion
C) Duloxetine
D) Fluoxetine - Answer- C
Which of the following medications would be best for an individual with MDD that
endorses partial adherence with medication?
A) Fluoxetine
B) Fluvoxamine
C) Paroxetine
D) Venlafaxine - Answer- A
A 27-year-old patient is started on sertraline 50 mg by mouth daily, is increased to 100
mg by mouth daily 2 weeks after initiating it, and is reassessed in 8 weeks. The patient
reports little improvement in her presenting symptoms which included a depressed
mood, anhedonia, concentration difficulties, insomnia, and excessive guilt. Based on
findings from the STARD trials, which of the following is the best course of action?
, A) Increase sertraline to 150 mg/day
B) Augment sertraline with aripiprazole 5 mg/day
C) Switch sertraline to amitriptyline 25 mg/day
D) Switch sertraline to escitalopram 10 mg/day - Answer- D
A 51 year old patient presents to the mental health clinic with complaints of a depressed
mood, difficulty sleeping, pessimism, hopelessness, psychomotor retardation, and
decreased energy. The patient reports a decreased desire for sexual activity as well as
a 20 pound weight loss over the past few weeks. Past medical history is significant for
hypertension (with elevated readings in the clinic today). The individual reports receiving
psychotherapy in the past but denies taking any antidepressants. Which of the following
regimens would be most appropriate to initiate for this patient?
A) Amitriptyline 50 mg PO at bedtime
B) Citalopram 20 mg PO daily
C) Mirtazapine 15 mg PO at bedtime
D) Venlafaxine ER 150 mg PO d - Answer- C
The physician wants to initiate citalopram 10 mg daily in a 61-year-old patient. Per
previous records, the patient had responded well to this 10 years ago for treatment of a
major depressive episode. Which of the following baseline assessments should be
obtained prior to starting citalopram?
A) CBC
B) Glucose
C) Lipids
D) Potassium - Answer- D
A 24-year-old women is 10 weeks into her first planned pregnancy. She presents to the
mental health clinic with complaints of anhedonia, feelings of worthlessness, insomnia,
depressed mood, and poor appetite. She is diagnosed with MDD and wants to start
medications after a lengthy conversation with her physician and pharmacist. Which of
the following is the most appropriate to initiate for this patient?
A) Amitriptyline
B) Paroxetine
C) Sertraline
D) Venlafaxine - Answer- C
A 29-year-old patient new to antidepressant therapy comes to your patient medication
education group. The patient would like to know when an improvement in depressed
mood will be seen. Which of the following time frames do you provide?
A) After a few days of teatment
B) After the first week of treatment
C) After the fourth week of treatment
D) After the eighth week of treatment - Answer- C
Which of the following is a chronic suicide risk factor?
A) Anxiety
