NU665 WEEK 1 PRACTICE GUIDE UPDATED
2026 TESTED SOLUTIONS
⫸ What is the main critique of traditional Motivational Interviewing
(MI) according to Angelini & Efran (2021)? Answer: MI's effectiveness
is not solely dependent on change talk; the therapeutic relationship and
context are also crucial.
⫸ What is Anxious Attachment? Answer: Anxious attachment arises
from inconsistent caregiving, leading to anxiety about abandonment.
Individuals with this style often crave closeness but fear rejection or
being left alone.
⫸ What does Secure Attachment look like in adults? Answer: Adults
with secure attachment have stable, healthy relationships. They balance
independence with closeness, communicate effectively, and are
confident in seeking support when needed.
⫸ What is Secure Attachment? Answer: Secure attachment forms when
caregivers are consistently responsive to a child's needs, fostering safety
and trust. These individuals feel comfortable with intimacy, express
emotions openly, and trust others.
⫸ A 25-year-old woman with bipolar disorder is newly pregnant. She is
currently stable on valproate. What should be done? Answer:
,Discontinue valproate immediately due to its high risk of neural tube
defects. Consider switching to lamotrigine, which is safer in pregnancy.
⫸ A 70-year-old woman with GAD and a history of falls is asking for
medication. Which medication should be avoided? Answer:
Benzodiazepines (e.g., alprazolam, diazepam, lorazepam) - They
increase fall risk, cognitive impairment, and dependence in elderly
patients. Consider SSRIs or buspirone instead.
⫸ A 36-year-old male combat veteran with PTSD experiences
nightmares and hyperarousal. What medication should be considered?
Answer: A 36-year-old male combat veteran with PTSD experiences
nightmares and hyperarousal. What medication should be considered?
⫸ A 28-year-old female with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) wants
a medication that is non-addictive and does not cause sedation. What is a
good option? Answer: Buspirone - A non-benzodiazepine option that
does not cause sedation or dependence, but takes 2-4 weeks to work.
⫸ A 38-year-old male with depression and chronic pain (fibromyalgia)
needs an antidepressant. Which medication would be a good choice?
Answer: Duloxetine - It treats both depression and neuropathic
pain/fibromyalgia.
⫸ A 45-year-old woman with treatment-resistant depression has tried
fluoxetine, sertraline, and venlafaxine with minimal improvement. What
is the next step? Answer: Consider augmentation therapy with lithium,
atypical antipsychotics (e.g., aripiprazole), or triiodothyronine (T3).
, Alternatively, MAOIs or electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can be
considered.
⫸ A 24-year-old man with major depressive disorder (MDD) and
nicotine dependence wants to quit smoking. He has no history of
seizures. What antidepressant might be a good option? Answer:
Bupropion - It treats MDD and helps with smoking cessation. However,
it is contraindicated in seizure disorders or eating disorders.
⫸ A 32-year-old woman presents with depression, decreased appetite,
weight loss, and insomnia. She denies suicidal ideation but feels
hopeless. She is underweight (BMI 17.8). Which antidepressant is a
good choice? Answer: Mirtazapine - It promotes weight gain and
improves sleep, making it ideal for underweight patients with insomnia.
⫸ What is the black box warning for all antidepressants? Answer: What
is the black box warning for all antidepressants?
⫸ Which antipsychotic has a black box warning for increased mortality
in elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis? Answer: All
antipsychotics (especially second-generation).
⫸ Which benzodiazepine has the highest potential for abuse due to
rapid onset? Answer: Alprazolam (Xanax).
⫸ Which sleep medication is most associated with complex sleep
behaviors like sleepwalking? Answer: Zolpidem (Ambien).
2026 TESTED SOLUTIONS
⫸ What is the main critique of traditional Motivational Interviewing
(MI) according to Angelini & Efran (2021)? Answer: MI's effectiveness
is not solely dependent on change talk; the therapeutic relationship and
context are also crucial.
⫸ What is Anxious Attachment? Answer: Anxious attachment arises
from inconsistent caregiving, leading to anxiety about abandonment.
Individuals with this style often crave closeness but fear rejection or
being left alone.
⫸ What does Secure Attachment look like in adults? Answer: Adults
with secure attachment have stable, healthy relationships. They balance
independence with closeness, communicate effectively, and are
confident in seeking support when needed.
⫸ What is Secure Attachment? Answer: Secure attachment forms when
caregivers are consistently responsive to a child's needs, fostering safety
and trust. These individuals feel comfortable with intimacy, express
emotions openly, and trust others.
⫸ A 25-year-old woman with bipolar disorder is newly pregnant. She is
currently stable on valproate. What should be done? Answer:
,Discontinue valproate immediately due to its high risk of neural tube
defects. Consider switching to lamotrigine, which is safer in pregnancy.
⫸ A 70-year-old woman with GAD and a history of falls is asking for
medication. Which medication should be avoided? Answer:
Benzodiazepines (e.g., alprazolam, diazepam, lorazepam) - They
increase fall risk, cognitive impairment, and dependence in elderly
patients. Consider SSRIs or buspirone instead.
⫸ A 36-year-old male combat veteran with PTSD experiences
nightmares and hyperarousal. What medication should be considered?
Answer: A 36-year-old male combat veteran with PTSD experiences
nightmares and hyperarousal. What medication should be considered?
⫸ A 28-year-old female with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) wants
a medication that is non-addictive and does not cause sedation. What is a
good option? Answer: Buspirone - A non-benzodiazepine option that
does not cause sedation or dependence, but takes 2-4 weeks to work.
⫸ A 38-year-old male with depression and chronic pain (fibromyalgia)
needs an antidepressant. Which medication would be a good choice?
Answer: Duloxetine - It treats both depression and neuropathic
pain/fibromyalgia.
⫸ A 45-year-old woman with treatment-resistant depression has tried
fluoxetine, sertraline, and venlafaxine with minimal improvement. What
is the next step? Answer: Consider augmentation therapy with lithium,
atypical antipsychotics (e.g., aripiprazole), or triiodothyronine (T3).
, Alternatively, MAOIs or electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can be
considered.
⫸ A 24-year-old man with major depressive disorder (MDD) and
nicotine dependence wants to quit smoking. He has no history of
seizures. What antidepressant might be a good option? Answer:
Bupropion - It treats MDD and helps with smoking cessation. However,
it is contraindicated in seizure disorders or eating disorders.
⫸ A 32-year-old woman presents with depression, decreased appetite,
weight loss, and insomnia. She denies suicidal ideation but feels
hopeless. She is underweight (BMI 17.8). Which antidepressant is a
good choice? Answer: Mirtazapine - It promotes weight gain and
improves sleep, making it ideal for underweight patients with insomnia.
⫸ What is the black box warning for all antidepressants? Answer: What
is the black box warning for all antidepressants?
⫸ Which antipsychotic has a black box warning for increased mortality
in elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis? Answer: All
antipsychotics (especially second-generation).
⫸ Which benzodiazepine has the highest potential for abuse due to
rapid onset? Answer: Alprazolam (Xanax).
⫸ Which sleep medication is most associated with complex sleep
behaviors like sleepwalking? Answer: Zolpidem (Ambien).
