UT Arlington NURS 5410 Exam 2 (pdf) | 2026/2027 | Intro to Psych
Mental Health Q&A | Psychiatry
1. Which of the following best describes the primary focus of epigenetic
mechanisms in psychiatric disorders?
A) Permanent alterations to the DNA sequence that are inherited across
generations
B) Heritable changes in gene expression that do not involve alterations to
the DNA sequence
C) The study of how environmental factors directly mutate genes
D) The process by which neurotransmitters are synthesized and degraded
Correct Answer: Heritable changes in gene expression that do not involve
alterations to the DNA sequence
Rationale: Epigenetics refers to heritable changes in gene expression that
occur without changes to the underlying DNA sequence. These changes,
such as DNA methylation and histone modification, can be influenced by
environmental factors and play a significant role in psychiatric disorders.
2. A researcher is studying how early life trauma leads to long-term changes
in stress reactivity without altering the DNA sequence. This field of study is
known as:
A) Behavioral genetics
B) Epigenetics
C) Molecular biology
D) Neuroendocrinology
Correct Answer: Epigenetics
Rationale: Epigenetics examines how environmental factors like early life
stress can induce changes in gene expression (e.g., through DNA
methylation) that persist into adulthood, affecting vulnerability to psychiatric
disorders without changing the underlying genetic code.
,3. DNA methylation typically results in which of the following effects on gene
expression?
A) Increased gene transcription
B) Decreased gene transcription
C) No change in gene transcription
D) Degradation of the gene
Correct Answer: Decreased gene transcription
Rationale: DNA methylation typically silences gene expression by adding
methyl groups to DNA, which can block the binding of transcription factors
and recruit proteins that compact chromatin, making the DNA less accessible
for transcription.
4. A patient with a family history of schizophrenia is found to have several
genetic risk variants. According to the current understanding of psychiatric
genetics, which of the following is the most accurate description of the
genetic architecture of schizophrenia?
A) It is caused by a single dominant gene mutation
B) It is caused by a single recessive gene mutation
C) It is polygenic, involving many genes each with small effects
D) It is caused by a mitochondrial DNA mutation
Correct Answer: It is polygenic, involving many genes each with small effects
Rationale: Schizophrenia and other major psychiatric disorders are polygenic,
meaning they result from the cumulative effect of many genetic variants,
each contributing a small amount of risk. This is supported by genome-wide
association studies (GWAS).
5. Which of the following is an example of a copy number variation (CNV)
that is associated with increased risk for psychiatric disorders?
A) A single nucleotide polymorphism in the serotonin transporter gene
B) A microdeletion on chromosome 22q11.2
,C) A trinucleotide repeat expansion in the HTT gene
D) A point mutation in the COMT gene
Correct Answer: A microdeletion on chromosome 22q11.2
Rationale: Copy number variations (CNVs) are deletions or duplications of
large segments of DNA. The 22q11.2 microdeletion is one of the most well-
established CNVs associated with increased risk for schizophrenia and other
psychiatric conditions.
6. The dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia proposes that the positive
symptoms of schizophrenia are primarily due to:
A) Decreased dopamine activity in the mesocortical pathway
B) Increased dopamine activity in the mesolimbic pathway
C) Decreased dopamine activity in the nigrostriatal pathway
D) Increased dopamine activity in the tuberoinfundibular pathway
Correct Answer: Increased dopamine activity in the mesolimbic pathway
Rationale: The dopamine hypothesis suggests that hyperactivity of dopamine
neurotransmission in the mesolimbic pathway is responsible for the positive
symptoms of schizophrenia, such as hallucinations and delusions.
Antipsychotic medications primarily block D2 receptors in this pathway.
7. A patient with schizophrenia exhibits flat affect, avolition, and social
withdrawal. These symptoms are classified as:
A) Positive symptoms
B) Negative symptoms
C) Cognitive symptoms
D) Mood symptoms
Correct Answer: Negative symptoms
Rationale: Negative symptoms of schizophrenia represent a decrease or loss
of normal functions and include flat affect (reduced emotional expression),
, avolition (lack of motivation), alogia (poverty of speech), and asociality
(social withdrawal).
8. Which brain region is most consistently associated with the
pathophysiology of schizophrenia, particularly with the positive symptoms?
A) Prefrontal cortex
B) Hippocampus
C) Mesolimbic pathway
D) Cerebellum
Correct Answer: Mesolimbic pathway
Rationale: The mesolimbic pathway, which projects from the ventral
tegmental area to the nucleus accumbens and other limbic structures, is the
primary dopamine pathway implicated in the positive symptoms of
schizophrenia.
9. A patient with schizophrenia is started on a typical antipsychotic. Which
receptor does this class of medication primarily block?
A) 5-HT2A receptor
B) D2 dopamine receptor
C) GABA-A receptor
D) NMDA receptor
Correct Answer: D2 dopamine receptor
Rationale: Typical (first-generation) antipsychotics primarily work by blocking
dopamine D2 receptors. This reduces dopaminergic activity in the
mesolimbic pathway, alleviating positive symptoms but often causing
extrapyramidal side effects due to D2 blockade in the nigrostriatal pathway.
10. A patient on an antipsychotic medication develops muscle rigidity,
tremors, and bradykinesia. These extrapyramidal symptoms are most likely
due to D2 receptor blockade in which brain pathway?
Mental Health Q&A | Psychiatry
1. Which of the following best describes the primary focus of epigenetic
mechanisms in psychiatric disorders?
A) Permanent alterations to the DNA sequence that are inherited across
generations
B) Heritable changes in gene expression that do not involve alterations to
the DNA sequence
C) The study of how environmental factors directly mutate genes
D) The process by which neurotransmitters are synthesized and degraded
Correct Answer: Heritable changes in gene expression that do not involve
alterations to the DNA sequence
Rationale: Epigenetics refers to heritable changes in gene expression that
occur without changes to the underlying DNA sequence. These changes,
such as DNA methylation and histone modification, can be influenced by
environmental factors and play a significant role in psychiatric disorders.
2. A researcher is studying how early life trauma leads to long-term changes
in stress reactivity without altering the DNA sequence. This field of study is
known as:
A) Behavioral genetics
B) Epigenetics
C) Molecular biology
D) Neuroendocrinology
Correct Answer: Epigenetics
Rationale: Epigenetics examines how environmental factors like early life
stress can induce changes in gene expression (e.g., through DNA
methylation) that persist into adulthood, affecting vulnerability to psychiatric
disorders without changing the underlying genetic code.
,3. DNA methylation typically results in which of the following effects on gene
expression?
A) Increased gene transcription
B) Decreased gene transcription
C) No change in gene transcription
D) Degradation of the gene
Correct Answer: Decreased gene transcription
Rationale: DNA methylation typically silences gene expression by adding
methyl groups to DNA, which can block the binding of transcription factors
and recruit proteins that compact chromatin, making the DNA less accessible
for transcription.
4. A patient with a family history of schizophrenia is found to have several
genetic risk variants. According to the current understanding of psychiatric
genetics, which of the following is the most accurate description of the
genetic architecture of schizophrenia?
A) It is caused by a single dominant gene mutation
B) It is caused by a single recessive gene mutation
C) It is polygenic, involving many genes each with small effects
D) It is caused by a mitochondrial DNA mutation
Correct Answer: It is polygenic, involving many genes each with small effects
Rationale: Schizophrenia and other major psychiatric disorders are polygenic,
meaning they result from the cumulative effect of many genetic variants,
each contributing a small amount of risk. This is supported by genome-wide
association studies (GWAS).
5. Which of the following is an example of a copy number variation (CNV)
that is associated with increased risk for psychiatric disorders?
A) A single nucleotide polymorphism in the serotonin transporter gene
B) A microdeletion on chromosome 22q11.2
,C) A trinucleotide repeat expansion in the HTT gene
D) A point mutation in the COMT gene
Correct Answer: A microdeletion on chromosome 22q11.2
Rationale: Copy number variations (CNVs) are deletions or duplications of
large segments of DNA. The 22q11.2 microdeletion is one of the most well-
established CNVs associated with increased risk for schizophrenia and other
psychiatric conditions.
6. The dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia proposes that the positive
symptoms of schizophrenia are primarily due to:
A) Decreased dopamine activity in the mesocortical pathway
B) Increased dopamine activity in the mesolimbic pathway
C) Decreased dopamine activity in the nigrostriatal pathway
D) Increased dopamine activity in the tuberoinfundibular pathway
Correct Answer: Increased dopamine activity in the mesolimbic pathway
Rationale: The dopamine hypothesis suggests that hyperactivity of dopamine
neurotransmission in the mesolimbic pathway is responsible for the positive
symptoms of schizophrenia, such as hallucinations and delusions.
Antipsychotic medications primarily block D2 receptors in this pathway.
7. A patient with schizophrenia exhibits flat affect, avolition, and social
withdrawal. These symptoms are classified as:
A) Positive symptoms
B) Negative symptoms
C) Cognitive symptoms
D) Mood symptoms
Correct Answer: Negative symptoms
Rationale: Negative symptoms of schizophrenia represent a decrease or loss
of normal functions and include flat affect (reduced emotional expression),
, avolition (lack of motivation), alogia (poverty of speech), and asociality
(social withdrawal).
8. Which brain region is most consistently associated with the
pathophysiology of schizophrenia, particularly with the positive symptoms?
A) Prefrontal cortex
B) Hippocampus
C) Mesolimbic pathway
D) Cerebellum
Correct Answer: Mesolimbic pathway
Rationale: The mesolimbic pathway, which projects from the ventral
tegmental area to the nucleus accumbens and other limbic structures, is the
primary dopamine pathway implicated in the positive symptoms of
schizophrenia.
9. A patient with schizophrenia is started on a typical antipsychotic. Which
receptor does this class of medication primarily block?
A) 5-HT2A receptor
B) D2 dopamine receptor
C) GABA-A receptor
D) NMDA receptor
Correct Answer: D2 dopamine receptor
Rationale: Typical (first-generation) antipsychotics primarily work by blocking
dopamine D2 receptors. This reduces dopaminergic activity in the
mesolimbic pathway, alleviating positive symptoms but often causing
extrapyramidal side effects due to D2 blockade in the nigrostriatal pathway.
10. A patient on an antipsychotic medication develops muscle rigidity,
tremors, and bradykinesia. These extrapyramidal symptoms are most likely
due to D2 receptor blockade in which brain pathway?
