NURS 5357 Exam 2: Neurobiology of Mood Disorders Questions
with 100% Verified Answers Latest Update
Question: Answer:
A patient with major depressive disorder reports chronic B. Chronic HPA axis activation increases cortisol and affects
stress, poor sleep, and worsening sadness. Which biological mood-related brain regions
pathway best explains how chronic stress may contribute to Rationale: Chronic activation of the HPA axis increases cortisol, which
depression? negatively affects
A. Decreased cortisol suppresses serotonin release brain regions involved in mood regulation like the hippocampus,
B. Chronic HPA axis activation increases cortisol and affects amygdala, and
mood-related brain regions prefrontal cortex.
C. Increased thyroid hormone always protects against
depressive symptoms
D. Dopamine excess causes hippocampal repair
Question: Answer:
Which factor is considered a biological etiology of A. Elevated cortisol
depression? Rationale: Hormonal imbalances, particularly elevated cortisol, are
A. Elevated cortisol biological
B. Low academic motivation only contributors to depression alongside genetics, inflammation, and
C. Poor communication skills only environmental factors.
D. Lack of hobbies
Question: Answer:
A PMHNP explains that inflammation may contribute to A. Inflammation can alter neurotransmitter systems such as
depression. Which statement best supports this teaching? serotonin and dopamine
A. Inflammation can alter neurotransmitter systems such as Rationale: Chronic inflammation can alter brain neurochemistry and
serotonin and dopamine affect key mood-
B. Inflammation only affects joints, not the brain regulating neurotransmitters including serotonin and dopamine.
C. Inflammation increases BDNF in all patients
D. Inflammation prevents cortisol release
,Question: Answer:
A patient says, 'My depression must only be a chemical C. 'Depression is complex and may involve neurotransmitters,
imbalance.' Which response is most accurate? genetics, stress, hormones,
A. 'Yes, depression is only caused by low serotonin.' inflammation, and neuroplasticity.'
B. 'Depression is usually caused by laziness.' Rationale: The monoamine hypothesis is incomplete; depression is
C. 'Depression is complex and may involve neurotransmitters, multifactorial and
genetics, stress, hormones, inflammation, and neuroplasticity.' involves complex physiological and genetic interactions.
D. 'Depression is only caused by childhood trauma.'
Question: Answer:
Which neurotransmitters are the major monoamines involved A. Serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine
in mood regulation? Rationale: These three monoamines are the primary focus of the
A. Serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine monoamine hypothesis,
B. Acetylcholine, histamine, and glutamate only regulating mood, energy, pleasure, motivation, and emotion.
C. GABA, glycine, and endorphins only
D. Melatonin, cortisol, and insulin
Question: Answer:
A patient with depression has low motivation, reduced A. Dopamine
pleasure, and decreased reward-seeking behavior. Which Rationale: Dopamine is heavily involved in the reward system,
neurotransmitter is most associated with these symptoms? motivation, pleasure, and
A. Dopamine positive affect. Deficits lead to anhedonia.
B. Acetylcholine
C. Histamine
D. Oxytocin
Question: Answer:
Which symptom is most closely associated with A. Low energy and poor alertness
norepinephrine deficiency? Rationale: Norepinephrine modulates arousal, alertness, focus, and
A. Low energy and poor alertness energy; deficiency
B. Excessive salivation contributes directly to fatigue and poor concentration.
C. Muscle rigidity only
D. Increased appetite only
, Question: Answer:
Which neurotransmitter is most associated with mood stability, A. Serotonin
anxiety regulation, and irritability when low? Rationale: Serotonin plays a key role in regulating emotional stability,
A. Serotonin anxiety, and
B. Glutamate irritability; low levels are linked to depressive and anxious symptoms.
C. Histamine
D. Acetylcholine
Question: Answer:
A patient asks how SSRIs improve depression. Which B. 'They increase serotonin availability by preventing serotonin
explanation is best? reabsorption back into
A. 'They block dopamine receptors.' neurons.'
B. 'They increase serotonin availability by preventing serotonin Rationale: SSRIs increase synaptic serotonin by blocking its reuptake
reabsorption back into neurons.' transporter on the
C. 'They destroy monoamines.' presynaptic neuron.
D. 'They directly replace cortisol.'
Question: Answer:
Which medication class increases both serotonin and B. SNRI
norepinephrine? Rationale: Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
A. SSRI dual-target both
B. SNRI neurotransmitter systems to improve mood, energy, and cognitive
C. Benzodiazepine focus.
D. First-generation antipsychotic
Question: Answer:
A patient improves on an antidepressant but continues to have A. Residual symptoms
fatigue, insomnia, and poor concentration. These are best Rationale: Residual symptoms are persistent depressive features that
described as: remain even after a
A. Residual symptoms partial therapeutic response to medication.
B. Manic symptoms
C. Psychotic symptoms
D. Catatonic symptoms
with 100% Verified Answers Latest Update
Question: Answer:
A patient with major depressive disorder reports chronic B. Chronic HPA axis activation increases cortisol and affects
stress, poor sleep, and worsening sadness. Which biological mood-related brain regions
pathway best explains how chronic stress may contribute to Rationale: Chronic activation of the HPA axis increases cortisol, which
depression? negatively affects
A. Decreased cortisol suppresses serotonin release brain regions involved in mood regulation like the hippocampus,
B. Chronic HPA axis activation increases cortisol and affects amygdala, and
mood-related brain regions prefrontal cortex.
C. Increased thyroid hormone always protects against
depressive symptoms
D. Dopamine excess causes hippocampal repair
Question: Answer:
Which factor is considered a biological etiology of A. Elevated cortisol
depression? Rationale: Hormonal imbalances, particularly elevated cortisol, are
A. Elevated cortisol biological
B. Low academic motivation only contributors to depression alongside genetics, inflammation, and
C. Poor communication skills only environmental factors.
D. Lack of hobbies
Question: Answer:
A PMHNP explains that inflammation may contribute to A. Inflammation can alter neurotransmitter systems such as
depression. Which statement best supports this teaching? serotonin and dopamine
A. Inflammation can alter neurotransmitter systems such as Rationale: Chronic inflammation can alter brain neurochemistry and
serotonin and dopamine affect key mood-
B. Inflammation only affects joints, not the brain regulating neurotransmitters including serotonin and dopamine.
C. Inflammation increases BDNF in all patients
D. Inflammation prevents cortisol release
,Question: Answer:
A patient says, 'My depression must only be a chemical C. 'Depression is complex and may involve neurotransmitters,
imbalance.' Which response is most accurate? genetics, stress, hormones,
A. 'Yes, depression is only caused by low serotonin.' inflammation, and neuroplasticity.'
B. 'Depression is usually caused by laziness.' Rationale: The monoamine hypothesis is incomplete; depression is
C. 'Depression is complex and may involve neurotransmitters, multifactorial and
genetics, stress, hormones, inflammation, and neuroplasticity.' involves complex physiological and genetic interactions.
D. 'Depression is only caused by childhood trauma.'
Question: Answer:
Which neurotransmitters are the major monoamines involved A. Serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine
in mood regulation? Rationale: These three monoamines are the primary focus of the
A. Serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine monoamine hypothesis,
B. Acetylcholine, histamine, and glutamate only regulating mood, energy, pleasure, motivation, and emotion.
C. GABA, glycine, and endorphins only
D. Melatonin, cortisol, and insulin
Question: Answer:
A patient with depression has low motivation, reduced A. Dopamine
pleasure, and decreased reward-seeking behavior. Which Rationale: Dopamine is heavily involved in the reward system,
neurotransmitter is most associated with these symptoms? motivation, pleasure, and
A. Dopamine positive affect. Deficits lead to anhedonia.
B. Acetylcholine
C. Histamine
D. Oxytocin
Question: Answer:
Which symptom is most closely associated with A. Low energy and poor alertness
norepinephrine deficiency? Rationale: Norepinephrine modulates arousal, alertness, focus, and
A. Low energy and poor alertness energy; deficiency
B. Excessive salivation contributes directly to fatigue and poor concentration.
C. Muscle rigidity only
D. Increased appetite only
, Question: Answer:
Which neurotransmitter is most associated with mood stability, A. Serotonin
anxiety regulation, and irritability when low? Rationale: Serotonin plays a key role in regulating emotional stability,
A. Serotonin anxiety, and
B. Glutamate irritability; low levels are linked to depressive and anxious symptoms.
C. Histamine
D. Acetylcholine
Question: Answer:
A patient asks how SSRIs improve depression. Which B. 'They increase serotonin availability by preventing serotonin
explanation is best? reabsorption back into
A. 'They block dopamine receptors.' neurons.'
B. 'They increase serotonin availability by preventing serotonin Rationale: SSRIs increase synaptic serotonin by blocking its reuptake
reabsorption back into neurons.' transporter on the
C. 'They destroy monoamines.' presynaptic neuron.
D. 'They directly replace cortisol.'
Question: Answer:
Which medication class increases both serotonin and B. SNRI
norepinephrine? Rationale: Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
A. SSRI dual-target both
B. SNRI neurotransmitter systems to improve mood, energy, and cognitive
C. Benzodiazepine focus.
D. First-generation antipsychotic
Question: Answer:
A patient improves on an antidepressant but continues to have A. Residual symptoms
fatigue, insomnia, and poor concentration. These are best Rationale: Residual symptoms are persistent depressive features that
described as: remain even after a
A. Residual symptoms partial therapeutic response to medication.
B. Manic symptoms
C. Psychotic symptoms
D. Catatonic symptoms
