PMHNP CERTIFICATION EXAM
WITH ACTUAL CORRECT
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
DETAILED ANSWERS|FREQUENTLY
TESTED QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS|NEWEST|GUARANTEED
PASS 2026/2027
Monoamines
-biogenic amines
-dopamine
-norepinephrine
-epinephrine
-serotonin
dopamine
-catecholamine
-produced in the substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area
-precursor is tyrosine
-removed from synaptic cleft by monoamine oxidase (MAO) enzyme action
-D1-like and D2-like receptors
four dopaminergic pathways
-mesocortical
-mesolimbic
-nigrostriatal
-tuberoinfundibular
norepinephrine
-catecholamine
-produced in the locus ceruleus of the pons
-precursor is tyrosine
-major neurotransmitter implicated in mood, anxiety, and concentration disorders
-Alpha 1 and 2 receptors
epinephrine
1|Page
,-catecholamine
-produced by the adrenal glands
-referred to as the adrenergic system
serotonin
-known as an indole
-produced in the raphe nuclei of the brainstem
-precursor is tryptophan
-major neurotransmitter implicated in mood and anxiety disorders
-5HT1a, 5HT1d, 5HT2, 5HT2a, 5HT3, 5HT4 receptors
amino acids
glutamate, aspartate, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glycine
glutamate
-universal excitatory neurotransmitter
-major neurotransmitter involved in process of kindling (implicated in sz dx and bipolar dx)
-imbalance implicated in mood dx and schizophrenia
-AMPA and MNDA receptors
aspartate
another excitatory neurotransmitter
-works with glutamate
GABA
universal inhibitory neurotransmitter
-site of action of benzos, alcohol, barbiturates, and other CNS depressants
-GABAa and GABAb receptors
glycine
-another inhibitory neurotransmitter
-works with GABA
cholinergics
acetylcholine
acetylcholine
synthesized by the basal nucleus of Meynert
-precursors are acetylcoenzyme A and choline
-nicotinic and muscarinic receptors
neuropeptides
2|Page
,-nonopioid type (substance P, somatostatin)
-opioid type (endorphins, enkephalines, dynorphins)
-modulate pain
-Decreased amount of neuropeptides is thought to cause substance abuse
- opioid type receptors: mu, kappa, epsilon, delta, sigma
dopamine general function
thinking
decision making
reward-seeking behavior
fine muscle action
integrated cognition
dopamine symptoms of deficit
mild: pour impulse control, poor spatiality, lack of abstractive thought
-severe: Parkinson's disease, endocrine alterations, movement disorders
-substance abuse, anhedonia
Dopamine symptoms of excess
-mild: improved creativity, improved ability for abstract thinking, improved executive functioning,
improved spatiality
-severe: disorganized thinking, loose association, tics, stereotypic bx
-schizophrenia, psychosis
norepinephrine general function
alertness
focused attention
orientation
primes fight or flight
learning
memory
norepinephrine symptoms of deficit
-dullness, low energy, depressive affect
-depression
norepinephrine symptoms of excess
-anxiety, hyper alertness, increase startle, paranoia, decreased appetite
-anxiety
serotonin general function
regulation of sleep
pain perception
mood states
3|Page
, temperature
regulation of aggression
libido
precursor for melatonin
serotonin symptoms of deficit
irritability, hostility, depression, sleep dysregulation, loss of appetite, loss of libido
OCD, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia
serotonin symptoms of excess
sedation, increased aggression, hallucinations (rare)
acetylcholine general function
attention, memory, thirst, mood regulation, REM sleep, sexual behavior, muscle tone
acetylcholine symptoms of deficit
lack of inhibition, decreased memory, euphoria, antisocial action, speech decrease, dry mouth, blurred
vision, constipation
alzheimers dx
acetylcholine symptoms of excess
overinhibition, anxiety, depression, somatic complaints, self-consciousness, drooling, EPS
parkinsonian symptoms
GABA general function
reduces arousal, reduces aggression, reduces anxiety, reduces excitation
GABA symptoms of deficit
irritability, hostility, tension and worry, anxiety, seizure activity
anxiety disorders
GABA symptoms of excess
reduced cellular excitability
sedation
impaired memory
glutamate general function
memory, sustained automatic functions
glutamate symptoms of deficit
poor memory, low energy, distractible
learning difficulty, negative symptoms of schizophrenia
glutamate symptoms of excess
4|Page
WITH ACTUAL CORRECT
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
DETAILED ANSWERS|FREQUENTLY
TESTED QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS|NEWEST|GUARANTEED
PASS 2026/2027
Monoamines
-biogenic amines
-dopamine
-norepinephrine
-epinephrine
-serotonin
dopamine
-catecholamine
-produced in the substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area
-precursor is tyrosine
-removed from synaptic cleft by monoamine oxidase (MAO) enzyme action
-D1-like and D2-like receptors
four dopaminergic pathways
-mesocortical
-mesolimbic
-nigrostriatal
-tuberoinfundibular
norepinephrine
-catecholamine
-produced in the locus ceruleus of the pons
-precursor is tyrosine
-major neurotransmitter implicated in mood, anxiety, and concentration disorders
-Alpha 1 and 2 receptors
epinephrine
1|Page
,-catecholamine
-produced by the adrenal glands
-referred to as the adrenergic system
serotonin
-known as an indole
-produced in the raphe nuclei of the brainstem
-precursor is tryptophan
-major neurotransmitter implicated in mood and anxiety disorders
-5HT1a, 5HT1d, 5HT2, 5HT2a, 5HT3, 5HT4 receptors
amino acids
glutamate, aspartate, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glycine
glutamate
-universal excitatory neurotransmitter
-major neurotransmitter involved in process of kindling (implicated in sz dx and bipolar dx)
-imbalance implicated in mood dx and schizophrenia
-AMPA and MNDA receptors
aspartate
another excitatory neurotransmitter
-works with glutamate
GABA
universal inhibitory neurotransmitter
-site of action of benzos, alcohol, barbiturates, and other CNS depressants
-GABAa and GABAb receptors
glycine
-another inhibitory neurotransmitter
-works with GABA
cholinergics
acetylcholine
acetylcholine
synthesized by the basal nucleus of Meynert
-precursors are acetylcoenzyme A and choline
-nicotinic and muscarinic receptors
neuropeptides
2|Page
,-nonopioid type (substance P, somatostatin)
-opioid type (endorphins, enkephalines, dynorphins)
-modulate pain
-Decreased amount of neuropeptides is thought to cause substance abuse
- opioid type receptors: mu, kappa, epsilon, delta, sigma
dopamine general function
thinking
decision making
reward-seeking behavior
fine muscle action
integrated cognition
dopamine symptoms of deficit
mild: pour impulse control, poor spatiality, lack of abstractive thought
-severe: Parkinson's disease, endocrine alterations, movement disorders
-substance abuse, anhedonia
Dopamine symptoms of excess
-mild: improved creativity, improved ability for abstract thinking, improved executive functioning,
improved spatiality
-severe: disorganized thinking, loose association, tics, stereotypic bx
-schizophrenia, psychosis
norepinephrine general function
alertness
focused attention
orientation
primes fight or flight
learning
memory
norepinephrine symptoms of deficit
-dullness, low energy, depressive affect
-depression
norepinephrine symptoms of excess
-anxiety, hyper alertness, increase startle, paranoia, decreased appetite
-anxiety
serotonin general function
regulation of sleep
pain perception
mood states
3|Page
, temperature
regulation of aggression
libido
precursor for melatonin
serotonin symptoms of deficit
irritability, hostility, depression, sleep dysregulation, loss of appetite, loss of libido
OCD, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia
serotonin symptoms of excess
sedation, increased aggression, hallucinations (rare)
acetylcholine general function
attention, memory, thirst, mood regulation, REM sleep, sexual behavior, muscle tone
acetylcholine symptoms of deficit
lack of inhibition, decreased memory, euphoria, antisocial action, speech decrease, dry mouth, blurred
vision, constipation
alzheimers dx
acetylcholine symptoms of excess
overinhibition, anxiety, depression, somatic complaints, self-consciousness, drooling, EPS
parkinsonian symptoms
GABA general function
reduces arousal, reduces aggression, reduces anxiety, reduces excitation
GABA symptoms of deficit
irritability, hostility, tension and worry, anxiety, seizure activity
anxiety disorders
GABA symptoms of excess
reduced cellular excitability
sedation
impaired memory
glutamate general function
memory, sustained automatic functions
glutamate symptoms of deficit
poor memory, low energy, distractible
learning difficulty, negative symptoms of schizophrenia
glutamate symptoms of excess
4|Page
