NRNP 6630 Final Exam
Question 1
FILL IN THE BLANK: ___________ is the main neurotransmitter behind reward systems in the brain, which
usually leads to addiction when altered in any way. DOPAMINE
Response “Distribution of the endogenous reward systems in the brain is a
Feedback: common feature of drug abuse; most addictive drugs act by
disrupting central nervous system (CNS) dopamine circuits.” - Table 16-1 as well all
the drug types show alterations of dopamine pathways in some way
Question 2
L. J. is a 55-year-old male who attended a funeral and found himself laughing during the service, but later that
evening he was irritated with himself for what he had done. His wife said this was abnormal behavior and
took him to his doctor to be evaluated. After L. J.’s MRI was reviewed, he was diagnosed with frontotemporal
dementia. Which medication is recommended to help L. J. with his emotional outbursts? ESCITALOPRAM
Response under Treatment subtitle: “The behavioral features are sometimes Feedback: helped
by SSRIs, and these are the best-studied treatments for these disorders.”
Question 3
In the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s Disease, there are certain proteins that lead to the plaques and tangles
that result in this progressive, irreversible brain disorder. Choose the appropriate protein with its
corresponding pathology. I and IV
I. Tau – tangles
II. Beta-amyloid – tangles
III. Tau – plaques
IV. Beta-amyloid – plaques
Question 4
Patient is a 75-year-old female with a confirmed diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease. She is currently on
Donepezil 10 mg daily. She is accompanied to your clinic today by her daughter, who informs you that her
mother has recently had an increase in depressive symptoms. She has no history of mood disorders. She has
a history of hypertension and tonic-clonic seizures, but both are controlled. Assuming this patient will be
thoroughly evaluated for the diagnosis of depression, what would you recommend as initial therapy?
FLUOXETINE
Response SSRIs are effective in treating depressive symptoms. Answer choices A
Feedback: & B are both TCAs and are advised against due to side effect profile and the fact this
person is treatment naive (learned from previous exam) and answer choice D is
contraindicated in a patient with seizures.
Question 5
, The experience of pain is ALWAYS subjective YES IT IS ALWAYS SUBJECTIVE
Response “The experience of pain is always
Feedback: subjective.”
Question 6
Of the following neurotransmitters, which ones play a critical role in modulating attention in ADHD? C.I
and IV
I. Dopamine
II. Epinephrine
III. GABA
IV. Norepinephrine
V. Glutamate
Response "Stimulants increase intra-synaptic concentrations of dopamine Feedback: (DA)
and norepinephrine (NE)”
Question 7
There are many different types of dementia. Which dementia is NOT a direct result of disrupted
neurotransmitters, but a result of degeneration of different regions in the brain? Onset of the disease is
typically before the age of 60, and very rare after the age of 75.
Alzheimer Disease
Response under subtitle “Epidemiology and genetic
Feedback: risk factors”
Question 8
This medication cannot be used for more than 5 days, it is a non-steroidal, antiinflammatory drug, and it is
often substituted for morphine due to its rapid onset and high potency. What is this medication?
KETOROLAC, DUH
Response under non-steroidal, anti-
Feedback: inflammatory drugs
Question 9
Benzodiazepines can be withdrawn abruptly despite duration of therapy/abuse. FALSE FALSE FALSE
Response Benzodiazepines should never be stopped suddenly; Page 194
Feedback: “Under no circumstances should benzodiazepines be stopped abruptly.”
Question 10
.Choose the correct statement regarding medications used for alcoholism B
Naltrexone: μ-opioid receptor antagonist that reduces the
reinforcement/euphoria produced by alcohol (Maybe
Question 1
FILL IN THE BLANK: ___________ is the main neurotransmitter behind reward systems in the brain, which
usually leads to addiction when altered in any way. DOPAMINE
Response “Distribution of the endogenous reward systems in the brain is a
Feedback: common feature of drug abuse; most addictive drugs act by
disrupting central nervous system (CNS) dopamine circuits.” - Table 16-1 as well all
the drug types show alterations of dopamine pathways in some way
Question 2
L. J. is a 55-year-old male who attended a funeral and found himself laughing during the service, but later that
evening he was irritated with himself for what he had done. His wife said this was abnormal behavior and
took him to his doctor to be evaluated. After L. J.’s MRI was reviewed, he was diagnosed with frontotemporal
dementia. Which medication is recommended to help L. J. with his emotional outbursts? ESCITALOPRAM
Response under Treatment subtitle: “The behavioral features are sometimes Feedback: helped
by SSRIs, and these are the best-studied treatments for these disorders.”
Question 3
In the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s Disease, there are certain proteins that lead to the plaques and tangles
that result in this progressive, irreversible brain disorder. Choose the appropriate protein with its
corresponding pathology. I and IV
I. Tau – tangles
II. Beta-amyloid – tangles
III. Tau – plaques
IV. Beta-amyloid – plaques
Question 4
Patient is a 75-year-old female with a confirmed diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease. She is currently on
Donepezil 10 mg daily. She is accompanied to your clinic today by her daughter, who informs you that her
mother has recently had an increase in depressive symptoms. She has no history of mood disorders. She has
a history of hypertension and tonic-clonic seizures, but both are controlled. Assuming this patient will be
thoroughly evaluated for the diagnosis of depression, what would you recommend as initial therapy?
FLUOXETINE
Response SSRIs are effective in treating depressive symptoms. Answer choices A
Feedback: & B are both TCAs and are advised against due to side effect profile and the fact this
person is treatment naive (learned from previous exam) and answer choice D is
contraindicated in a patient with seizures.
Question 5
, The experience of pain is ALWAYS subjective YES IT IS ALWAYS SUBJECTIVE
Response “The experience of pain is always
Feedback: subjective.”
Question 6
Of the following neurotransmitters, which ones play a critical role in modulating attention in ADHD? C.I
and IV
I. Dopamine
II. Epinephrine
III. GABA
IV. Norepinephrine
V. Glutamate
Response "Stimulants increase intra-synaptic concentrations of dopamine Feedback: (DA)
and norepinephrine (NE)”
Question 7
There are many different types of dementia. Which dementia is NOT a direct result of disrupted
neurotransmitters, but a result of degeneration of different regions in the brain? Onset of the disease is
typically before the age of 60, and very rare after the age of 75.
Alzheimer Disease
Response under subtitle “Epidemiology and genetic
Feedback: risk factors”
Question 8
This medication cannot be used for more than 5 days, it is a non-steroidal, antiinflammatory drug, and it is
often substituted for morphine due to its rapid onset and high potency. What is this medication?
KETOROLAC, DUH
Response under non-steroidal, anti-
Feedback: inflammatory drugs
Question 9
Benzodiazepines can be withdrawn abruptly despite duration of therapy/abuse. FALSE FALSE FALSE
Response Benzodiazepines should never be stopped suddenly; Page 194
Feedback: “Under no circumstances should benzodiazepines be stopped abruptly.”
Question 10
.Choose the correct statement regarding medications used for alcoholism B
Naltrexone: μ-opioid receptor antagonist that reduces the
reinforcement/euphoria produced by alcohol (Maybe
