ATI Psychopharmacology Questions with Correct Answers Latest Version 2025

A nurse is educating a group of high school students about mental illness. Which of the following statements should the nurse make about etiology of a mental illness? a. "Schizophrenia can be detected through a complete blood count." b. "It is possible to predict the likelihood of developing manifestations of a mental illness." c. "Developing a mental illness seems to be related to both genetic and environmental factors." d. "Regular physical examinations are commonly used to diagnose mental illness." - Correct Answer-c. "Developing a mental illness seems to be related to both genetic and environmental factors." A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing disruptions in sleep, appetite, and reports having a depressed mood. Which of the following medications should the nurse anticipate the provider to prescribe? a. Benzodiazepine b. Dopamine antagonist c. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor d. Mood stabilizer - Correct Answer-c. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor A nurse is caring for a client who recently began taking methylphenidate, a CNS stimulant. Which of the following topics should the nurse prepare to discuss with the client? a. A tolerance to the medication rarely occurs b. An increase in appetite may occur after taking the medication c. The medication should be taken 1 hr before bedtime d. Foods that are known to be high in caffeine should be avoided - Correct Answer-d. Foods that are known to be high in caffeine should be avoided A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing opiate withdrawal. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect to observe? a. Increased heart rate and blood pressure b. Respiratory depression and excessive drowsiness c. Constipation and pupil constriction d. Goose flesh and diarrhea - Correct Answer-d. Goose flesh and diarrhea ATI ATI A nurse in the ED is caring for a client who has acute haloperidol toxicity. Which if the following findings should the nurse identify as consistent with neuroleptic malignant syndrome? a. Dilated pupils and GI discomfort b. Hyperthermia and elevated creatinine kinase c. Respiratory depression and comatose state d. Slumped posture and shuffling gait - Correct Answer-b. Hyperthermia and elevated creatinine kinase A nurse is preparing a presentation for high school students about the causes of mental illness. Which of the following should the nurse include in the presentation? a. Stress has been identified as a potential cause of mental illness b. Manifestations of mental illness can be resolved through motivation c. Medications serve as a cure for mental illness d. Psychotherapy can serve as a cure for mental illness - Correct Answer-a. Stress has been identified as a potential cause of mental illness A nurse us reviewing the serum lithium report for a client who has bipolar disorder. Which of the following manifestations should the nurse expect the client to be experiencing with a lithium level of 2.2 mEq/L? a. Severe respiratory complications b. Jerking motor movements c. GI discomfort d. Abnormal involuntary movements of the tongue - Correct Answer-b. Jerking motor movements A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing diaphoresis, palpitations, and a sense of impending doom. Which of the following medications should the nurse anticipate the provider to prescribe? a. Benzodiazepine b. Dopamine antagonist c. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor d. Mood stabilizer - Correct Answer-a. Benzodiazepine A nurse is providing education to a client about the process of neurotransmission. Which of the following statements about neurotransmission should the nurse make? a. "Neurotransmitters function by storing glucose in vesicles found in neurons." b. "Neurotransmitters are rarely found in the brain." c. "Neurotransmitters are chemical components that allow neurons to communicate with each other." ATI ATI d. "After a neurotransmitter completes neurotransmission, it is then activated by the enzyme transferase." - Correct Answer-c. "Neurotransmitters are chemical components that allow neurons to communicate with each other." A nurse is caring for a client who has been taking risperidone and reports experiencing muscle spasms in their neck and difficulty opening their mouth. Which of the following medications should the nurse anticipate the provider to prescribe for this client? a. Diphenhydramine b. Valbenazine c. Escitalopram d. Naloxone - Correct Answer-a. Diphenhydramine A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing opiate toxicity. Which of the following medications should the nurse anticipate the provider to prescribe? a. Benzodiazepines b. Diphenhydramine c. Naloxone d. Methadone - Correct Answer-c. Naloxone A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing alternating periods of elevated and depressed mood. Which of the following medications should the nurse anticipate the provider to prescribe? a. Benzodiazepine b. Dopamine antagonist c. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor d. Mood stabilizer - Correct Answer-d. Mood stabilizer A nurse is educating a newly licensed nurse about opiate withdrawal. Which of the following findings should the nurse instruct the newly licensed nurse to monitor for? a. Muscle aches b. Respiratory depression c. Hallucinations d. Increased risk of seizure - Correct Answer-a. Muscle aches A nurse is caring for a client who has mood dysregulation, decreased sex drive, and decreased sleep. Which of the following neurotransmitters should the nurse identify as being responsible for the client's manifestations? a. Dopamine b. Serotonin c. Norepinephrine d. Histamine - Correct Answer-b. Serotonin ATI ATI A nurse is caring for a client who is prescribed a tricyclic antidepressant medication. Which of the following topics should the nurse prepare to discuss with the client? a. It is important to take the medication first thing in the morning b. Relief of manifestations should not be expected for a few weeks c. There are benefits associated with combining tricyclic antidepressant with St. John's Wort d. Foods that are known to be high in dietary tyramine should be avoided - Correct Answer-b. Relief of manifestations should not be exp