PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY DRUGS THE
BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR EXAM STUDY
GUIDE 2026 COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
⩥ substance abuse. Answer: a maladaptive pattern of substance use
leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, as manifested by
one (or more) symptoms outlined by DSM-5
⩥ tolerance. Answer: the development of a state in which the response to
a drug becomes less and less as the repeated dose is administered; i.e.,
greater doses of a drug are needed to produce the original response as
time progresses
⩥ withdrawal. Answer: physical and mental symptoms that occur after
stopping or reducing intake of a drug
⩥ schedule VI drugs. Answer: fully legal psychoactive substances
⩥ caffeine. Answer: competitive adenosine receptor antagonist (prevents
adenosine binding)
⩥ nicotine. Answer: non-selective nicotinic agonist (can bind to
muscarinic receptors as well)
,⩥ major effects of nicotine. Answer: increased release of NE/Epi
(increase in HR, BP, contractility)
⩥ consequences of nicotine. Answer: substance abuse, cancers
⩥ Tx of smoking cessation. Answer: recall varenicline (selective
nicotinic agonist) from Unit I
⩥ alcohol. Answer: GABA agonist
⩥ major effects of alcohol. Answer: CNS depression, euphoria
⩥ consequences of alcohol. Answer: substance abuse, liver failure,
cancers, fetal alcohol syndrome
⩥ facilitation of withdrawal from alcohol. Answer: benzodiazepines = to
ease withdrawal anxiety, beta blockers = to reduce autonomic effects,
antiepileptics = to reduce risk of seizure
⩥ facilitation of abstinence from alcohol. Answer: disulfiram = aldehyde
dehydrogenase antagonist; blocks conversion of acetaldehyde into acetic
acid, leading to accumulation of acetaldehyde
, ⩥ naltrexone. Answer: opioid antagonist; blocks euphoric effects of
alcohol
⩥ sedative hypnotics. Answer: barbiturates, benzodiazepines, + other
GABA agonists
⩥ barbiturates. Answer: MOA = GABA agonists (like alcohol)
⩥ phenobarbital. Answer: adjunct to anesthesia, Tx of seizures, Tx of
severe anxiety
⩥ amobarbital. Answer: adjunct to anesthesia (used in the WADA test)
⩥ benzodiazepines. Answer: MOA = enhance inhibitory action of
GABA
⩥ alprazolam. Answer: Tx of anxiety, insomnia, seizures, muscle spasm,
alcohol withdrawal
⩥ lorazepam. Answer: similar to alprazolam (esp. anxiety)
⩥ diazepam. Answer: similar to alprazolam (esp. seizures)
BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR EXAM STUDY
GUIDE 2026 COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
⩥ substance abuse. Answer: a maladaptive pattern of substance use
leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, as manifested by
one (or more) symptoms outlined by DSM-5
⩥ tolerance. Answer: the development of a state in which the response to
a drug becomes less and less as the repeated dose is administered; i.e.,
greater doses of a drug are needed to produce the original response as
time progresses
⩥ withdrawal. Answer: physical and mental symptoms that occur after
stopping or reducing intake of a drug
⩥ schedule VI drugs. Answer: fully legal psychoactive substances
⩥ caffeine. Answer: competitive adenosine receptor antagonist (prevents
adenosine binding)
⩥ nicotine. Answer: non-selective nicotinic agonist (can bind to
muscarinic receptors as well)
,⩥ major effects of nicotine. Answer: increased release of NE/Epi
(increase in HR, BP, contractility)
⩥ consequences of nicotine. Answer: substance abuse, cancers
⩥ Tx of smoking cessation. Answer: recall varenicline (selective
nicotinic agonist) from Unit I
⩥ alcohol. Answer: GABA agonist
⩥ major effects of alcohol. Answer: CNS depression, euphoria
⩥ consequences of alcohol. Answer: substance abuse, liver failure,
cancers, fetal alcohol syndrome
⩥ facilitation of withdrawal from alcohol. Answer: benzodiazepines = to
ease withdrawal anxiety, beta blockers = to reduce autonomic effects,
antiepileptics = to reduce risk of seizure
⩥ facilitation of abstinence from alcohol. Answer: disulfiram = aldehyde
dehydrogenase antagonist; blocks conversion of acetaldehyde into acetic
acid, leading to accumulation of acetaldehyde
, ⩥ naltrexone. Answer: opioid antagonist; blocks euphoric effects of
alcohol
⩥ sedative hypnotics. Answer: barbiturates, benzodiazepines, + other
GABA agonists
⩥ barbiturates. Answer: MOA = GABA agonists (like alcohol)
⩥ phenobarbital. Answer: adjunct to anesthesia, Tx of seizures, Tx of
severe anxiety
⩥ amobarbital. Answer: adjunct to anesthesia (used in the WADA test)
⩥ benzodiazepines. Answer: MOA = enhance inhibitory action of
GABA
⩥ alprazolam. Answer: Tx of anxiety, insomnia, seizures, muscle spasm,
alcohol withdrawal
⩥ lorazepam. Answer: similar to alprazolam (esp. anxiety)
⩥ diazepam. Answer: similar to alprazolam (esp. seizures)
