Pharmacology & Medication Management Flashcards
7 cards from real ACT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Pharmacology & Medication Management flashcards as text
A client asks why their psychiatrist prescribed two antidepressants simultaneously (an SSRI plus mirtazapine). The therapist explains this approach is called:
Answer: Augmentation or combination therapy
Combination or augmentation therapy uses two agents with different mechanisms to achieve better antidepressant response in treatment-resistant cases.
The concept of pharmacodynamics is best defined as:
Answer: How a drug exerts its effects on target receptors and systems
Pharmacodynamics describes the biochemical and physiological effects of drugs on the body, including receptor binding and mechanism of action.
A client with alcohol use disorder is prescribed naltrexone. Its mechanism of action in reducing cravings involves:
Answer: Blocking opioid receptors, reducing the rewarding effects of alcohol
Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist that blocks the reinforcing (pleasurable) effects of alcohol by occupying opioid receptors involved in reward pathways.
An ACT-informed therapist working with a client who fears medication side effects would most likely use which intervention?
Answer: Use defusion and acceptance techniques to reduce avoidance driven by fear of side effects
ACT addresses the fear through defusion (creating distance from fearful thoughts) and acceptance, reducing experiential avoidance that interferes with treatment adherence.
Which of the following best describes the half-life of a medication?
Answer: The time required for the plasma concentration to decrease by 50%
Half-life is the time required for plasma drug concentration to reduce by half, which determines dosing frequency and time to steady state.
A client taking an antipsychotic develops a fever of 104°F, muscle rigidity, altered consciousness, and autonomic instability. The therapist should:
Answer: Treat this as a psychiatric emergency and call 911 immediately
These symptoms describe Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS), a life-threatening emergency requiring immediate emergency medical intervention.
Informed consent for clients taking psychiatric medications should include discussion of all of the following EXCEPT:
Answer: The therapist's personal opinion about the medication's value
Informed consent covers risks, benefits, alternatives, and the right to refuse — it does not include the clinician's personal opinions.