Psychopharmacology & Medication Management Flashcards
7 cards from real LSP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Psychopharmacology & Medication Management flashcards as text
A client being treated with lithium presents with tremors, excessive thirst, and cognitive dulling. The psychologist's most appropriate immediate action is to:
Answer: Contact the prescribing physician to discuss potential lithium toxicity
Tremors, polydipsia, and cognitive dulling can indicate lithium toxicity, requiring immediate consultation with the prescribing physician for serum level evaluation and medical management.
In psychopharmacology, 'augmentation therapy' refers to:
Answer: Adding a second medication to enhance the therapeutic effect of the primary agent
Augmentation involves adding a second agent (e.g., adding lithium or an atypical antipsychotic to an antidepressant) when the primary medication provides insufficient therapeutic response.
Research consistently shows that medication adherence is most effectively improved through:
Answer: Psychoeducation, a strong therapeutic alliance, and collaborative problem-solving around side effects
Adherence improves most reliably when clients receive psychoeducation about their medications, experience a strong therapeutic relationship, and participate in collaborative decision-making about their treatment.
The FDA black box warning on antidepressants specifically for children, adolescents, and young adults up to age 24 addresses:
Answer: Increased risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in youth
The FDA issued a black box warning that antidepressants may increase suicidal ideation and behavior in children, adolescents, and young adults up to age 24, requiring close monitoring.
Valproate (valproic acid) is generally contraindicated during pregnancy primarily due to:
Answer: High risk of neural tube defects and fetal developmental impairment
Valproate is highly teratogenic and associated with neural tube defects (e.g., spina bifida), cognitive impairment, and autism spectrum disorder in exposed fetuses.
When a client's major depressive disorder has not responded to two adequate antidepressant trials of sufficient dose and duration, this is best characterized as:
Answer: Treatment-resistant depression
Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is defined by failure to respond to at least two adequate antidepressant trials and requires specialized interventions such as augmentation or neuromodulation.
Which statement best describes a psychologist's ethical and professional responsibility regarding psychopharmacology knowledge?
Answer: Psychologists should maintain sufficient knowledge to recognize medication effects and collaborate effectively with prescribers
Professional and ethical standards require psychologists to have adequate psychopharmacology knowledge to recognize how medications affect behavior and to communicate effectively within multidisciplinary treatment teams.