Mental Health and Psychology Psychopharmacology

Question 1

SSRIs work primarily by:

Accepted Answer

Inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin into presynaptic neurons

Answer

Blocking dopamine receptors

Answer

Increasing norepinephrine synthesis

Answer

Stimulating GABA receptors

Question 2

Which class of medication is most associated with the risk of discontinuation syndrome?

Accepted Answer

SSRIs and SNRIs

Answer

Antipsychotics

Answer

Mood stabilizers

Answer

Anticonvulsants

Question 3

Antipsychotic medications primarily act on which receptor type?

Accepted Answer

Dopamine D2 receptors

Answer

Serotonin-1A receptors

Answer

GABA-B receptors

Answer

Opioid receptors

Question 4

What is 'tardive dyskinesia' as a medication side effect?

Accepted Answer

Late-onset involuntary repetitive movements, often of the face and mouth, from prolonged antipsychotic use

Answer

Early onset muscle rigidity from antipsychotics

Answer

Tremor from lithium toxicity

Answer

Sedation from benzodiazepines

Question 5

Which mood stabilizer requires regular blood level monitoring and has a narrow therapeutic index?

Accepted Answer

Lithium

Answer

Valproate (Depakote)

Answer

Lamotrigine

Answer

Quetiapine

Question 6

Benzodiazepines are generally NOT recommended for long-term anxiety management primarily because of:

Accepted Answer

Risk of tolerance, dependence, and cognitive side effects

Answer

Lack of effectiveness for anxiety

Answer

High cost and limited insurance coverage

Answer

Interactions with all SSRIs