Deck 1: Psychopharmacology for Mental Health, Part A

Question 1

The most common medicine used to treat ADHD with the most efficacy is

A)L-amphetamine compounds
B)D-amphetamine compounds
C)Noradrenergic compounds
D)Cholinergic compounds

Answer 1

L-amphetamine compounds

Question 2

Which of the following are mechanisms of action in lithium?

A)Enhanced release of 5-HT
B)Postsynaptic blocking of DA
C)Increased synthesis of NE
D)Enhanced adrenergic transmission
E)All of the above

Answer 2

All of the above

Question 3

Assume you have a client on neuroleptics who is experiencing amenorrhea. She is not pregnant and her mother asks you if this is a side effect of the medication and if so, why would it cause this. How would you respond assuming you have a release to talk to the mother?

Answer 3

You can tell her "yes" it is a side effect. The drugs block DA receptors in all parts of the brain. The DA receptors in the hypothalamic pathway are affected by pregnancy. Artificially blocking them "tricks" the body into thinking it has conceived.

Question 4

What seems to be the therapeutic mechanism in treating trauma with MDMA?

Question 5

Which of the following shows the least efficacy in treating cortical dementias?

A)Nicotine
B)Anti-inflammatory agents
C)Vitamin e
D)Aricept

Question 6

All but which of the following are major differences between prescription drugs and herbs

A)formulation standards
B)dosing guidelines
C)purity of substance
D)possible placebo effect

Question 7

What is the difference between "L" and "D" amphetamine isomers?
The "L" isomers
e.g.methylphenidate/Ritalin) are more subtle in their effects and the "D" isomers more "aggressive" in stimulant properties.The most common drug for ADHD that includes "L" and "D" isomers is Adderall.

Question 8

The first atypical anti-psychotic Clozaril) had a particularly dangerous side effect called agranulocytosis which is

A)A hepatic disorder
B)Similar to Tardive dyskinesia
C)A drop in the white blood cell count
D)A sharp increase in the white blood cell count

Question 9

The site of anti-psychotic action in neuroleptics seems to be

A)the mesolimbic pathway
B)the nigra-striatal pathway
C)the locus coeruleus
D)the tuberoinfundibular pathway

Question 10

Suppose that you have a 23-year-old client suffering from mild to moderate depression who wants to take St. John's Wort. He insists he does not want to take antidepressants and asks you what you think about him taking SJW. What is an ethically informed response you can make?
You can say that the studies you learned about supported the use of St John's Wort for mild to moderate depression BUT, it has to be the St. John's Wort produced in Germany because it is regulated there. It is not regulated in the U.S. As always encourage the person to speak to their physician about this.

Question 11

What is the black box warning on antidepressants and when do you think a doctor should consider over-riding it?

Question 12

The second most common form of dementia comes from

A)Alcohol
B)Cortical sclerosis
C)Parkinson's Disease
D)HIV induced dementia

Question 13

How would the type of dementia you chose in item #3 likely be treated pharmacologically?

Question 14

How does memantine/Namenda differ from other treatments for cortical dementia?

Question 15

MDMA is most accurately classed as a n)

A)hallucinogen
B)stimulant
C)empathogen
D)entheogen
E)Schedule I substance

Question 16

What is another problematic side effect for all atypical antipsychotics? Why is it so problematic?

Question 17

What are three reasons people site for preferring herbaceuticals over psychotropic medications?

Question 18

Assume you had a 74-year-old client who was suffering from early stage Alzheimer's symptoms. Very likely the first choice medication for this person will be

A)An NMDA receptor antagonist
B)An Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitor
C)A Psychostimulant
D)A low dose of L-Dopa

Question 19

The herbaceutical with the most efficacy would likely be

A)St John's Wort
B)Ginkgo Biloba
C)Valerian Root
D)Hops

Question 20

Why is the answer you chose in #1 the correct answer?

Question 21

Answer this question from the perspective of your professional identity
e.g.Clinical Counseling, School Psychology, Clinical Psychology).

Question 22

The SDAs typically

A)block as many DA receptors as the Haldol
B)work as well as Haldol
C)work as well as Clozapine
D)work better than Haldol

Question 23

The National Institute of Mental Health last year pulled support for DSM-5 criteria suggesting they wanted to focus on Research Domain Criteria like genetic vulnerability and brain circuitry. What are the pros and cons of this development?

Question 24

Probably the least effective medication for ADHD is

A)Focalin
B)Ritalin
C)Strattera
D)Concerta

Question 25

In medicating ADHD Focalin and Concerta both

A)are extended release formulations
B)are classed as amphetamines
C)act on DA
D)all of the above
E)all but letter "c"

Question 26

Overall the efficacy of all antidepressants is approximately

A)65%
B)50%
C)60%
D)45%

Question 27

Describe the Cellular/Molecular theory of antidepressant action and 1) what the primary mechanism is in the chain of mechanisms that seems to be the therapeutic one and 2) How this relates to non-pharmacological interventions for Major Depressive Disorder

Question 28

What is the difference between a disorder like Major Depressive Disorder and something like Schizophrenia? How might this difference figure into the radically different placebo responses for antidepressants and antipsychotics?

Question 29

What is the "fruits not roots" approach to gauging the effectiveness of stimulants on children who meet criteria for ADHD?

Question 30

What are the most important advocacy questions to ask regarding a child on psychotropic medication?

Question 31

A promising new approach for treating PTSD is

A)using hallucinogens like psilocybin
B)EMDR combined with sertraline
C)methylenedioxymethamphetamine
D)Marijuana

Question 32

What is the origin of the phrase "mood stabilizer?" Criticisms aside of the phrase, what are the 4 qualities of a "good" mood stabilizer?

Question 33

you are working with a family who has 3 foster children ages 3, 6, and 9. The 3-year-old was recently diagnosed with Bipolar I Disorder despite no history of euphoria or grandiosity. How can you advocate for this child and what type of assessment would you recommend?