Question 1

Conventional antipsychotic drugs

Accepted Answer

Conventional antipsychotic drugs work by reducing dopamine access to postsynaptic receptors, which is their primary mechanism of action. They can also reduce dopamine access to autoreceptors, which are receptors on the same neuron that released the dopamine, thus affecting the feedback loop of dopamine release. Initially, these drugs can increase dopamine cell activity due to a compensatory mechanism in response to the blockade of dopamine receptors, before the overall activity decreases due to the drug's effects. Therefore, all of these statements are correct in describing the action of conventional antipsychotic drugs.

Question 2

The atypical antipsychotics risperidone (Risperdal) and olanzapine (Zyprexa), at low, clinically effective doses differ from conventional antipsychotics primarily in terms of their

Accepted Answer

Risperidone and olanzapine, at low doses, have a lower risk of extrapyramidal motor disturbances compared to conventional antipsychotics. They are also more effective in reducing both the positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia compared to conventional antipsychotics. Therefore, the correct answer is choice D, which includes both options A and B.

Question 3

The atypical antipsychotics are equally effective in reducing the ______________of schizophrenia.

Accepted Answer

Atypical antipsychotics are generally more effective in reducing positive symptoms of schizophrenia such as hallucinations and delusions compared to traditional antipsychotics. While they can also improve negative symptoms to some extent, the improvement may not be as significant as with positive symptoms. Atypical antipsychotics are not typically used to treat depression or anxiety-related symptoms.

Question 4

The atypical antipsychotic clozapine (Clozaril) differs from typical antipsychotics in terms of its

Accepted Answer

Clozapine has been found to have greater efficacy in reducing the negative symptoms of schizophrenia compared to typical antipsychotics. It also has a lower incidence of tardive dyskinesia and parkinsonian-like motor disturbances associated with typical antipsychotics. Therefore, option D is the correct choice.

Question 5

One problematic characteristic of several of the more commonly used atypical psychotics is

Accepted Answer

Several atypical psychotics have been associated with significant weight gain, which can lead to a variety of health problems such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. This is a well-documented and concerning side effect of these medications. While some may have abuse potential and others might worsen negative symptoms, weight gain is a particularly problematic characteristic that affects many patients taking these medications.

Question 6

Aripiprazole (Abilify) has been called a third-generation antipsychotic.What is a major difference in its pharmacological profile from that of 1^st and 2^nd generation antipsychotic drugs?

Accepted Answer

A major difference in the pharmacological profile of Aripiprazole (Abilify) from that of 1^st and 2^nd generation antipsychotic drugs is that Abilify is a partial agonist at dopamine D2 receptors, whereas 1^st and 2^nd generation antipsychotic drugs act as antagonists or inverse agonists at dopamine D2 receptors. This means that Abilify has a unique mechanism of action that involves both agonistic and antagonistic activity at dopamine D2 receptors, which may account for its unique therapeutic effects and lower risk of side effects compared to other antipsychotic drugs.

Question 7

Present speculations regarding key pharmacodynamic properties distinguishing atypical antipsychotics from conventional antipsychotics have proposed differences in

Accepted Answer

There is evidence to support that atypical antipsychotics have a higher affinity for 5HT2 receptors relative to D2-like receptors compared to conventional antipsychotics. Additionally, atypical antipsychotics have a higher dissociation rate from D2-like receptors compared to conventional antipsychotics. Therefore, both options A and B are correct, making option C the best choice.

Question 8

Most present-day antipsychotic medications are believed to exert their favorable effects in reducing symptoms of schizophrenia by acting as dopamine

Accepted Answer

Most antipsychotic medications act as antagonists or inverse agonists at the D2-like dopamine receptors, particularly the D2 receptor. This results in a decrease in dopamine neurotransmission in certain brain regions, which is believed to contribute to their therapeutic effects in managing symptoms of schizophrenia.

Question 9

Which of the following drugs has been shown to exert the greatest efficacy in the treatment of general cognitive deficits in individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

Atypical antipsychotics have been shown to have better cognitive effects compared to conventional antipsychotics in individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia. They have fewer side effects and are better tolerated, which could lead to better compliance and treatment outcomes. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors have not been shown to be effective in treating general cognitive deficits in schizophrenia.

Question 10

Of the newer atypical antipsychotics, risperidone (Risperdal) and olanzapine (Zyprexa) appear to have an advantage over clozapine (Clozaril) in that these newer drugs are

Accepted Answer

Risperidone and olanzapine have an advantage over clozapine in that they are much less likely to induce agranulocytosis, which is a potentially life-threatening reduction in white blood cells. Clozapine requires frequent blood monitoring to detect this side effect.

Quiz 8: Antipsychotic Drugs and Neurochemical Hypotheses of Schizophrenia

Conventional antipsychotic drugs

The atypical antipsychotics risperidone (Risperdal) and olanzapine (Zyprexa) , at low, clinically effective doses differ from conventional antipsychotics primarily in terms of their

The atypical antipsychotics are equally effective in reducing the ______________of schizophrenia.

The atypical antipsychotic clozapine (Clozaril) differs from typical antipsychotics in terms of its

One problematic characteristic of several of the more commonly used atypical psychotics is

Aripiprazole (Abilify) has been called a third-generation antipsychotic.What is a major difference in its pharmacological profile from that of 1^st and 2^nd generation antipsychotic drugs?

Present speculations regarding key pharmacodynamic properties distinguishing atypical antipsychotics from conventional antipsychotics have proposed differences in

Most present-day antipsychotic medications are believed to exert their favorable effects in reducing symptoms of schizophrenia by acting as dopamine

Which of the following drugs has been shown to exert the greatest efficacy in the treatment of general cognitive deficits in individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia?

Of the newer atypical antipsychotics, risperidone (Risperdal) and olanzapine (Zyprexa) appear to have an advantage over clozapine (Clozaril) in that these newer drugs are

Quiz 8: Antipsychotic Drugs and Neurochemical Hypotheses of Schizophrenia

Conventional antipsychotic drugs

The atypical antipsychotics risperidone (Risperdal) and olanzapine (Zyprexa) , at low, clinically effective doses differ from conventional antipsychotics primarily in terms of their

The atypical antipsychotics are equally effective in reducing the ______________of schizophrenia.

The atypical antipsychotic clozapine (Clozaril) differs from typical antipsychotics in terms of its

One problematic characteristic of several of the more commonly used atypical psychotics is

Aripiprazole (Abilify) has been called a third-generation antipsychotic.What is a major difference in its pharmacological profile from that of 1st and 2nd generation antipsychotic drugs?

Present speculations regarding key pharmacodynamic properties distinguishing atypical antipsychotics from conventional antipsychotics have proposed differences in

Most present-day antipsychotic medications are believed to exert their favorable effects in reducing symptoms of schizophrenia by acting as dopamine

Which of the following drugs has been shown to exert the greatest efficacy in the treatment of general cognitive deficits in individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia?

Of the newer atypical antipsychotics, risperidone (Risperdal) and olanzapine (Zyprexa) appear to have an advantage over clozapine (Clozaril) in that these newer drugs are

Aripiprazole (Abilify) has been called a third-generation antipsychotic.What is a major difference in its pharmacological profile from that of 1^st and 2^nd generation antipsychotic drugs?