Question 1

A patient has positive signs of schizophrenia and is scheduled for a brain scan. What part of the brain does the healthcare professional expect the scan will focus on?&#10;A)Parietal lobe&#10;B)Limbic system&#10;C)Temporal lobe&#10;D)Hypothalamus

Accepted Answer

Only temporal lobe alterations may be responsible for the production of positive schizophrenic symptoms, such as hallucinations, delusions, thought disorders, and bizarre behavior.

Question 2

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) system abnormalities exist in a large percentage of individuals with what?&#10;A)Schizophrenia&#10;B)Major depression&#10;C)Mania&#10;D)Panic disorder

Accepted Answer

Excessive activation of the HPA system resulting in elevated glucocorticoid secretion is found in a large percentage (30% to 70%) of people with major depression, suggesting that mechanisms responsible for HPA hormone alterations contribute to the pathophysiologic condition of depression. HPA system abnormalities do not necessarily exist in individuals with schizophrenia, mania, or panic disorder.

Question 3

A severely depressed patient has been taking venlafaxine but is now pregnant and asks the healthcare professional what treatment options are available for her. What therapy does the professional discuss as a first choice?

A)Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
B)Switch to haloperidol
C)Intensive psychotherapy until the baby is weaned
D)Limit zinc and magnesium in the diet

Accepted Answer

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may be used when individuals fail to respond to antidepressants or when they are severely depressed, pregnant, suicidal, or psychotic. Haloperidol is used for schizophrenia, not depression. Psychotherapy alone may help some people, but this woman is severely depressed and not likely to benefit from it without medication. Zinc supplementation has been found to improve depression in some patients.

Question 4

The common property among the three types of medications used to treat depression is that they do what?&#10;A)Increase neurotransmitter levels within the synapse&#10;B)Increase neurotransmitter levels in the presynapse&#10;C)Decrease neurotransmitter levels in the postsynapse&#10;D)Decrease neurotransmitter levels within the synapse

Accepted Answer

All available antidepressants share the common property, albeit through different mechanisms, that increasing monoamine neurotransmitter levels within the synapse is the basis for their antidepressant effects.

Question 5

Significant numbers of individuals with depression have problems related to what? (Select all that apply.)&#10;A)Sleep cycles&#10;B)Weight stabilization&#10;C)Eating patterns&#10;D)Thyroid function&#10;E)Cognitive skills

Accepted Answer

Insomnia, loss of appetite and body weight, and reduced interest in pleasurable activities and interpersonal relationships frequently accompany depression. Approximately 20% to 30% of persons with unipolar depression have an altered hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) system. Impaired cognitive skills are not necessarily associated with depression.

Question 6

A decrease in receptor binding for which neurotransmitter is found in individuals with depression?&#10;A)Norepinephrine&#10;B)Serotonin&#10;C)Dopamine&#10;D)Acetylcholine

Accepted Answer

Postmortem and/or brain imaging studies of individuals with depression reveal a widespread decrease in serotonin 5-HT₁A-receptor subtype binding in frontal, temporal, and limbic cortex, as well as serotonin-transporter binding in cerebral cortex and hippocampus. A decrease in receptor binding is not observed in the other neurotransmitters.

Question 7

A patient reports frequent nightmares. For which of these should the healthcare professional assess the patient?&#10;A)A recent major loss&#10;B)Family history of nightmares&#10;C)History of traumatic event&#10;D)Poor nutrition and weight loss

Accepted Answer

In PTSD, the individual re-experiences the traumatic event as intrusive collections or flashbacks during the day and during persistent nightmares. Nightmares replicate the traumatic experiences and often prevent sleep. The professional should assess the patient for recent or distant trauma. Losses, weight loss, and poor nutrition might be correlated with depression. PTSD does not run in families.

Question 8

A patient is starting on a new prescription for sertraline. What side effects does the healthcare professional educate the patient about? (Select all that apply.)&#10;A)Orthostatic hypotension&#10;B)Dry mouth&#10;C)Sleep disturbances&#10;D)Agitation&#10;E)Nausea

Accepted Answer

Side effects of SSRIs include sleep disturbances (e.g., insomnia), dry mouth, and nausea. Orthostatic hypotension and agitation are not usual side effects.

Question 9

A healthcare professional is seeing a patient with suspected schizophrenia. For which prenatal occurrence should the professional assess?&#10;A)Viral infection&#10;B)Maternal depression&#10;C)Maternal smoking&#10;D)Exposure to toxic waste

Accepted Answer

A leading hypothesis for the cause of schizophrenia suggests that the illness results from neurodevelopmental defects that occur in fetal life. Several early environmental factors have been suggested to increase the risk of developing schizophrenia, including viral infection during pregnancy, prenatal nutritional deficiencies, and perinatal complications, such as birth defects and neonatal hypoxia. No current research supports the theory that any of the other options are prenatal triggers of schizophrenia.

Question 10

Which would be considered a positive symptom of schizophrenia?&#10;A)Blunted affect&#10;B)Auditory hallucinations&#10;C)Poverty of speech&#10;D)Lack of social interaction

Accepted Answer

Positive symptoms frequently occur during a psychotic episode, when an individual loses touch with reality and experiences something that should be absent (e.g., hallucinations). The remaining options are classified as negative symptoms.

Question 11

A patient has started on clozapine. The healthcare professional educates the patient that this drug blocks which neurotransmitter receptor?&#10;A)Norepinephrine&#10;B)Gamma-aminobutyric acid&#10;C)Serotonin&#10;D)Dopamine

Accepted Answer

The answer of A patient has started on clozapine. The...

Question 12

Which neurotransmitters are inhibited in generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)? (Select all that apply.)&#10;A)Acetylcholine&#10;B)Serotonin&#10;C)Dopamine&#10;D)Norepinephrine&#10;E)Epinephrine

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which neurotransmitters are inhibited in generalized anxiety...

Question 13

A patient has been diagnosed with lithium toxicity. Which electrolyte imbalance does the healthcare professional correlate with this condition?&#10;A)Hypernatremia&#10;B)Hyponatremia&#10;C)Hyperkalemia&#10;D)Hypokalemia

Accepted Answer

The answer of A patient has been diagnosed with lithium...

Question 14

A criterion for a diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a period of excessive worrying that lasts for at least how many months?&#10;A)3&#10;B)6&#10;C)9&#10;D)12

Accepted Answer

The answer of A criterion for a diagnosis of generalized...

Question 15

What is a notable complication of panic disorder?&#10;A)Avolition&#10;B)Anhedonia&#10;C)Alogia&#10;D)Agoraphobia

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is a notable complication of panic...

Question 16

A patient is taking phenelzine and presents to the clinic complaining of "feeling awful." The patient reports eating aged cheese and avocados last night. What assessment by the healthcare professional is the priority?

A)Kidney function studies
B)Blood pressure
C)Chest x-ray
D)Weight

Accepted Answer

The answer of A patient is taking phenelzine and presents...

Question 17

A patient has a history of panic disorder. What substances does the healthcare professional teach the patient to avoid? (Select all that apply.)&#10;A)Carbon dioxide&#10;B)Coffee&#10;C)Diesel fumes&#10;D)Soda pop&#10;E)Asbestos

Accepted Answer

The answer of A patient has a history of panic...

Question 18

Which neurotransmitter is reduced in people with schizophrenia?&#10;A)Dopamine&#10;B)Gamma-aminobutyric acid&#10;C)Acetylcholine&#10;D)Serotonin

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which neurotransmitter is reduced in people with...

Question 19

What is the link between major depression and cortisol secretion?&#10;A)Individuals with depression show suppression of plasma cortisol when given dexamethasone.&#10;B)Individuals with depression have a decreased plasma cortisol level, despite the administration of exogenous corticosteroids.&#10;C)Individuals with depression show that persistently elevated plasma cortisol levels can result in inflammation that is believed to trigger depression.&#10;D)Individuals with depression have normal plasma cortisol levels throughout the day when they take antidepressant medication as prescribed.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the link between major depression...

Deck 19: Neurobiology of Schizophrenia, Mood Disorders, and Anxiety Disorders