Deck 48: Neurobiology of Psychotic Illnesses

Question 1

Affective disorders are characterized by

A) disordered emotions.
B) obsessions and compulsions.
C) hallucinations.
D) panic attacks.

Answer 1

disordered emotions.

Question 2

Drug therapy with a dopamine receptor antagonist is initiated to manage a patient's symptoms of schizophrenia. This drug decreases dopamine activity in the brain and may exhibit side effects similar to those of

A) myasthenia gravis.
B) Alzheimer disease.
C) Parkinson disease.
D) major depression.

Answer 2

Parkinson disease.

Question 3

Which of the following manifestations is characteristic of the "positive" symptoms of schizophrenia?

A) Social withdrawal
B) Flat affect
C) Lack of speech
D) Hallucinations

Answer 3

Hallucinations

Question 4

The symptoms of hallucinations and paranoia that accompany schizophrenia are thought to be due to altered neurotransmitter activity in the brain, which results in excessive _____ receptor activation.

A) D₂
B) serotonin
C) . $\alpha$ -adrenergic
D) acetylcholine

Question 5

Jane is a 19-year-old woman with a recent diagnosis of schizophrenia. Assessment of Jane's cognitive function and affect reveals that she is animated, open about describing the voices and the content of their comments, and disorganized in her thought processes. These findings suggest that

A) "negative" psychotic symptoms predominate.
B) Jane is at high risk for suicidal behaviors.
C) drug therapy is likely to be ineffective.
D) "positive" psychotic symptoms predominate.

Question 6

A 19-year-old woman is given a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Her mother asks what could have caused the disorder. All of the following statements could serve as a basis for answering except

A) schizophrenia may be precipitated by psychoactive drugs.
B) schizophrenia is inherited as an autosomal recessive gene defect.
C) schizophrenia often develops in the absence of family psychopathology.
D) chronic prolonged stress may contribute to development of schizophrenia.

Question 7

Jane is a 19-year-old woman who is brought to the clinic by her mother. Jane has become progressively more withdrawn and secludes herself in her room for much of the day reading the Bible. She has mentioned hearing voices, some of them bad and hurtful. She will only eat food from sealed packages that she opens herself. The behaviors described by Jane's mother indicate that Jane may be experiencing a(n)

A) major depressive episode.
B) obsessive-compulsive disorder.
C) personality disorder.
D) psychotic disorder.

Question 8

Depression is thought to be associated with

A) abnormal personality development.
B) early childhood emotional trauma.
C) deficient brain norepinephrine and serotonin.
D) excessive stimulation of D₁ and D₂ receptors in the brain.

Question 9

The usual age of onset for schizophrenia is

A) before puberty.
B) 15 to 35 years.
C) 40 to 65 years.
D) after 65 years.

Question 10

The "negative" symptoms of schizophrenia

A) are more easily managed than the positive symptoms.
B) are thought to be mediated by D₁ receptors in the brain.
C) include rambling speech and delusional thoughts.
D) are due to a deficiency of brain dopamine.

Question 11

Schizophrenia is characterized by

A) generalized anxiety.
B) depression.
C) disorganized thinking.
D) eating disorders.

Question 12

A mild form of mania in which social functioning is not significantly impaired is called

A) anhedonia.
B) dysphoria.
C) dysthymia.
D) hypomania.

Question 13

Drugs that inhibit reuptake of norepinephrine or serotonin may be helpful in the management of

A) schizophrenia.
B) panic attacks.
C) depression.
D) delusional disorder.

Question 14

Mania and depression are both characterized by

A) high energy and hyperactivity.
B) poor appetite.
C) hopelessness.
D) altered decision-making ability.

Question 15

Lithium is used to manage mania because it

A) inhibits norepinephrine and serotonin activity in the brain.
B) is a CNS sedative.
C) is converted to catecholamines within the brain.
D) blocks D₂ receptors in the brain.