Psychopharmacology Revision Test

The use of atypical antipsychotic or second-generation antipsychotic medications in children, adolescents and adults is associated with a number of side effect issues. Which of the following is of most concern for the physical well-being of those so treated

: In the treatment of major depression in adolescents many of the drugs come with a so-called “black box” warning. What does this mean in practical terms?

: In treating bipolar disorder which of the following classes of agents is most likely to be prescribed?

Among the various classes of medication used to treat major depression in adolescents and adults agents from which general class are most likely to be used as a drug of first choice?

Most textbooks would suggest that antidepressant drugs exert their therapeutic effects when?

In the treatment of Bipolar Disorder there are several alternatives to the use of lithium as a prophylactic agent. From among the following which agents have been used in clinical practice?

In the treatment of bipolar disorder lithium salts are frequently used. It is described as having a narrow therapeutic index. What does this mean?

The use of anticonvulsant drugs to treat bipolar disorder is associated with a number of side effects. The most serious, indeed life threatening, of these is:

In recent years the so called “atypical” or second generation antipsychotic drugs have been introduced for the treatment of schizophrenia. Which statement best characterises the difference between typical or first generation and atypical antipsychotic medications?

Venlafaxine, duloxetine and desvenlafaxine are all antidepressant medications from the same general class of agents. To which class of agent are they usually considered to belong?

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as fluoxetine are effective treatments for major depression. When first administered they can cause a number of side effects. Which of the following effects may cause the drug to be stopped due to an association with increased suicidal ideation, especially in adolescents?

For antidepressants of the monoamine oxidase inhibitor type which of the following statements is true?

Dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, urinary retention are frequently observed in patients receiving tricyclic antidepressants. This constellation of symptoms is referred to as:

Bipolar disorder is often treated with atypical antipsychotics or second-generation antipsychotic medications. Associated with their use are a number of side effects. Which of the following is of most concern for the physical well-being of those so treated?

Sexual dysfunction in men and women is increasingly recognised as a side effect of the administration of which of the following classes of antidepressants?

Bipolar disorder is conceptualised as having three separate phases each often requiring different pharmacological management strategies. In an acute manic phase which medication is most likely to be chosen as a first option?

A goal of maintenance treatment in bipolar disorder is to stabilise mood. For this purpose a prophylactic agent is likely to be chosen. Which of the following medications has mood stabilizing properties?

What is regarded as the main pathological feature leading to the development of Alzheimer’s dementia?

Many drugs have effects on the central nervous system resulting in the alleviation of anxiety. Which of the following drugs is used predominantly as an antianxiety agent?

: In the cannabis plant (cannabis sativa) the flowering tops contain the highest concentration of the active ingredient. What is the active ingredient responsible for its psychological effects?

Stimulant medications are most likely to be prescribed to children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD) to control their symptoms. Which of the following medications would be classified as stimulants?

The use of stimulants in the treatment of children with ADHD is associated with the emergence of some side effects. Which of the following are side effects of typical stimulant agents?

Benzodiazepines are a group of medications usually used in the treatment of anxiety disorders or insomnia. They are less likely to be used clinically nowadays because they are associated with some potentially significant effects. Which of the following choices is best describes the concerns with benzodiazepines?

The condition of ADHD is associated with some abnormal findings in brain circuits on neuroimaging. The circuits identified use certain neurotransmitters for communication between neurons. The involvement of these neurotransmitters has been used as the basis for prescribing medications. Which of the following neurotransmitters has most closely been associated with ADHD?

Alzheimer disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder involving the loss of neurones within the brain. One strategy for the restoration of cognitive performance has been to use drugs affecting which specific neurotransmitter?