PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY FINAL EXAM 221
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS 2025/2026
When a person or animal confronts actual (or perceived) danger situations, what
neurochemical and hormonal reactions start to occur? - CORRECT ANSWER
nonessential physiological processes shut down (i.e. digestion & reproduction),
energy is channeled into a host of functions preparing for rapid action.
Stressful events are perceived at the __________, processed at the _______,
which then activates lower brain areas & puts the limbic system on alert -
CORRECT ANSWER cortex, amygdala
when there is imminent danger, a burst of excitation originates from the locus
coeruleus which releases _____________, which results in instantaneous
hypervigilance. - CORRECT ANSWER norepinephrine
what is responsible for the release of stress hormones? - CORRECT ANSWER limbic
system and hypothalamus by activating the SNS, HTA, or HPA
_________ ions act as a brake and dampen the limbic alert - CORRECT ANSWER
chloride
________ enhance the flow of negative (chloride) ions which results in
widespread calming in many areas of the brain - CORRECT ANSWER
benzodiazepines
,excitability in the locus coeruleus is also mediated by _______ - CORRECT
ANSWER serotonin
in the Locus Coeruleus, serotonin is ____________. - CORRECT ANSWER inhibitory
A decrease in serotonin may impact the locus coeruleus by making it more
disinhibited and more sensitive to ___________. - CORRECT ANSWER activation
Acquired fears appear to be mediated primarily by the ___________. - CORRECT
ANSWER amygdala
After very frightening events, the amygdala ________ certain stimulus events of
the experience. These memories are highly resistant to extinction. - CORRECT
ANSWER encodes
There is speculation that _______ many play a role in inhibiting cellular reactivity
in the amygdala - CORRECT ANSWER serotonin
What are four medication options for treating GAD? - CORRECT ANSWER
benzodiazepines, atypical antianxiety (buspirone), SNRIs and SSRIs, and
gabapentin
Benzodiazepines can be used to treat severe cases of GAD, but should not be used
if the patient is at risk for ___________ - CORRECT ANSWER
dependence/substance abuse
,_______ reduces worry and rumination seen in GAD, but it is not addictive -
CORRECT ANSWER Buspirone
This antiseizure medication is primarily used to treat anxiety in bipolar disorder -
CORRECT ANSWER gabapentin
Specific phobias are generally not treated with __________________. - CORRECT
ANSWER psychotropic medications
what is effective at reducing anxiety surrounding public speaking? - CORRECT
ANSWER beta-blockers
Pervasive forms social anxiety (and avoidant personality disorder) may be treated
with what three medications? - CORRECT ANSWER SSRIs, SNRIs, or MAOIs
____________ is the anxiety disorder for which medication treatment plays its
most important role - CORRECT ANSWER panic disorder
What three medication classes generally treat panic? - CORRECT ANSWER
benzodiazepines, antidepressants, and MAO inhibitors
______ of patients have return of panic symptoms if medication is stopped -
CORRECT ANSWER 70%
, What four anxiety disorders are generally NOT treated with medication unless
they are severe or fail to respond to psychotherapy. - CORRECT ANSWER GAD,
specific phobia, social phobia, agoraphobia without panic
Psychotherapy is the treatment of choice for what two anxiety disorders? -
CORRECT ANSWER anxiety associated with acute stress, neurotic anxiety
diseases such as encephalitis that selectively damage areas of the __________
have been shown to result in OCD symptoms. - CORRECT ANSWER basal ganglia
A large number of clinical studies suggest that OCD can be treated with ________.
- CORRECT ANSWER SSRIs
Antidepressants that do not affect _________ are not effective in treating OCD -
CORRECT ANSWER serotonin
There appears to be an increase in metabolic activity in the prefrontal cortex and
basal ganglia for people with OCD. However, this abnormal metabolic activity is
normalized with patients are treated with an ______. - CORRECT ANSWER SSRI
One theory is that the ___________ works to inhibit the emergence of primitive
instinctual urges, but this does not work in OCD. - CORRECT ANSWER frontal
cortex
Another theory of OCD is that the feedback loop seen in response to
stress/danger is never ___________ for people with OCD, thus behavioral
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS 2025/2026
When a person or animal confronts actual (or perceived) danger situations, what
neurochemical and hormonal reactions start to occur? - CORRECT ANSWER
nonessential physiological processes shut down (i.e. digestion & reproduction),
energy is channeled into a host of functions preparing for rapid action.
Stressful events are perceived at the __________, processed at the _______,
which then activates lower brain areas & puts the limbic system on alert -
CORRECT ANSWER cortex, amygdala
when there is imminent danger, a burst of excitation originates from the locus
coeruleus which releases _____________, which results in instantaneous
hypervigilance. - CORRECT ANSWER norepinephrine
what is responsible for the release of stress hormones? - CORRECT ANSWER limbic
system and hypothalamus by activating the SNS, HTA, or HPA
_________ ions act as a brake and dampen the limbic alert - CORRECT ANSWER
chloride
________ enhance the flow of negative (chloride) ions which results in
widespread calming in many areas of the brain - CORRECT ANSWER
benzodiazepines
,excitability in the locus coeruleus is also mediated by _______ - CORRECT
ANSWER serotonin
in the Locus Coeruleus, serotonin is ____________. - CORRECT ANSWER inhibitory
A decrease in serotonin may impact the locus coeruleus by making it more
disinhibited and more sensitive to ___________. - CORRECT ANSWER activation
Acquired fears appear to be mediated primarily by the ___________. - CORRECT
ANSWER amygdala
After very frightening events, the amygdala ________ certain stimulus events of
the experience. These memories are highly resistant to extinction. - CORRECT
ANSWER encodes
There is speculation that _______ many play a role in inhibiting cellular reactivity
in the amygdala - CORRECT ANSWER serotonin
What are four medication options for treating GAD? - CORRECT ANSWER
benzodiazepines, atypical antianxiety (buspirone), SNRIs and SSRIs, and
gabapentin
Benzodiazepines can be used to treat severe cases of GAD, but should not be used
if the patient is at risk for ___________ - CORRECT ANSWER
dependence/substance abuse
,_______ reduces worry and rumination seen in GAD, but it is not addictive -
CORRECT ANSWER Buspirone
This antiseizure medication is primarily used to treat anxiety in bipolar disorder -
CORRECT ANSWER gabapentin
Specific phobias are generally not treated with __________________. - CORRECT
ANSWER psychotropic medications
what is effective at reducing anxiety surrounding public speaking? - CORRECT
ANSWER beta-blockers
Pervasive forms social anxiety (and avoidant personality disorder) may be treated
with what three medications? - CORRECT ANSWER SSRIs, SNRIs, or MAOIs
____________ is the anxiety disorder for which medication treatment plays its
most important role - CORRECT ANSWER panic disorder
What three medication classes generally treat panic? - CORRECT ANSWER
benzodiazepines, antidepressants, and MAO inhibitors
______ of patients have return of panic symptoms if medication is stopped -
CORRECT ANSWER 70%
, What four anxiety disorders are generally NOT treated with medication unless
they are severe or fail to respond to psychotherapy. - CORRECT ANSWER GAD,
specific phobia, social phobia, agoraphobia without panic
Psychotherapy is the treatment of choice for what two anxiety disorders? -
CORRECT ANSWER anxiety associated with acute stress, neurotic anxiety
diseases such as encephalitis that selectively damage areas of the __________
have been shown to result in OCD symptoms. - CORRECT ANSWER basal ganglia
A large number of clinical studies suggest that OCD can be treated with ________.
- CORRECT ANSWER SSRIs
Antidepressants that do not affect _________ are not effective in treating OCD -
CORRECT ANSWER serotonin
There appears to be an increase in metabolic activity in the prefrontal cortex and
basal ganglia for people with OCD. However, this abnormal metabolic activity is
normalized with patients are treated with an ______. - CORRECT ANSWER SSRI
One theory is that the ___________ works to inhibit the emergence of primitive
instinctual urges, but this does not work in OCD. - CORRECT ANSWER frontal
cortex
Another theory of OCD is that the feedback loop seen in response to
stress/danger is never ___________ for people with OCD, thus behavioral
