NR 546 FINAL PRACTICE EXAM
PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY 84 QUESTIONS WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS 2025/2026
MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors) affect which neurotransmitters?
A. Serotonin, Dopamine, Norepinephrine
B. Serotonin, GABA, Glutamate
C. Acetylcholine, Dopamine, Norepinephrine
D. Dopamine, GABA, Acetylcholine - CORRECT ANSWER A. Serotonin, Dopamine,
Norepinephrine
Which of the following is considered first line treatment for depression?
A. SSRI
B. FGA
C. SNRI
D. MAOI - CORRECT ANSWER A. SSRI
When treating a patient for major depression disorder which medication would
the PMHNP consider first?
A. Depakote
B. Selegiline
,C. Escitalopram
D. Isocarboxazid - CORRECT ANSWER C. Escitalopram
Which of the following medication should be considered for a patient diagnosed
with major depressive disorder who reports "always forgetting to take my pills"?
A. Mirtazapine
B. Fluvoxamine
C. Fluoxetine
D. Carbamazepine - CORRECT ANSWER C. Fluoxetine
Which of the following medication has a black box warning of a life-threatening
skin rash?
A. Lithium
B. Lamotrigine
C. Lurasidone
D. Lorazepam - CORRECT ANSWER B. Lamotrigine
Which medication is considered the best tolerated SSRI?
A. Venlafaxine
B. Bupropion
C. Sertraline
,D. Escitalopram - CORRECT ANSWER D. Escitalopram
During a 4 week follow up appointment, Rashida, who is prescribed Sertraline
25mg qama reports slight improvement in depression symptoms and tolerating
medication well. Which of the following should the PMHNP do?
A. Increase Sertraline dose
B. Switch to an SNRI
C. Switch to a different SSRI
D. Add Trazodone qasr for sleep. - CORRECT ANSWER A. Increase Sertraline dose
Which medication should be avoided for the 66 year patient diagnosed with major
depressive disorder and anxiety with a reported fall 3 months ago?
A. Citalopram
B. Sertraline
C. Paroxetine
D. Aripiprazole - CORRECT ANSWER C. Paroxetine
A patient reports upset stomach and diarrhea 3 days after taking new prescription
of sertraline. Which of the following is the most appropriate response from the
PMHNP?
A. "Start doubling the dose of sertraline and your symptoms will begin to ease
up".
, B. "Most side effects subside after 4-5 days. Your body is getting adjusted to the
increased serotonin levels".
C. "Stop taking it immediately and go to the local emergency department".
D. "You must take Sertraline with food, otherwise you will continue to experience
GI symptoms". - CORRECT ANSWER B. "Most side effects subside after 4-5 days.
Your body is getting adjusted to the increased serotonin levels".
During a 2 week follow up appointment, the patient reports no improvement in
depressive symptoms with escitalopram. Which of the following statement made
by the PMHNP is correct?
A. "Let's discontinue escitalopram and start you on something stronger".
B. "It can take up to 6 weeks before you notice improvements of depressive
symptoms".
C. "I am going to prescribe Trazodone. Take it at night to help you sleep".
D. "Start taking two pills at a time". - CORRECT ANSWER B. "It can take up to 6
weeks before you notice improvements of depressive symptoms".
Duloxetine effects which two neurotransmitters?
A. serotonin and norepinephrine
B. serotonin and dopamine
C. norepinephrine and GABA
D. glutamate and acetylcholine - CORRECT ANSWER A. serotonin and
norepinephrine
PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY 84 QUESTIONS WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS 2025/2026
MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors) affect which neurotransmitters?
A. Serotonin, Dopamine, Norepinephrine
B. Serotonin, GABA, Glutamate
C. Acetylcholine, Dopamine, Norepinephrine
D. Dopamine, GABA, Acetylcholine - CORRECT ANSWER A. Serotonin, Dopamine,
Norepinephrine
Which of the following is considered first line treatment for depression?
A. SSRI
B. FGA
C. SNRI
D. MAOI - CORRECT ANSWER A. SSRI
When treating a patient for major depression disorder which medication would
the PMHNP consider first?
A. Depakote
B. Selegiline
,C. Escitalopram
D. Isocarboxazid - CORRECT ANSWER C. Escitalopram
Which of the following medication should be considered for a patient diagnosed
with major depressive disorder who reports "always forgetting to take my pills"?
A. Mirtazapine
B. Fluvoxamine
C. Fluoxetine
D. Carbamazepine - CORRECT ANSWER C. Fluoxetine
Which of the following medication has a black box warning of a life-threatening
skin rash?
A. Lithium
B. Lamotrigine
C. Lurasidone
D. Lorazepam - CORRECT ANSWER B. Lamotrigine
Which medication is considered the best tolerated SSRI?
A. Venlafaxine
B. Bupropion
C. Sertraline
,D. Escitalopram - CORRECT ANSWER D. Escitalopram
During a 4 week follow up appointment, Rashida, who is prescribed Sertraline
25mg qama reports slight improvement in depression symptoms and tolerating
medication well. Which of the following should the PMHNP do?
A. Increase Sertraline dose
B. Switch to an SNRI
C. Switch to a different SSRI
D. Add Trazodone qasr for sleep. - CORRECT ANSWER A. Increase Sertraline dose
Which medication should be avoided for the 66 year patient diagnosed with major
depressive disorder and anxiety with a reported fall 3 months ago?
A. Citalopram
B. Sertraline
C. Paroxetine
D. Aripiprazole - CORRECT ANSWER C. Paroxetine
A patient reports upset stomach and diarrhea 3 days after taking new prescription
of sertraline. Which of the following is the most appropriate response from the
PMHNP?
A. "Start doubling the dose of sertraline and your symptoms will begin to ease
up".
, B. "Most side effects subside after 4-5 days. Your body is getting adjusted to the
increased serotonin levels".
C. "Stop taking it immediately and go to the local emergency department".
D. "You must take Sertraline with food, otherwise you will continue to experience
GI symptoms". - CORRECT ANSWER B. "Most side effects subside after 4-5 days.
Your body is getting adjusted to the increased serotonin levels".
During a 2 week follow up appointment, the patient reports no improvement in
depressive symptoms with escitalopram. Which of the following statement made
by the PMHNP is correct?
A. "Let's discontinue escitalopram and start you on something stronger".
B. "It can take up to 6 weeks before you notice improvements of depressive
symptoms".
C. "I am going to prescribe Trazodone. Take it at night to help you sleep".
D. "Start taking two pills at a time". - CORRECT ANSWER B. "It can take up to 6
weeks before you notice improvements of depressive symptoms".
Duloxetine effects which two neurotransmitters?
A. serotonin and norepinephrine
B. serotonin and dopamine
C. norepinephrine and GABA
D. glutamate and acetylcholine - CORRECT ANSWER A. serotonin and
norepinephrine
