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NURS6630 Final Exam / NURS6630N Final Exam:
Walden University | 100% Verified and Correct Q
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A patient presents with symptoms of depression. The
prescriber is considering a medication that increases
serotonin availability. Which mechanism of action
would be most consistent with this goal?
A) Blockade of serotonin reuptake transporters
B) Activation of serotonin autoreceptors
C) Inhibition of serotonin synthesis
D) Blockade of postsynaptic serotonin receptors
Correct Answer: A) Blockade of serotonin
reuptake transporters
Rationale: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
(SSRIs) block the serotonin transporter (SERT),
preventing reuptake of serotonin into the
presynaptic neuron. This increases serotonin
availability in the synaptic cleft. Activation of
autoreceptors would decrease serotonin release.
,Inhibition of synthesis or blockade of postsynaptic
receptors would reduce serotonergic transmission.
Question 2
A patient is prescribed a medication that acts as an
agonist at the GABA-A receptor. What is the
expected clinical effect?
A) Increased neuronal excitation
B) Anxiolysis and sedation
C) Enhanced dopamine release
D) Increased heart rate and blood pressure
Correct Answer: B) Anxiolysis and sedation
Rationale: GABA is the primary inhibitory
neurotransmitter in the central nervous system.
GABA-A receptor agonists (benzodiazepines,
barbiturates) enhance chloride channel opening,
leading to hyperpolarization and decreased neuronal
excitability. This produces anxiolytic, sedative, and
anticonvulsant effects.
,Question 3
A medication that acts as a partial agonist at the
dopamine D2 receptor would be expected to:
A) Produce full dopaminergic effects at all doses
B) Stabilize dopaminergic transmission by reducing
excess activity while providing baseline stimulation
C) Completely block all dopamine transmission
D) Cause rapid dopamine depletion
Correct Answer: B) Stabilize dopaminergic
transmission by reducing excess activity while
providing baseline stimulation
Rationale: Partial agonists have intrinsic activity less
than full agonists. They act as "stabilizers"—in areas
of high dopamine activity, they reduce
overstimulation (functioning like antagonists); in
areas of low dopamine activity, they provide baseline
stimulation (functioning like agonists). Aripiprazole is
an example of a D2 partial agonist.
Question 4
A patient taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor
, (MAOI) consumes a large amount of tyramine-rich
food. What is the expected adverse effect, and what
is the mechanism?
A) Hypertensive crisis due to increased
norepinephrine release
B) Serotonin syndrome due to excess serotonin
C) Hypotension due to alpha-adrenergic blockade
D) Sedation due to GABA potentiation
Correct Answer: A) Hypertensive crisis due to
increased norepinephrine release
Rationale: MAOIs inhibit the breakdown of tyramine,
a pressor amine. Tyramine displaces norepinephrine
from presynaptic vesicles, leading to excessive
norepinephrine release. This causes severe
hypertension, headache, and potentially intracranial
hemorrhage.
Section 2: Depression & Antidepressants
Question 5
A 32-year-old female with major depressive disorder