NSG 552 EXAM 1 PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY —
COMPLETE 150-QUESTION PRACTICE EXAM
Wilkes University | 2026/2027 | Questions with
Answers & Rationales
SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONAL CONCEPTS (Questions 1-35)
Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, Neurotransmitters, Neuroanatomy
1. The study of what the body does to a drug, including absorption,
distribution, metabolism, and excretion, is known as:
A. Pharmacodynamics
B. Pharmacokinetics
C. Psychopharmacology
D. Pharmacogenomics
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics describes how the body processes a drug—
specifically its absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME).
Pharmacodynamics, conversely, studies what the drug does to the body .
2. The study of what a drug does to the body, including its mechanism of
action and therapeutic effects, is known as:
A. Pharmacokinetics
B. Pharmacodynamics
C. Psychopharmacology
D. Pharmacotherapeutics
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Pharmacodynamics focuses on the biochemical and physiological
effects of drugs and their mechanisms of action at the receptor level .
3. The study of the use of psychotropic medications in the treatment of
psychiatric disorders is defined as:
A. Pharmacokinetics
B. Pharmacodynamics
C. Psychopharmacology
D. Neuropharmacology
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Psychopharmacology is the specific field that examines how
psychotropic medications affect the brain and behavior to treat psychiatric
disorders .
4. A drug that binds to a receptor and produces a full biologic response is
called a(n):
A. Antagonist
B. Partial agonist
C. Agonist
D. Inverse agonist
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: An agonist binds to a receptor and fully activates it, producing the
maximum biologic response. A partial agonist produces only a partial
response even at full receptor occupancy .
,5. A drug that binds to a receptor but does not fully activate it, producing
only a partial response, is called a(n):
A. Antagonist
B. Partial agonist
C. Full agonist
D. Inverse agonist
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A partial agonist binds to the receptor but has lower intrinsic
activity than a full agonist, producing a submaximal response even when all
receptors are occupied. Aripiprazole is an example .
6. A drug that binds to a receptor and blocks it, preventing a biologic
response, is called a(n):
A. Agonist
B. Partial agonist
C. Antagonist
D. Inverse agonist
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: An antagonist binds to a receptor without activating it, thereby
blocking agonists from binding and preventing a biologic response .
7. A drug that binds to the same receptor as an agonist but induces an
opposite biological response is called a(n):
A. Agonist
B. Partial agonist
, C. Antagonist
D. Inverse agonist
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: An inverse agonist binds to the same receptor site as an agonist
but produces the opposite effect, reducing constitutive receptor activity
below baseline .
8. The primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system is:
A. GABA
B. Glutamate
C. Dopamine
D. Serotonin
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Glutamate is the main excitatory neurotransmitter in the CNS,
functioning as the "on switch" for neuronal activity. Excessive glutamate can
cause excitotoxicity .
9. The primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system
that induces calmness and relaxation is:
A. Glutamate
B. Dopamine
C. Serotonin
D. GABA (Gamma-aminobutyric acid)
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: GABA is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter, acting as the "off
COMPLETE 150-QUESTION PRACTICE EXAM
Wilkes University | 2026/2027 | Questions with
Answers & Rationales
SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONAL CONCEPTS (Questions 1-35)
Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, Neurotransmitters, Neuroanatomy
1. The study of what the body does to a drug, including absorption,
distribution, metabolism, and excretion, is known as:
A. Pharmacodynamics
B. Pharmacokinetics
C. Psychopharmacology
D. Pharmacogenomics
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics describes how the body processes a drug—
specifically its absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME).
Pharmacodynamics, conversely, studies what the drug does to the body .
2. The study of what a drug does to the body, including its mechanism of
action and therapeutic effects, is known as:
A. Pharmacokinetics
B. Pharmacodynamics
C. Psychopharmacology
D. Pharmacotherapeutics
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Pharmacodynamics focuses on the biochemical and physiological
effects of drugs and their mechanisms of action at the receptor level .
3. The study of the use of psychotropic medications in the treatment of
psychiatric disorders is defined as:
A. Pharmacokinetics
B. Pharmacodynamics
C. Psychopharmacology
D. Neuropharmacology
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Psychopharmacology is the specific field that examines how
psychotropic medications affect the brain and behavior to treat psychiatric
disorders .
4. A drug that binds to a receptor and produces a full biologic response is
called a(n):
A. Antagonist
B. Partial agonist
C. Agonist
D. Inverse agonist
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: An agonist binds to a receptor and fully activates it, producing the
maximum biologic response. A partial agonist produces only a partial
response even at full receptor occupancy .
,5. A drug that binds to a receptor but does not fully activate it, producing
only a partial response, is called a(n):
A. Antagonist
B. Partial agonist
C. Full agonist
D. Inverse agonist
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A partial agonist binds to the receptor but has lower intrinsic
activity than a full agonist, producing a submaximal response even when all
receptors are occupied. Aripiprazole is an example .
6. A drug that binds to a receptor and blocks it, preventing a biologic
response, is called a(n):
A. Agonist
B. Partial agonist
C. Antagonist
D. Inverse agonist
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: An antagonist binds to a receptor without activating it, thereby
blocking agonists from binding and preventing a biologic response .
7. A drug that binds to the same receptor as an agonist but induces an
opposite biological response is called a(n):
A. Agonist
B. Partial agonist
, C. Antagonist
D. Inverse agonist
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: An inverse agonist binds to the same receptor site as an agonist
but produces the opposite effect, reducing constitutive receptor activity
below baseline .
8. The primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system is:
A. GABA
B. Glutamate
C. Dopamine
D. Serotonin
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Glutamate is the main excitatory neurotransmitter in the CNS,
functioning as the "on switch" for neuronal activity. Excessive glutamate can
cause excitotoxicity .
9. The primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system
that induces calmness and relaxation is:
A. Glutamate
B. Dopamine
C. Serotonin
D. GABA (Gamma-aminobutyric acid)
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: GABA is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter, acting as the "off
