NSG 552 Psychopharmacology Exam 1 2026 – Wilkes University
1. Which branch of pharmacology describes what the body does to the drug,
including absorption and metabolism?
A. Pharmacokinetics
B. Pharmacodynamics
C. Pharmacogenetics
D. Pharmacotherapeutics
Answer: A
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics refers to the movement of drugs through the body,
encompassing absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME).
2. The phenomenon where the concentration of a drug is greatly reduced before
it reaches the systemic circulation is known as:
A. First-pass effect
B. Bioavailability
C. Steady state
D. Distribution
Answer: A
Rationale: The first-pass effect occurs when a drug is metabolized in the liver or gut wall
before reaching the systemic circulation, reducing its bioavailability.
,3. How many half-lives does it typically take for a drug to reach steady state?
A. 4 to 5
B. 2 to 3
C. 1 to 2
D. 7 to 10
Answer: A
Rationale: Steady state is reached when the rate of drug elimination is equal to the rate of
drug administration, which typically takes 4 to 5 half-lives.
4. A drug that binds to a receptor and activates it to produce a maximum
biological response is called a:
A. Full agonist
B. Inverse agonist
C. Antagonist
D. Partial agonist
Answer: A
Rationale: Full agonists bind to receptors and turn on the signal transduction process to
the maximum extent possible.
5. Which Cytochrome P450 enzyme is responsible for metabolizing
approximately 50% of all clinically used medications?
A. CYP3A4
B. CYP2D6
C. CYP1A2
D. CYP2C19
Answer: A
Rationale: CYP3A4 is the most abundant CYP enzyme in the liver and is involved in the
metabolism of about half of all prescribed drugs.
, 6. What is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous
system?
A. Glutamate
B. GABA
C. Dopamine
D. Norepinephrine
Answer: B
Rationale: Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in
the brain, reducing neuronal excitability.
7. Which dopamine pathway is associated with the development of
extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) when D2 receptors are blocked?
A. Mesolimbic
B. Mesocortical
C. Nigrostriatal
D. Tuberoinfundibular
Answer: C
Rationale: The nigrostriatal pathway controls motor function; blocking D2 receptors here
leads to movement disorders like EPS.
8. An agent that binds to the same receptor site as an agonist but produces the
opposite pharmacological effect is a:
A. Competitive antagonist
B. Partial agonist
C. Inverse agonist
D. Non-competitive antagonist
Answer: C
Rationale: Inverse agonists bind to the same receptor as an agonist but induce a
pharmacological response opposite to that of the agonist.
1. Which branch of pharmacology describes what the body does to the drug,
including absorption and metabolism?
A. Pharmacokinetics
B. Pharmacodynamics
C. Pharmacogenetics
D. Pharmacotherapeutics
Answer: A
Rationale: Pharmacokinetics refers to the movement of drugs through the body,
encompassing absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME).
2. The phenomenon where the concentration of a drug is greatly reduced before
it reaches the systemic circulation is known as:
A. First-pass effect
B. Bioavailability
C. Steady state
D. Distribution
Answer: A
Rationale: The first-pass effect occurs when a drug is metabolized in the liver or gut wall
before reaching the systemic circulation, reducing its bioavailability.
,3. How many half-lives does it typically take for a drug to reach steady state?
A. 4 to 5
B. 2 to 3
C. 1 to 2
D. 7 to 10
Answer: A
Rationale: Steady state is reached when the rate of drug elimination is equal to the rate of
drug administration, which typically takes 4 to 5 half-lives.
4. A drug that binds to a receptor and activates it to produce a maximum
biological response is called a:
A. Full agonist
B. Inverse agonist
C. Antagonist
D. Partial agonist
Answer: A
Rationale: Full agonists bind to receptors and turn on the signal transduction process to
the maximum extent possible.
5. Which Cytochrome P450 enzyme is responsible for metabolizing
approximately 50% of all clinically used medications?
A. CYP3A4
B. CYP2D6
C. CYP1A2
D. CYP2C19
Answer: A
Rationale: CYP3A4 is the most abundant CYP enzyme in the liver and is involved in the
metabolism of about half of all prescribed drugs.
, 6. What is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous
system?
A. Glutamate
B. GABA
C. Dopamine
D. Norepinephrine
Answer: B
Rationale: Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in
the brain, reducing neuronal excitability.
7. Which dopamine pathway is associated with the development of
extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) when D2 receptors are blocked?
A. Mesolimbic
B. Mesocortical
C. Nigrostriatal
D. Tuberoinfundibular
Answer: C
Rationale: The nigrostriatal pathway controls motor function; blocking D2 receptors here
leads to movement disorders like EPS.
8. An agent that binds to the same receptor site as an agonist but produces the
opposite pharmacological effect is a:
A. Competitive antagonist
B. Partial agonist
C. Inverse agonist
D. Non-competitive antagonist
Answer: C
Rationale: Inverse agonists bind to the same receptor as an agonist but induce a
pharmacological response opposite to that of the agonist.
