NSG552 Psychopharmacology Exam 1 | Actual
Questions and verified Answers complete Solutions |
A+ Graded | 2026 Updates | 100% correct
What are the 6 general principles of psychopharmacological treatment? - ANSWER- Safety
Tolerability
Efficacy
Practicality
Treatment accessibility
Treatment compliance
Pharmacokinetics - ANSWER- How the drug moves in the body. (ex. Where is it absorbed?
How and where is it metabolized? Where is it excreted?)
Pharmacodynamics - ANSWER- What the drug does to the body. (consider mechanism of
action)
Define First-generation antipsychotics - ANSWER- Referred to as Typical Antipsychotics. Most
have strong bond with D2 receptors only, cause EPS symptoms faster due to prolonged receptor
dissociation, have more dangerous side effect profiles, have been around longer, more effective
at treating positive symptoms, less expensive. (Ex. Haloperidol, Chlorpromazine, Thioridazine,
Fluphenazine)
Define Second-generation antipsychotics - ANSWER- Referred to as Atypical Antipsychotics.
Most have a weak bond with D2 receptors and block serotonin receptors leading to anti-
depressive and anxiolytic effects. They cause less EPS due to rapid receptor disassociation which
leads to rapid dopamine neurotransmission. Have less dangerous side effect profiles but can
cause metabolic syndromes, have been around shorter time, more expensive, more effective at
treating negative symptoms but can treat positive symptoms as well, long-acting injections
available for several of these. (Ex. Risperidone, Clozapine, Quetiapine, Aripiprazole, Ziprasidone)
Extra Pyramidal Symptoms (EPS) - ANSWER- Side effects caused by certain antipsychotic
medications, which include: involuntary or uncontrollable movements. tremors. muscle
contractions.
, Tardive dyskinesia - ANSWER- A neurological disorder characterize by involuntary movement
of the face and jaw.
Upregulation - ANSWER- Occurs through chronic use of antagonists which causes an increase
in the number of receptors, externalization of receptors, and increased sensitivity of the
receptors. Prolonged use of antagonist -> Up-regulation of receptors -> Sudden withdrawal of
antagonist -> increased number of receptors and increased sensitivity of receptors *YOU MUST
GRADUALLY TAPER A DRUG TO AVOID BINDING TO ALL NEW RECEPTORS FROM UPREGULATION
Down regulation - ANSWER- Occurs by chronic exposure of agonists which causes decreased
number of receptors, internalization of receptors, and decreased sensitivity of the receptors.
Prolonged use of agonist -> down-regulation of receptors -> decreased effectiveness of agonist
mediated clinical response.
You have two options:
1 Increase the drug dose OR 2 Switch to another drug(BEST OPTION)
Receptor profile - ANSWER- The receptors that each drug binds to
(example, risperidone's receptor profile would like...
(a) Blockade of 5HT2A and D2 receptors
(b) High affinity for a1, a2, and H1 receptors)
Binding - ANSWER- Refers to a drug metabolite or neurotransmitter attaching to a receptor
Affinity - ANSWER- refers to the "preference" or likelihood of a drug to bind to a certain
receptor. Linked to potency.
CYP450 - ANSWER- A group of enzymes in the liver that metabolize different drugs. There are
six.
List the 7 CYP450 Enzymes - ANSWER- (1) CYP1A2
(2) CYP2B6
(3) CYP2C9
(4) CYP2C19
(5) CYP2D6
(6) CYP3A4
(7) CYP2EI
Questions and verified Answers complete Solutions |
A+ Graded | 2026 Updates | 100% correct
What are the 6 general principles of psychopharmacological treatment? - ANSWER- Safety
Tolerability
Efficacy
Practicality
Treatment accessibility
Treatment compliance
Pharmacokinetics - ANSWER- How the drug moves in the body. (ex. Where is it absorbed?
How and where is it metabolized? Where is it excreted?)
Pharmacodynamics - ANSWER- What the drug does to the body. (consider mechanism of
action)
Define First-generation antipsychotics - ANSWER- Referred to as Typical Antipsychotics. Most
have strong bond with D2 receptors only, cause EPS symptoms faster due to prolonged receptor
dissociation, have more dangerous side effect profiles, have been around longer, more effective
at treating positive symptoms, less expensive. (Ex. Haloperidol, Chlorpromazine, Thioridazine,
Fluphenazine)
Define Second-generation antipsychotics - ANSWER- Referred to as Atypical Antipsychotics.
Most have a weak bond with D2 receptors and block serotonin receptors leading to anti-
depressive and anxiolytic effects. They cause less EPS due to rapid receptor disassociation which
leads to rapid dopamine neurotransmission. Have less dangerous side effect profiles but can
cause metabolic syndromes, have been around shorter time, more expensive, more effective at
treating negative symptoms but can treat positive symptoms as well, long-acting injections
available for several of these. (Ex. Risperidone, Clozapine, Quetiapine, Aripiprazole, Ziprasidone)
Extra Pyramidal Symptoms (EPS) - ANSWER- Side effects caused by certain antipsychotic
medications, which include: involuntary or uncontrollable movements. tremors. muscle
contractions.
, Tardive dyskinesia - ANSWER- A neurological disorder characterize by involuntary movement
of the face and jaw.
Upregulation - ANSWER- Occurs through chronic use of antagonists which causes an increase
in the number of receptors, externalization of receptors, and increased sensitivity of the
receptors. Prolonged use of antagonist -> Up-regulation of receptors -> Sudden withdrawal of
antagonist -> increased number of receptors and increased sensitivity of receptors *YOU MUST
GRADUALLY TAPER A DRUG TO AVOID BINDING TO ALL NEW RECEPTORS FROM UPREGULATION
Down regulation - ANSWER- Occurs by chronic exposure of agonists which causes decreased
number of receptors, internalization of receptors, and decreased sensitivity of the receptors.
Prolonged use of agonist -> down-regulation of receptors -> decreased effectiveness of agonist
mediated clinical response.
You have two options:
1 Increase the drug dose OR 2 Switch to another drug(BEST OPTION)
Receptor profile - ANSWER- The receptors that each drug binds to
(example, risperidone's receptor profile would like...
(a) Blockade of 5HT2A and D2 receptors
(b) High affinity for a1, a2, and H1 receptors)
Binding - ANSWER- Refers to a drug metabolite or neurotransmitter attaching to a receptor
Affinity - ANSWER- refers to the "preference" or likelihood of a drug to bind to a certain
receptor. Linked to potency.
CYP450 - ANSWER- A group of enzymes in the liver that metabolize different drugs. There are
six.
List the 7 CYP450 Enzymes - ANSWER- (1) CYP1A2
(2) CYP2B6
(3) CYP2C9
(4) CYP2C19
(5) CYP2D6
(6) CYP3A4
(7) CYP2EI
