PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY CERTIFICATION
EXAM QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS
2026
▶ Dextromethylphenidate Long Acting duration? Answer:8-12 hours
▶ Dextromethylphenidate FDA approved for? Answer:children 3+
▶ Dextromethylphenidate side effects? Answer:Loss of appetite,
headaches, ↑BP; stomachaches, nausea, weight loss, insomnia,
anticholinergic, tics/repetitive movements, psychosis
▶ Non-stimulant medication for ADHD? Answer:guanfacine for ADHD
▶ Alpha-2 agonists usage? Answer:can be used alone if first-line treatment
cannot be used (due to intolerable side effects or ineffectiveness) or as
adjunctive therapy for stimulants. Also used if patient has TIC disorder.
▶ Guanfacine side effects? Answer:rarely but can cause low BP and
cardiac arrhythmias.
▶ Guanfacine? Answer:FDA approved for children 6-17 years.
▶ Labs to obtain before starting ADHD meds? Answer:Height, weight, BP,
HR, EKG.
▶ Extended-release form medication? Answer:Consider switching to an
extended-release form if a child is taking their medication twice daily.
▶ Neurocognitive Disorders Etiology? Answer:Diffuse cerebral atrophy and
enlarged ventricles in the brain. Decreased Acetylcholine (Ach) and NE.
▶ Neurocognitive Disorders Labs? Answer:CBC, Chemistry, TSH, B12
level and folate to rule out metabolic causes.
, ▶ Drugs that cause delirium? Answer:TCAs, Anticholinergics, Benzos,
Non-benzos, Corticosteroids, H2 blockers, opioids.
▶ Causes of Delirium? Answer:Drugs, electrolyte imbalances, low O2
saturation, infection, reduced sensory input, intracranial strokes, urinary
retention, myocardial.
▶ Dementia? Answer:Group of disorders characterized by gradual
development of cognitive deficits.
▶ Alzheimer's disease (AD)? Answer:Most common type of dementia;
gradual progressive decline affecting memory, learning and language.
▶ Apraxia? Answer:Inability to perform previously learned tasks.
▶ Aphasia? Answer:Difficulty with speech.
▶ Agnosia? Answer:Inability to recognize an object.
▶ Vascular disease dementia? Answer:2nd most common type of
dementia; cognitive decline secondary to large vessel strokes.
▶ Vascular disease Risk factors? Answer:HTN, DM, Smoking, obesity,
HLD, A-fib, Age.
▶ Frontotemporal degeneration (FTD)? Answer:Caused by atrophy of the
frontal and temporal lobes, 40% familial.
▶ Frontotemporal degeneration (FTD) symptoms? Answer:Disinhibition
(verbal, physical sexual), Difficulty with speech and comprehension
▶ Dementia Treatment Options? Answer:Cholinesterase inhibitors:
Galantimine (Razadyne), Donepezil (Aricept), Rivastigmine (Exelon)
▶ Donepezil (Aricept) side effects? Answer:diarrhea, weight loss, abnormal
dreams, insomnia, dizziness
EXAM QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS
2026
▶ Dextromethylphenidate Long Acting duration? Answer:8-12 hours
▶ Dextromethylphenidate FDA approved for? Answer:children 3+
▶ Dextromethylphenidate side effects? Answer:Loss of appetite,
headaches, ↑BP; stomachaches, nausea, weight loss, insomnia,
anticholinergic, tics/repetitive movements, psychosis
▶ Non-stimulant medication for ADHD? Answer:guanfacine for ADHD
▶ Alpha-2 agonists usage? Answer:can be used alone if first-line treatment
cannot be used (due to intolerable side effects or ineffectiveness) or as
adjunctive therapy for stimulants. Also used if patient has TIC disorder.
▶ Guanfacine side effects? Answer:rarely but can cause low BP and
cardiac arrhythmias.
▶ Guanfacine? Answer:FDA approved for children 6-17 years.
▶ Labs to obtain before starting ADHD meds? Answer:Height, weight, BP,
HR, EKG.
▶ Extended-release form medication? Answer:Consider switching to an
extended-release form if a child is taking their medication twice daily.
▶ Neurocognitive Disorders Etiology? Answer:Diffuse cerebral atrophy and
enlarged ventricles in the brain. Decreased Acetylcholine (Ach) and NE.
▶ Neurocognitive Disorders Labs? Answer:CBC, Chemistry, TSH, B12
level and folate to rule out metabolic causes.
, ▶ Drugs that cause delirium? Answer:TCAs, Anticholinergics, Benzos,
Non-benzos, Corticosteroids, H2 blockers, opioids.
▶ Causes of Delirium? Answer:Drugs, electrolyte imbalances, low O2
saturation, infection, reduced sensory input, intracranial strokes, urinary
retention, myocardial.
▶ Dementia? Answer:Group of disorders characterized by gradual
development of cognitive deficits.
▶ Alzheimer's disease (AD)? Answer:Most common type of dementia;
gradual progressive decline affecting memory, learning and language.
▶ Apraxia? Answer:Inability to perform previously learned tasks.
▶ Aphasia? Answer:Difficulty with speech.
▶ Agnosia? Answer:Inability to recognize an object.
▶ Vascular disease dementia? Answer:2nd most common type of
dementia; cognitive decline secondary to large vessel strokes.
▶ Vascular disease Risk factors? Answer:HTN, DM, Smoking, obesity,
HLD, A-fib, Age.
▶ Frontotemporal degeneration (FTD)? Answer:Caused by atrophy of the
frontal and temporal lobes, 40% familial.
▶ Frontotemporal degeneration (FTD) symptoms? Answer:Disinhibition
(verbal, physical sexual), Difficulty with speech and comprehension
▶ Dementia Treatment Options? Answer:Cholinesterase inhibitors:
Galantimine (Razadyne), Donepezil (Aricept), Rivastigmine (Exelon)
▶ Donepezil (Aricept) side effects? Answer:diarrhea, weight loss, abnormal
dreams, insomnia, dizziness
