NRNP 6635 Midterm Question and Answer |
A+ Guaranteed | 2026 Exam Study Guide
• How does serotonin affect mood and anxiety? -✓✓Serotonin helps regulate emotional
stability, sleep, appetite, and impulse control. When serotonin signaling is low,
emotional responses become exaggerated and negative thoughts persist
Clinical signs:
-depression
-anxiety
-irritability
-obsessive thinking
Why SSRIs work:
They prevent serotonin reuptake---> stronger signaling between neurons ----> improved
emotional regulation
• Why does dopamine cause psychosis? -✓✓Dopamine assigns importance ("salience")
to experiences. Excess dopamine in the mesolimbic pathway makes neutral events feel
meaningful or threatening.
Result:
-hallucinations
-paranoia
-delusions
Antipsychotics reduce dopamine signaling ---> reality perception improves
• Why do schizophrenia patients have negative symptoms? -✓✓Low dopamine in the
mesocortical pathway affects the prefrontal cortex, reducing motivation and emotional
expression
Symptoms:
-flat affect
-social withdrawal
-poor concentration
Important: Antipsychotics help positive symptoms more than negative ones
• Why does low GABA cause anxiety? -✓✓GABA slows brain activity. Without enough
inhibition, fear circuits fire excessively.
Brain state:
"Always on alert."
A+ Guaranteed | 2026 Exam Study Guide
• How does serotonin affect mood and anxiety? -✓✓Serotonin helps regulate emotional
stability, sleep, appetite, and impulse control. When serotonin signaling is low,
emotional responses become exaggerated and negative thoughts persist
Clinical signs:
-depression
-anxiety
-irritability
-obsessive thinking
Why SSRIs work:
They prevent serotonin reuptake---> stronger signaling between neurons ----> improved
emotional regulation
• Why does dopamine cause psychosis? -✓✓Dopamine assigns importance ("salience")
to experiences. Excess dopamine in the mesolimbic pathway makes neutral events feel
meaningful or threatening.
Result:
-hallucinations
-paranoia
-delusions
Antipsychotics reduce dopamine signaling ---> reality perception improves
• Why do schizophrenia patients have negative symptoms? -✓✓Low dopamine in the
mesocortical pathway affects the prefrontal cortex, reducing motivation and emotional
expression
Symptoms:
-flat affect
-social withdrawal
-poor concentration
Important: Antipsychotics help positive symptoms more than negative ones
• Why does low GABA cause anxiety? -✓✓GABA slows brain activity. Without enough
inhibition, fear circuits fire excessively.
Brain state:
"Always on alert."
