NUR 256 CONCEPTS OF MENTAL HEALTH
NURSING EXAM 2 2026 COMPREHENSIVE
STUDY GUIDE SOLVED QUESTION SET
◉ What illnesses are associated with the decrease/increase of
Norepinephrine. Answer: decrease: depression
increase: mania, anxiety states, schizophrenia
◉ What illnesses are associated with the decrease/increase of serotonin.
Answer: decrease: depression
No increases
◉ What illnesses are associated with the decrease/increase of GABA.
Answer: decrease: anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, mania, and
Huntington's disease
Increase: reduction of anxiety
◉ What illnesses are associated with the decrease/increase of
Glucamate. Answer: decrease: psychosis
increase: neurotoxic (if prolonged) neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's
disease
◉ What illnesses are associated with the decrease/increase of
acetylcholine. Answer: decrease: Alzheimer's, Huntington's, Parkinson's
,increase: depression
◉ _____________ plays a role in learning, and memory. Stimulates
ANS for "resting and digesting". Answer: Acetylcholine
◉ _________ excitatory, AMPA plats a role in learning and memory.
Answer: Glucamate
◉ ________ plays a role in inhibition, reduces aggression, excitation,
and anxiety. may play a role in pain perception, has anticonvulsant and
muscle relaxing properties. may impair cognition and psychomotor
functioning. Answer: GABA
◉ ______ Plays a role in sleep regulation, hunger, mood states, pain
perception, and hormonal activity. Also plays a role in aggression, and
sexual behavior. Answer: Serotonin
◉ _______ level in brain affects mood attention, and arousal. Stimulates
"fight or flight". Answer: Norepinephrine
◉ Agonist. Answer: Mimics the effects of neurotransmitters naturally
found in the brain by binding to and stimulating the receptor site
◉ Antagonist. Answer: Blocks the action of the neurotransmitters,
thereby obstructing the neurotransmitter's action
, ◉ _______ promotes the activity of GABA, possess antianxiety,
hypnotic, anti-convulsant, amnestic (loss of memory), and muscle
relaxant properties. Answer: Benzodiazepines
◉ ______ Reduces anxiety without having strong hypnotic sedative
effects, unlike benzos. Therefore, patients tolerate this medication
better.. Answer: Buspirone (BuSpar)
◉ Buspirone affects _________, unlike benzos affecting GABA.
Answer: sertonergic
◉ ________ are first line treatment options for anxiety, and anxiety
related disorders.. Answer: Anti-depressants
◉ Anti-depressants require how many weeks for an anti-anxiety onset.
Answer: 4-8 weeks
◉ What're anti cholinergic side effects?. Answer: Dry mouth, blurred
vision, constipation, sinus tachycardia, urinary retention, and dizziness
◉ When Acetylcholine binds to receptors it has many effects:. Answer:
Blurred vision, dry mouth, constipation, sinus tachycardia, urinary
retention
NURSING EXAM 2 2026 COMPREHENSIVE
STUDY GUIDE SOLVED QUESTION SET
◉ What illnesses are associated with the decrease/increase of
Norepinephrine. Answer: decrease: depression
increase: mania, anxiety states, schizophrenia
◉ What illnesses are associated with the decrease/increase of serotonin.
Answer: decrease: depression
No increases
◉ What illnesses are associated with the decrease/increase of GABA.
Answer: decrease: anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, mania, and
Huntington's disease
Increase: reduction of anxiety
◉ What illnesses are associated with the decrease/increase of
Glucamate. Answer: decrease: psychosis
increase: neurotoxic (if prolonged) neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's
disease
◉ What illnesses are associated with the decrease/increase of
acetylcholine. Answer: decrease: Alzheimer's, Huntington's, Parkinson's
,increase: depression
◉ _____________ plays a role in learning, and memory. Stimulates
ANS for "resting and digesting". Answer: Acetylcholine
◉ _________ excitatory, AMPA plats a role in learning and memory.
Answer: Glucamate
◉ ________ plays a role in inhibition, reduces aggression, excitation,
and anxiety. may play a role in pain perception, has anticonvulsant and
muscle relaxing properties. may impair cognition and psychomotor
functioning. Answer: GABA
◉ ______ Plays a role in sleep regulation, hunger, mood states, pain
perception, and hormonal activity. Also plays a role in aggression, and
sexual behavior. Answer: Serotonin
◉ _______ level in brain affects mood attention, and arousal. Stimulates
"fight or flight". Answer: Norepinephrine
◉ Agonist. Answer: Mimics the effects of neurotransmitters naturally
found in the brain by binding to and stimulating the receptor site
◉ Antagonist. Answer: Blocks the action of the neurotransmitters,
thereby obstructing the neurotransmitter's action
, ◉ _______ promotes the activity of GABA, possess antianxiety,
hypnotic, anti-convulsant, amnestic (loss of memory), and muscle
relaxant properties. Answer: Benzodiazepines
◉ ______ Reduces anxiety without having strong hypnotic sedative
effects, unlike benzos. Therefore, patients tolerate this medication
better.. Answer: Buspirone (BuSpar)
◉ Buspirone affects _________, unlike benzos affecting GABA.
Answer: sertonergic
◉ ________ are first line treatment options for anxiety, and anxiety
related disorders.. Answer: Anti-depressants
◉ Anti-depressants require how many weeks for an anti-anxiety onset.
Answer: 4-8 weeks
◉ What're anti cholinergic side effects?. Answer: Dry mouth, blurred
vision, constipation, sinus tachycardia, urinary retention, and dizziness
◉ When Acetylcholine binds to receptors it has many effects:. Answer:
Blurred vision, dry mouth, constipation, sinus tachycardia, urinary
retention
