NURS 660 PSYCHO PHARM 660 EXAM 1
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026
VERIFIED.
Positive Symptoms of Schizophrenia - ANS Delusions, hallucinations, distortions, agitation,
disorganized speech, disorganized behavior
Where do positive symptoms originate? - ANS Mesolimbic dopamine pathway
Medications to treat positive symptoms - ANS Antipsychotics
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia - ANS Flat affect, alogia, affective blunting, asociality,
anhedonia, avolition.
Where do negative symptoms originate? - ANS Mesocortical dopamine pathway. May also
involve mesolimbic regions such as nucleus accumbens
Medications to treat negative symptoms - ANS Vraylar, amisulpride
Hypotheses of Schizophrenia - ANS -Mesolimbic pathway is hypothesized to be hyperactive
resulting in excess dopamine at the synapse.
-The gluatamate activity at NMDA receptors is hypofunctional
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, Mesolimbic Pathway Theory of Schizophrenia - ANS Mesolimbic pathway is hyperactive,
resulting in excess dopamine at the synapse which leads to positive symptoms. Hyperactivity of
mesolimbic dopamine neurons may also play a role in aggression and hostile symptoms.
Five Different Dopamine Pathways in the brain - ANS -Nigrostriatal Dopamine Pathway
-Mesolimbic dopamine pathway
-Mesocorticol dopamine pathway
-Tuberoinfundibular dopamine pathway
-Thalamic dopamine pathway
Nigrostriatal pathway - ANS Projects from the substantia nigra to the basal ganglia or
striatum.
-Part of the extrapyramidal nervous system
-Controls motor function and movement
-When dopamine is deficient, can cause parkinsonism with tremor, rigidity, and
akinesia/bradykinesia
-Excess dopamine- can cause hyperkinetic movements, such as tics and dyskinesias
Mesolimbic dopamine pathway - ANS Projects from the midbrain ventral tegmental area to
the nucleus accumbens (part of limbic system) where many behaviors such as pleasurable
sensations, the powerful euphoria of drug abuse as well as delusions and hallucinations.
Mesocortical pathway - ANS Projects from the ventral tegmental area to the prefrontal cortex
and is important for cognition
Tuberofundibular pathway - ANS Projects from the hypothalamus to the anterior pituitary
gland and controls prolaction secretion
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 2 OF 12
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026
VERIFIED.
Positive Symptoms of Schizophrenia - ANS Delusions, hallucinations, distortions, agitation,
disorganized speech, disorganized behavior
Where do positive symptoms originate? - ANS Mesolimbic dopamine pathway
Medications to treat positive symptoms - ANS Antipsychotics
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia - ANS Flat affect, alogia, affective blunting, asociality,
anhedonia, avolition.
Where do negative symptoms originate? - ANS Mesocortical dopamine pathway. May also
involve mesolimbic regions such as nucleus accumbens
Medications to treat negative symptoms - ANS Vraylar, amisulpride
Hypotheses of Schizophrenia - ANS -Mesolimbic pathway is hypothesized to be hyperactive
resulting in excess dopamine at the synapse.
-The gluatamate activity at NMDA receptors is hypofunctional
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 1 OF 12
, Mesolimbic Pathway Theory of Schizophrenia - ANS Mesolimbic pathway is hyperactive,
resulting in excess dopamine at the synapse which leads to positive symptoms. Hyperactivity of
mesolimbic dopamine neurons may also play a role in aggression and hostile symptoms.
Five Different Dopamine Pathways in the brain - ANS -Nigrostriatal Dopamine Pathway
-Mesolimbic dopamine pathway
-Mesocorticol dopamine pathway
-Tuberoinfundibular dopamine pathway
-Thalamic dopamine pathway
Nigrostriatal pathway - ANS Projects from the substantia nigra to the basal ganglia or
striatum.
-Part of the extrapyramidal nervous system
-Controls motor function and movement
-When dopamine is deficient, can cause parkinsonism with tremor, rigidity, and
akinesia/bradykinesia
-Excess dopamine- can cause hyperkinetic movements, such as tics and dyskinesias
Mesolimbic dopamine pathway - ANS Projects from the midbrain ventral tegmental area to
the nucleus accumbens (part of limbic system) where many behaviors such as pleasurable
sensations, the powerful euphoria of drug abuse as well as delusions and hallucinations.
Mesocortical pathway - ANS Projects from the ventral tegmental area to the prefrontal cortex
and is important for cognition
Tuberofundibular pathway - ANS Projects from the hypothalamus to the anterior pituitary
gland and controls prolaction secretion
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 2 OF 12
