CSAMS PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
REVIEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
ALREADY GRADED A+ NEWEST
VERSION
How do antianxiety medications, such as benzodiazepines, produce a calming effect?
a. Depressing the CNS
b. Decreasing levels of norepinephrine and serotonin in the brain
c. Decreasing levels of dopamine in the brain
d. Inhibiting production of the enzyme MAO - Correct Answer ✔✔ a
There is a narrow margin between the therapeutic and toxic levels of lithium carbonate.
Symptoms of toxicity are most likely to appear when the serum levels exceed:
a. 0.15 mEq/L
b. 1.5 mEq/L
c. 15.0 mEq/L
d. 150 mEq/L - Correct Answer ✔✔ b
Initial symptoms of lithium toxicity include:
a. Constipation, dry mouth
b. Dizziness, thirst
c. Vomiting, diarrhea
d. Anuria, arrhythmias - Correct Answer ✔✔ c
Antipsychotic medications are thought to decrease psychotic symptoms by:
a. Blocking reuptake of norepinephrine and serotonin
b. Blocking the action of dopamine in the brain
c. Inhibiting production of the enzyme MAO
d. Depressing the CNS - Correct Answer ✔✔ b
Part of the nurse's ongoing assessment of the client taking antipsychotic medications is
to observe for extrapyramidal symptoms. Which of the following are examples of
extrapyramidal symptoms?
a. Muscular weakness, rigidity, tremors, facial spasms
b. Dry mouth, blurred vision, urinary retention, orthostatic hypotension
c. Amenorrhea, gynecomastia, retrograde ejaculation
, d. Elevated blood pressure, severe occipital headache, stiff neck - Correct Answer ✔✔
a
A client who is prescribed haloperidol is observed to be staring at the ceiling and says
he cannot move his eyes. The nurse notices that he also appears to have muscle
spasms in his legs and hands. What is the most appropriate action for the nurse to take
at this point?
a. Conduct an AIMS test.
b. Administer prn benztropine (Cogentin).
c. Withhold the next dose of antipsychotic medication.
d. Contact the physician. - Correct Answer ✔✔ b
A client reports to the nurse that she has been on her antidepressant medication
(fluoxetine) for almost 2 weeks and does not feel much better. Which of these actions
by the nurse demonstrates the best clinical judgment?
a. Educate the client that this medication may not be fully effective for up to 4 weeks.
b. Hold the next dose and contact the physician to recommend an alternative
antidepressant.
c. Check the client's vital signs and check labs for therapeutic blood levels.
d. Assess whether the client is aware of mood swings or history of bipolar disorder in
her family. - Correct Answer ✔✔ a
A client who was recently prescribed an MAOI tells the nurse that he drinks 3 to 4 cups
of coffee with each meal. Which of these actions by the nurse demonstrates the best
clinical judgment?
a. Instruct the client that he only needs to avoid foods high in tyramine; coffee
consumption is not an issue with this medication.
b. Inform the client that foods or beverages with high caffeine content increase the risk
for serious hypertension and arrhythmias.
c. Inform the client that caffeine interferes with the effectiveness of this medication.
d. Instruct the client that red wines are a better beverage choice because they do not
contain tyramine. - Correct Answer ✔✔ b
A young adult client has been prescribed an SSRI antidepressant, which she has been
taking for 1 week. She reports that she feels like she is getting worse and feels like
nothing is going to help. Which of these actions by the nurse is a priority?
a. Educate the client that SSRIs have a lag period before full therapeutic effectiveness
is apparent.
b. Ask the client to describe why she thinks she is depressed.
c. Contact the physician to recommend a different medication.
d. Conduct a suicide risk assessment. - Correct Answer ✔✔ d
REVIEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
ALREADY GRADED A+ NEWEST
VERSION
How do antianxiety medications, such as benzodiazepines, produce a calming effect?
a. Depressing the CNS
b. Decreasing levels of norepinephrine and serotonin in the brain
c. Decreasing levels of dopamine in the brain
d. Inhibiting production of the enzyme MAO - Correct Answer ✔✔ a
There is a narrow margin between the therapeutic and toxic levels of lithium carbonate.
Symptoms of toxicity are most likely to appear when the serum levels exceed:
a. 0.15 mEq/L
b. 1.5 mEq/L
c. 15.0 mEq/L
d. 150 mEq/L - Correct Answer ✔✔ b
Initial symptoms of lithium toxicity include:
a. Constipation, dry mouth
b. Dizziness, thirst
c. Vomiting, diarrhea
d. Anuria, arrhythmias - Correct Answer ✔✔ c
Antipsychotic medications are thought to decrease psychotic symptoms by:
a. Blocking reuptake of norepinephrine and serotonin
b. Blocking the action of dopamine in the brain
c. Inhibiting production of the enzyme MAO
d. Depressing the CNS - Correct Answer ✔✔ b
Part of the nurse's ongoing assessment of the client taking antipsychotic medications is
to observe for extrapyramidal symptoms. Which of the following are examples of
extrapyramidal symptoms?
a. Muscular weakness, rigidity, tremors, facial spasms
b. Dry mouth, blurred vision, urinary retention, orthostatic hypotension
c. Amenorrhea, gynecomastia, retrograde ejaculation
, d. Elevated blood pressure, severe occipital headache, stiff neck - Correct Answer ✔✔
a
A client who is prescribed haloperidol is observed to be staring at the ceiling and says
he cannot move his eyes. The nurse notices that he also appears to have muscle
spasms in his legs and hands. What is the most appropriate action for the nurse to take
at this point?
a. Conduct an AIMS test.
b. Administer prn benztropine (Cogentin).
c. Withhold the next dose of antipsychotic medication.
d. Contact the physician. - Correct Answer ✔✔ b
A client reports to the nurse that she has been on her antidepressant medication
(fluoxetine) for almost 2 weeks and does not feel much better. Which of these actions
by the nurse demonstrates the best clinical judgment?
a. Educate the client that this medication may not be fully effective for up to 4 weeks.
b. Hold the next dose and contact the physician to recommend an alternative
antidepressant.
c. Check the client's vital signs and check labs for therapeutic blood levels.
d. Assess whether the client is aware of mood swings or history of bipolar disorder in
her family. - Correct Answer ✔✔ a
A client who was recently prescribed an MAOI tells the nurse that he drinks 3 to 4 cups
of coffee with each meal. Which of these actions by the nurse demonstrates the best
clinical judgment?
a. Instruct the client that he only needs to avoid foods high in tyramine; coffee
consumption is not an issue with this medication.
b. Inform the client that foods or beverages with high caffeine content increase the risk
for serious hypertension and arrhythmias.
c. Inform the client that caffeine interferes with the effectiveness of this medication.
d. Instruct the client that red wines are a better beverage choice because they do not
contain tyramine. - Correct Answer ✔✔ b
A young adult client has been prescribed an SSRI antidepressant, which she has been
taking for 1 week. She reports that she feels like she is getting worse and feels like
nothing is going to help. Which of these actions by the nurse is a priority?
a. Educate the client that SSRIs have a lag period before full therapeutic effectiveness
is apparent.
b. Ask the client to describe why she thinks she is depressed.
c. Contact the physician to recommend a different medication.
d. Conduct a suicide risk assessment. - Correct Answer ✔✔ d
