NR546 Psychopharmacology Week 2 Test Your Knowledge Quiz: (Latest
2025/2026 Update) Comprehensive Q&A | Verified Answers | Grade A+
Subject: Psychopharmacology (NR546) – Week 2 Quiz: Pharmacokinetics, Neurotransmitters, CYP450
Enzymes, Drug Interactions, Antidepressant Mechanisms
Source: Week 2 Test Your Knowledge Blueprint – Absorption/Distribution/Metabolism/Excretion, CYP450
Inducers/Inhibitors, Neurotransmitter Function, SSRI/SNRI/TCA/MAOI Mechanisms
Format: Q&A Guide with Rationale – 100% Verified Answers
Verified: Latest 2025/2026 Exam Update | Grade A+ Guaranteed
1: Define pharmacokinetics.
Correct Answer: The study of what happens to a drug from the time of administration until the parent
drug and all metabolites leave the body.
1. ADME: Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion.
2. Pharmacokinetics describes "what the body does to the drug".
3. Influences drug concentration at site of action.
2: What are the four pharmacokinetic concepts?
Correct Answer: Absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion.
1. Absorption: drug movement from administration site into bloodstream.
2. Distribution: drug movement to tissues.
3. Metabolism: biotransformation, primarily liver.
4. Excretion: elimination, primarily kidneys.
3: What is the Flockhart Table?
Correct Answer: A comprehensive list of drugs and interactions related to the cytochrome P450 system
(drug interactions mediated by CYP450 enzymes).
1. Identifies substrates, inducers, and inhibitors of CYP450 isoenzymes.
2. Essential for predicting drug-drug interactions.
3. Guides dose adjustments and medication selection.
4: What client factors impact the effect of psychotropic medications?
Correct Answer: Age, diet, smoking status, other prescribed medications, over-the-counter medications
– all impact drug metabolism.
1. Age: hepatic and renal function decline in elderly.
2. Smoking: induces CYP1A2; may lower drug levels.
3. OTC drugs: St. John's wort induces CYP3A4; grapefruit juice inhibits CYP3A4.
, 5: Define neurotransmitters.
Correct Answer: Chemicals released by neurons to send communication across synaptic clefts to other
neurons; impact human emotion and behavior.
1. Neurotransmitters are endogenous signaling molecules.
2. Bind to receptors on postsynaptic neuron.
3. Imbalances linked to psychiatric disorders.
6: Many psychiatric disorders occur from an excess, deficiency, or imbalance of _________.
Correct Answer: Neurotransmitters
1. Dopamine excess (mesolimbic) in psychosis.
2. Serotonin deficiency in depression.
3. GABA deficiency in anxiety.
7: Define neurotransmission.
Correct Answer: The chemical transmission of information between neurons and their target cells.
Neurotransmitters are released from transport vesicles to bind with receptor sites (excitatory or
inhibitory), then either returned and stored for future use (reuptake) or inactivated by enzymes.
1. Synaptic release, receptor binding, signal transduction.
2. Reuptake transporters (SERT, NET, DAT) terminate signal.
3. Enzymatic degradation (MAO, COMT) also inactivates neurotransmitters.
8: What is the function of excitatory neurotransmitters?
Correct Answer: Increase the likelihood that the neuron will fire an action potential.
1. Glutamate is primary excitatory neurotransmitter.
2. Dopamine and norepinephrine can be excitatory depending on receptor.
3. Too much excitation can cause seizures or excitotoxicity.
9: What is the function of inhibitory neurotransmitters?
Correct Answer: Decrease the likelihood that a neuron will fire an action potential.
1. GABA is primary inhibitory neurotransmitter.
2. Serotonin and dopamine can be inhibitory depending on receptor.
3. Reduced inhibition can cause anxiety, seizures, insomnia.
10: What are the four major categories of neurotransmitters that most impact mental health?
Correct Answer: Cholinergics (acetylcholine), monoamines (norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin,
histamine), amino acids (GABA, glutamate), neuropeptides.
1. Cholinergics: memory, arousal, motor function.
2. Monoamines: mood, reward, attention, arousal.
3. Amino acids: major excitatory/inhibitory balance.
4. Neuropeptides: modulatory functions.
2025/2026 Update) Comprehensive Q&A | Verified Answers | Grade A+
Subject: Psychopharmacology (NR546) – Week 2 Quiz: Pharmacokinetics, Neurotransmitters, CYP450
Enzymes, Drug Interactions, Antidepressant Mechanisms
Source: Week 2 Test Your Knowledge Blueprint – Absorption/Distribution/Metabolism/Excretion, CYP450
Inducers/Inhibitors, Neurotransmitter Function, SSRI/SNRI/TCA/MAOI Mechanisms
Format: Q&A Guide with Rationale – 100% Verified Answers
Verified: Latest 2025/2026 Exam Update | Grade A+ Guaranteed
1: Define pharmacokinetics.
Correct Answer: The study of what happens to a drug from the time of administration until the parent
drug and all metabolites leave the body.
1. ADME: Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion.
2. Pharmacokinetics describes "what the body does to the drug".
3. Influences drug concentration at site of action.
2: What are the four pharmacokinetic concepts?
Correct Answer: Absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion.
1. Absorption: drug movement from administration site into bloodstream.
2. Distribution: drug movement to tissues.
3. Metabolism: biotransformation, primarily liver.
4. Excretion: elimination, primarily kidneys.
3: What is the Flockhart Table?
Correct Answer: A comprehensive list of drugs and interactions related to the cytochrome P450 system
(drug interactions mediated by CYP450 enzymes).
1. Identifies substrates, inducers, and inhibitors of CYP450 isoenzymes.
2. Essential for predicting drug-drug interactions.
3. Guides dose adjustments and medication selection.
4: What client factors impact the effect of psychotropic medications?
Correct Answer: Age, diet, smoking status, other prescribed medications, over-the-counter medications
– all impact drug metabolism.
1. Age: hepatic and renal function decline in elderly.
2. Smoking: induces CYP1A2; may lower drug levels.
3. OTC drugs: St. John's wort induces CYP3A4; grapefruit juice inhibits CYP3A4.
, 5: Define neurotransmitters.
Correct Answer: Chemicals released by neurons to send communication across synaptic clefts to other
neurons; impact human emotion and behavior.
1. Neurotransmitters are endogenous signaling molecules.
2. Bind to receptors on postsynaptic neuron.
3. Imbalances linked to psychiatric disorders.
6: Many psychiatric disorders occur from an excess, deficiency, or imbalance of _________.
Correct Answer: Neurotransmitters
1. Dopamine excess (mesolimbic) in psychosis.
2. Serotonin deficiency in depression.
3. GABA deficiency in anxiety.
7: Define neurotransmission.
Correct Answer: The chemical transmission of information between neurons and their target cells.
Neurotransmitters are released from transport vesicles to bind with receptor sites (excitatory or
inhibitory), then either returned and stored for future use (reuptake) or inactivated by enzymes.
1. Synaptic release, receptor binding, signal transduction.
2. Reuptake transporters (SERT, NET, DAT) terminate signal.
3. Enzymatic degradation (MAO, COMT) also inactivates neurotransmitters.
8: What is the function of excitatory neurotransmitters?
Correct Answer: Increase the likelihood that the neuron will fire an action potential.
1. Glutamate is primary excitatory neurotransmitter.
2. Dopamine and norepinephrine can be excitatory depending on receptor.
3. Too much excitation can cause seizures or excitotoxicity.
9: What is the function of inhibitory neurotransmitters?
Correct Answer: Decrease the likelihood that a neuron will fire an action potential.
1. GABA is primary inhibitory neurotransmitter.
2. Serotonin and dopamine can be inhibitory depending on receptor.
3. Reduced inhibition can cause anxiety, seizures, insomnia.
10: What are the four major categories of neurotransmitters that most impact mental health?
Correct Answer: Cholinergics (acetylcholine), monoamines (norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin,
histamine), amino acids (GABA, glutamate), neuropeptides.
1. Cholinergics: memory, arousal, motor function.
2. Monoamines: mood, reward, attention, arousal.
3. Amino acids: major excitatory/inhibitory balance.
4. Neuropeptides: modulatory functions.
