PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY TEST BANK
2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED
A+
●● The nurse would assess for neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS)
if a patient on haloperidol (Haldol) develops a:
a. 30 mm Hg decrease in blood pressure reading
b. Respiratory rate of 24 respirations per minute
c. Temperature reading of 104 F
d. Pulse rate of 70 beats per minute. Answer: C
(Increased temperature is the cardinal sign of NMS. This BP is not a
significant feature of NMS. There are no significant findings to support
the options related to respirations or pulse rate.)
●● A patient taking fluphenazine (Prolixin) complains of dry mouth and
blurred vision. What would the nurse assess as the likely cause of these
symptoms?
,a. Decreased dopamine at receptor sites
b. Blockade of histamine
c. Cholinergic blockade
d. Adrenergic blocking. Answer: C
(Fluphenazine administration produces blockade of cholinergic receptors
giving rise to anticholinergic effects, such as dry mouth, blurred vision,
and constipation.)
●● Which behavior displayed by a patient receiving a typical
antipsychotic medication would be assessed as displaying behaviors
characteristic of tardive dyskinesia (TD)?
a. Grimacing and lip smacking
b. Falling asleep in the chair and refusing to eat lunch
c. Experiencing muscle rigidity and tremors
d. Having excessive salivation and drooling. Answer: A
, (TD manifests as abnormal movements of voluntary muscle groups after
a prolonged period of dopamine blockade. Movements may affect any
muscle group, but muscles of the face, mouth, tongue, and digits are
commonly affected. Falling asleep is reflective of the sedative effect of
these medications. Muscle rigidity and drooling reflect EPS caused from
imbalance between dopamine and acetylcholine.)
●● When the nurse realizes that a patient diagnosed with schizophrenia
is not taking the prescribed oral haloperidol (Haldol), which intervention
would promote medication compliance?
a. Instructing the patient to have friends monitor his medications
b. Beginning administration of haloperidol (Haldol) decanoate
c. Writing instructions in detail for the patient to follow
d. Changing haloperidol to an atypical antipsychotic. Answer: B
(Haloperidol decanoate is a depot medication, given intramuscularly
every 2 to 4 weeks. It is unknown whether the patient has a support
system. The patient probably received education, including written
instructions prior to discharge. Changing to another classification of
medication would not necessarily improve compliance.)
2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED
A+
●● The nurse would assess for neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS)
if a patient on haloperidol (Haldol) develops a:
a. 30 mm Hg decrease in blood pressure reading
b. Respiratory rate of 24 respirations per minute
c. Temperature reading of 104 F
d. Pulse rate of 70 beats per minute. Answer: C
(Increased temperature is the cardinal sign of NMS. This BP is not a
significant feature of NMS. There are no significant findings to support
the options related to respirations or pulse rate.)
●● A patient taking fluphenazine (Prolixin) complains of dry mouth and
blurred vision. What would the nurse assess as the likely cause of these
symptoms?
,a. Decreased dopamine at receptor sites
b. Blockade of histamine
c. Cholinergic blockade
d. Adrenergic blocking. Answer: C
(Fluphenazine administration produces blockade of cholinergic receptors
giving rise to anticholinergic effects, such as dry mouth, blurred vision,
and constipation.)
●● Which behavior displayed by a patient receiving a typical
antipsychotic medication would be assessed as displaying behaviors
characteristic of tardive dyskinesia (TD)?
a. Grimacing and lip smacking
b. Falling asleep in the chair and refusing to eat lunch
c. Experiencing muscle rigidity and tremors
d. Having excessive salivation and drooling. Answer: A
, (TD manifests as abnormal movements of voluntary muscle groups after
a prolonged period of dopamine blockade. Movements may affect any
muscle group, but muscles of the face, mouth, tongue, and digits are
commonly affected. Falling asleep is reflective of the sedative effect of
these medications. Muscle rigidity and drooling reflect EPS caused from
imbalance between dopamine and acetylcholine.)
●● When the nurse realizes that a patient diagnosed with schizophrenia
is not taking the prescribed oral haloperidol (Haldol), which intervention
would promote medication compliance?
a. Instructing the patient to have friends monitor his medications
b. Beginning administration of haloperidol (Haldol) decanoate
c. Writing instructions in detail for the patient to follow
d. Changing haloperidol to an atypical antipsychotic. Answer: B
(Haloperidol decanoate is a depot medication, given intramuscularly
every 2 to 4 weeks. It is unknown whether the patient has a support
system. The patient probably received education, including written
instructions prior to discharge. Changing to another classification of
medication would not necessarily improve compliance.)
