Midterm Exam:NR 546:NR 546 Psychopharmacology: Questions & Answers: Updated A+ Score Guide Solution

These questions are very similar to what you will see on boards. 2) Neuroscience matters-Know what area of the brain is associated with presenting symptoms AND how the medication works on that area of the brain to treat that symptom (the medication mechanism of action) 3) Use this study guide-As you use your study guide and medication sheets to prepare for the exams, take note of outliers and unique properties. What medication in that class has the most adverse effects? Who should not take that medication? Which medication has no CYP450 interactions? Which medication is first line? What area of the brain is affected by these medications? Week 1 Functional neuroanatomy- brain anatomy and physiology • If a particular area of the brain is affected, what is the expected response? What symptoms would you expect to see? • Link the assessment to the affected brain area. For example, if a client comes to your office with complaints of (fill in physical complaint) what are of the brain is affected? Focus on those specific examples within the Explore section and your readings. • A client cannot copy a written word or drawing, what area of the brain is affected? Ethical issues- covered in both the course Explore section and readings • Informed Consent Clients have the right to receive enough information to make decisions about treatment. They must also be informed about potential risks associated with medications. Clients have the right to refuse treatment and cannot be forcibly medicated in non-emergencies. However, clients can be forcibly medicated if they are violent toward themselves or others and when less restrictive methods have failed. • Compliance A court order may be issued for a client to receive treatment against their wishes if they are considered a danger to themselves or others. Examples include clients with schizophrenia or sex offenders. Guardians can also provide consent for clients who have limited cognitive capabilities or are incompetent to make decisions. Ultimately, PMHNPs are responsible for being knowledgeable about their state laws and abiding by them. • Off-Label Prescribing Some clients may benefit from the unapproved use of a drug for symptom management. For example, many selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are used to treat anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorderbut are not FDA approved for use in this disorder. Off-label prescribing potentially raises ethical and legal concerns; the PMHNP must remain up to date with the latest recommendations for off-label prescribing. Epigenetics- covered in both the course Explore section and readings. • Why is epigenetics important? • How does epigenetics impact a person’s mental health? Each person inherits genetic code from their parents, including genetic markers (a risk or predisposition) for certain diseases. Throughout a person’s life, chemical compounds that have been added to the entirety of each person's DNA (genome) regulate the activity of all the genes within the genome. This gene modification is known as epigenetics. The epigenome chemical compounds are not part of the DNA sequence but are attached to DNA. Epigenetic modifications can remain as cells divide and some modifications can be passed to offspring in subsequent generations. Epigenetics is an important consideration in mental health when internal or external factors activate portions of the genome that result in the manifestation of mental health symptoms. In the case of mental health, activation is often a result of a stressful event, which, when combined with the genetic risk, results in the disease. Stahl (2021) refers to this as genes being on or off. The occurrence of symptoms may be the result of inheritance of an abnormal gene or of normal genes being "on" when they should be "off." Conducting a complete history, including the client’s social and family history, will provide clues to the mental health diagnosis. It i