PMHNP ANCC Exam Prep
mesocortical pathway - ✔✔executive function: attention, focus, depression
nigrostriatal pathway - ✔✔from substantia nigra (brainstem) to striatum (muscles): Parkinson's
mesolimbic pathway - ✔✔projects to nucleus accumbens (part of limbic system). Pleasure, reward,
positive symptoms of schizophrenia: Addiction, gambling
Tuberoinfundibular pathway - ✔✔regulation of prolactin (acts on pituitary). Hypersexuality in mania
Dopamine - ✔✔produced in substania nigra and VTA. D2 & D4 receptors most important. Elevated in
the mesolimbic pathway associated with pleasure and psychosis. Antispychotics block dopamine. travels
through mesocoritcal, mesolimbic, nigrostriatal, and tuberinfundibular pathways
Serotonin - ✔✔5-HT. produced in raphe nucleus. emotion, impulses, dreams. 5HT2A receptors =
atypical antipsychotics.
Norepinephrine - ✔✔produced in locus coeruleus. arousal and vigilance
GABA - ✔✔inhibitory. produces calm in conjunction with benzodiazepines.
ACTH - ✔✔motor control, learning, memory, sleep, and dreams. Helps with balance. Decrease in
Alzheimer's disease
hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) - ✔✔CRH, ACTH, then cortisol. Worsens with stress and
depression
, hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) - ✔✔TRH, TSH, T4. Hypothyroid causes depression, weight gain,
slow metabolism. Hyperthyroid is opposite.
hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) - ✔✔GnRH, FSH, LH. Malfunctions cause infertility problems.
gray matter - ✔✔neurons are found
frontal lobe - ✔✔executive function, voluntary movement, speech (Broca's area)
Temporal lobe - ✔✔memory, cognition, speech, emotions (aka limbic area)
parietal lobe - ✔✔receive and process sensory input
Wernicke's area - ✔✔temporal and parietal lobes; speech
amygdala - ✔✔fear response.
hippocampus - ✔✔memory. Make up limbic system with amydgala
HIPAA - ✔✔1. education about privacy protection, 2. access to own medical records, 3. request
amendment to health information to which they object, 4. require permission for disclosure of medical
issues
forensic nursing - ✔✔based on crime committed and investigational aspects
correctional nursing - ✔✔offender's current mental health and medical condition
mesocortical pathway - ✔✔executive function: attention, focus, depression
nigrostriatal pathway - ✔✔from substantia nigra (brainstem) to striatum (muscles): Parkinson's
mesolimbic pathway - ✔✔projects to nucleus accumbens (part of limbic system). Pleasure, reward,
positive symptoms of schizophrenia: Addiction, gambling
Tuberoinfundibular pathway - ✔✔regulation of prolactin (acts on pituitary). Hypersexuality in mania
Dopamine - ✔✔produced in substania nigra and VTA. D2 & D4 receptors most important. Elevated in
the mesolimbic pathway associated with pleasure and psychosis. Antispychotics block dopamine. travels
through mesocoritcal, mesolimbic, nigrostriatal, and tuberinfundibular pathways
Serotonin - ✔✔5-HT. produced in raphe nucleus. emotion, impulses, dreams. 5HT2A receptors =
atypical antipsychotics.
Norepinephrine - ✔✔produced in locus coeruleus. arousal and vigilance
GABA - ✔✔inhibitory. produces calm in conjunction with benzodiazepines.
ACTH - ✔✔motor control, learning, memory, sleep, and dreams. Helps with balance. Decrease in
Alzheimer's disease
hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) - ✔✔CRH, ACTH, then cortisol. Worsens with stress and
depression
, hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) - ✔✔TRH, TSH, T4. Hypothyroid causes depression, weight gain,
slow metabolism. Hyperthyroid is opposite.
hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) - ✔✔GnRH, FSH, LH. Malfunctions cause infertility problems.
gray matter - ✔✔neurons are found
frontal lobe - ✔✔executive function, voluntary movement, speech (Broca's area)
Temporal lobe - ✔✔memory, cognition, speech, emotions (aka limbic area)
parietal lobe - ✔✔receive and process sensory input
Wernicke's area - ✔✔temporal and parietal lobes; speech
amygdala - ✔✔fear response.
hippocampus - ✔✔memory. Make up limbic system with amydgala
HIPAA - ✔✔1. education about privacy protection, 2. access to own medical records, 3. request
amendment to health information to which they object, 4. require permission for disclosure of medical
issues
forensic nursing - ✔✔based on crime committed and investigational aspects
correctional nursing - ✔✔offender's current mental health and medical condition
