NSG 522 PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY FINAL EXAM
NSG 522 PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY FINAL EXAM Walden University
NEWEST QUESTIONS FORMART NEWEST 2025/2026 WITH 500+
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) |ALREADY GRADED A+
A 44-year-old male with schizophrenia has been taking an antipsychotic
medication since initial diagnosis twelve years ago. He has recently begun
experiencing difficulty with fluid movement of his arms as well as involuntary
facial grimaces. Which of the following likely underlies these symptoms?
A. Upregulation of serotonin 2A receptors
B. Downregulation of serotonin 2A receptors
C. Upregulation of dopamine 2 receptors
D. Downregulation of dopamine 2 receptors - ANSWER-C. Upregulation of
dopamine 2 receptors
38-year-old woman was diagnosed with schizophrenia approximately two years
ago and after multiple trials of different medications has been maintained on
haloperidol for the last several months with good response. Two weeks ago she
began exhibiting mild motor symptoms representative of parkinsonism. Which of
the following would be the most appropriate adjunct medication for this patient?
A. Alpha 1 adrenergic agonist
B. Cholinesterase inhibitor
C. Histamine 1 antagonist
D. Muscarinic 1 antagonist - ANSWER-D. Muscarinic 1 antagonist
1|Page
, NSG 522 PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY FINAL EXAM
A 21-year-old man with first-episode psychosis is prescribed an antipsychotic that
has serotonin 2A antagonism. According to a leading hypothesis, blockade of
serotonin 2A receptors in the cortex can ultimately increase dopamine in the
striatum through what initial mechanism?
A. Decreased glutamate and thus increased GABA in the brainstem
B. Decreased glutamate and thus decreased GABA in the brainstem
C. Increased glutamate and thus decreased GABA in the brainstem
D. Increased glutamate and thus increased GABA in the brainstem - ANSWER-B.
Decreased glutamate and thus decreased GABA in the brainstem
The majority of atypical antipsychotics:
A. Have higher affinity for dopamine 2 receptors than for serotonin 2A receptors
B. Have higher affinity for serotonin 2A receptors than for dopamine 2 receptors
C. Have comparable affinity for dopamine 2 and serotonin 2A receptors -
ANSWER-B. Have higher affinity for serotonin 2A receptors than for dopamine 2
receptors
A 24-year-old schizophrenia patient with prominent cognitive symptoms and
social impairment is being evaluated for treatment. Her care provider is
considering initiating ziprasidone, quetiapine, or aripiprazole, all of which share
the property of serotonin 1A agonism. This receptor binding property is expected
to have clinical effects in schizophrenia most similar to:
A. Dopamine 2 antagonist
B. Histamine 1 antagonism
C. Serotonin 2A antagonism
D. Serotonin transporter blockade - ANSWER-C. Serotonin 2A antagonism
2|Page
, NSG 522 PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY FINAL EXAM
Dopamine 2 partial agonists cause receptor output that is less than that caused by
dopamine but more than that caused by a conventional antipsychotic.
A. True
B. False - ANSWER-A. True
9. A 34-year-old patient with bipolar disorder has been taking lithium with some
success, but is now experiencing a depressive episode that is not responding to
treatment. Her clinician is considering adding an atypical antipsychotic. What
shared mechanism of some atypical antipsychotics may be partially responsible
for antidepressant effects?
A. Dopamine 2 antagonism and serotonin 2A antagonism
B. Serotonin 2A antagonism and serotonin 1A partial agonism
C. Serotonin 1A partial agonism and serotonin 7 antagonism
D. Serotonin 7 antagonism and dopamine 2 antagonsim - ANSWER-C. Serotonin
1A partial agonism and serotonin 7 antagonism
A patient who has been taking an atypical antipsychotic for six months has
experienced a 22-pound weight gain since baseline. Which of the following
pharmacologic properties most likely underlies this patient's weight change?
A. Serotonin 2A antagonism and serotonin 2C antagonism
B. Serotonin 2C antagonism and histamine 1 antagonism
C. Histamine 1 antagonism and dopamine 2 antagonism
D. Dopamine 2 antagonism and serotonin 2A antagonism - ANSWER-B. Serotonin
2C antagonism and histamine 1 antagonism
3|Page
, NSG 522 PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY FINAL EXAM
A patient has been taking an atypical antipsychotic for 6 months. At his current
appointment, his weight is unchanged since he began taking the antipsychotic.
What can be predicted regarding his fasting triglyceride levels?
A. They will also be unchanged
B. They will have increased
C. They cannot be predicted based on his weight - ANSWER-C. They cannot be
predicted based on his weight
A 26-year-old man is being prescribed an atypical antipsychotic for first-episode
schizophrenia. What measures should be taken by the mental health professional
prior to prescribing and during treatment with the antipsychotic?
A. Blood pressure
B. Blood pressure and body mass index (BMI)
C. Blood pressure, BMI, and fasting triglycerides
D. Blood pressure, BMI, fasting triglycerides, and fasting glucose - ANSWER-D.
Blood pressure, BMI, fasting triglycerides, and fasting glucose
A patient with schizophrenia has been stabilized on medication but is complaining
that he is so tired and sleepy all the time that he no longer wants to take it. Which
of the following switching options might be the least likely to cause sedation?
A. Aripiprazole
B. Olanzapine
C. Paliperidone
D. Risperidone - ANSWER-A. Aripiprazole
4|Page
NSG 522 PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY FINAL EXAM Walden University
NEWEST QUESTIONS FORMART NEWEST 2025/2026 WITH 500+
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) |ALREADY GRADED A+
A 44-year-old male with schizophrenia has been taking an antipsychotic
medication since initial diagnosis twelve years ago. He has recently begun
experiencing difficulty with fluid movement of his arms as well as involuntary
facial grimaces. Which of the following likely underlies these symptoms?
A. Upregulation of serotonin 2A receptors
B. Downregulation of serotonin 2A receptors
C. Upregulation of dopamine 2 receptors
D. Downregulation of dopamine 2 receptors - ANSWER-C. Upregulation of
dopamine 2 receptors
38-year-old woman was diagnosed with schizophrenia approximately two years
ago and after multiple trials of different medications has been maintained on
haloperidol for the last several months with good response. Two weeks ago she
began exhibiting mild motor symptoms representative of parkinsonism. Which of
the following would be the most appropriate adjunct medication for this patient?
A. Alpha 1 adrenergic agonist
B. Cholinesterase inhibitor
C. Histamine 1 antagonist
D. Muscarinic 1 antagonist - ANSWER-D. Muscarinic 1 antagonist
1|Page
, NSG 522 PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY FINAL EXAM
A 21-year-old man with first-episode psychosis is prescribed an antipsychotic that
has serotonin 2A antagonism. According to a leading hypothesis, blockade of
serotonin 2A receptors in the cortex can ultimately increase dopamine in the
striatum through what initial mechanism?
A. Decreased glutamate and thus increased GABA in the brainstem
B. Decreased glutamate and thus decreased GABA in the brainstem
C. Increased glutamate and thus decreased GABA in the brainstem
D. Increased glutamate and thus increased GABA in the brainstem - ANSWER-B.
Decreased glutamate and thus decreased GABA in the brainstem
The majority of atypical antipsychotics:
A. Have higher affinity for dopamine 2 receptors than for serotonin 2A receptors
B. Have higher affinity for serotonin 2A receptors than for dopamine 2 receptors
C. Have comparable affinity for dopamine 2 and serotonin 2A receptors -
ANSWER-B. Have higher affinity for serotonin 2A receptors than for dopamine 2
receptors
A 24-year-old schizophrenia patient with prominent cognitive symptoms and
social impairment is being evaluated for treatment. Her care provider is
considering initiating ziprasidone, quetiapine, or aripiprazole, all of which share
the property of serotonin 1A agonism. This receptor binding property is expected
to have clinical effects in schizophrenia most similar to:
A. Dopamine 2 antagonist
B. Histamine 1 antagonism
C. Serotonin 2A antagonism
D. Serotonin transporter blockade - ANSWER-C. Serotonin 2A antagonism
2|Page
, NSG 522 PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY FINAL EXAM
Dopamine 2 partial agonists cause receptor output that is less than that caused by
dopamine but more than that caused by a conventional antipsychotic.
A. True
B. False - ANSWER-A. True
9. A 34-year-old patient with bipolar disorder has been taking lithium with some
success, but is now experiencing a depressive episode that is not responding to
treatment. Her clinician is considering adding an atypical antipsychotic. What
shared mechanism of some atypical antipsychotics may be partially responsible
for antidepressant effects?
A. Dopamine 2 antagonism and serotonin 2A antagonism
B. Serotonin 2A antagonism and serotonin 1A partial agonism
C. Serotonin 1A partial agonism and serotonin 7 antagonism
D. Serotonin 7 antagonism and dopamine 2 antagonsim - ANSWER-C. Serotonin
1A partial agonism and serotonin 7 antagonism
A patient who has been taking an atypical antipsychotic for six months has
experienced a 22-pound weight gain since baseline. Which of the following
pharmacologic properties most likely underlies this patient's weight change?
A. Serotonin 2A antagonism and serotonin 2C antagonism
B. Serotonin 2C antagonism and histamine 1 antagonism
C. Histamine 1 antagonism and dopamine 2 antagonism
D. Dopamine 2 antagonism and serotonin 2A antagonism - ANSWER-B. Serotonin
2C antagonism and histamine 1 antagonism
3|Page
, NSG 522 PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY FINAL EXAM
A patient has been taking an atypical antipsychotic for 6 months. At his current
appointment, his weight is unchanged since he began taking the antipsychotic.
What can be predicted regarding his fasting triglyceride levels?
A. They will also be unchanged
B. They will have increased
C. They cannot be predicted based on his weight - ANSWER-C. They cannot be
predicted based on his weight
A 26-year-old man is being prescribed an atypical antipsychotic for first-episode
schizophrenia. What measures should be taken by the mental health professional
prior to prescribing and during treatment with the antipsychotic?
A. Blood pressure
B. Blood pressure and body mass index (BMI)
C. Blood pressure, BMI, and fasting triglycerides
D. Blood pressure, BMI, fasting triglycerides, and fasting glucose - ANSWER-D.
Blood pressure, BMI, fasting triglycerides, and fasting glucose
A patient with schizophrenia has been stabilized on medication but is complaining
that he is so tired and sleepy all the time that he no longer wants to take it. Which
of the following switching options might be the least likely to cause sedation?
A. Aripiprazole
B. Olanzapine
C. Paliperidone
D. Risperidone - ANSWER-A. Aripiprazole
4|Page
