Psychopharmacology; Indispensable
Study Assessment Guide Exam Questions
with all Questions Accurately Answered
Updated 2024/2025
Neurons __ in response to an agonist drug - __ receptors available; they __ in response
to an antagonist - correct answer down-regulate;
Fewer;
Up-regulate
Tolerance: __ of response to a drug over time, __ dose required to maintain the drug's
initial effect; cross-tolerance: response to novel drug is __ because of tolerance
developed to a related drug - correct answer decrease;
Larger;
Reduced
Withdrawal symptoms may be caused by drug __; __ occurs when drug effects become
stronger with repeated treatment - correct answer tolerance;
Sensitization
Drugs classified by most pronounced behavioral or psychoactive effect: I. = __, II. = __,
III. = __, IV. = __, V. = __ - correct answer antianxiety agents and sedative hypnotics;
Antipsychotic agents;
Antidepressants and mood stabilizers;
Opioid analgesics;
Psychotropics
I. Antianxiety agents and sedative hypnotics:
__ - drugs that reduce NS activity
,__ - minor tranquilizers, reduce anxiety, Ex: __
__ - induce sleep, Ex: __, __, __
Benzodiazepines: diazepam aka __, alprazolam aka __, clonazepam aka __
Anesthetics: __, ketamine aka __, phencyclidine aka __ or __ - correct answer
depressants;
Anxiolytics;
Benzodiazepines;
Sedative-hypnotics;
Barbiturates, alcohol, dissociative anesthetics;
Valium, Xanax, Klonopin;
GHB, Special K, PCP, angel dust
I. Major types of anxiety disorders: __ disorder and generalized __ disorder
Phobic disorders are intense __ fears centered on an object, activity, or situation that a
person avoids - correct answer panic;
Anxiety;
Irrational
Generalized anxiety disorder: excessive anxiety and worry most days for at least __
about a number of events or activities; can't control the worry; associated with 3 or more
of the following: __, __, __, __, __, __; causes significant distress or impairment in __ or
__ functioning - correct answer 6 months;
Restlessness/feeling on edge, being easily fatigued, difficulty concentrating or mind
going blank, irritability, muscle tension, sleep disturbance
Specific phobia - correct answer unreasonable fear or anxiety connected to a specific
object or situation
Obsessive-compulsive disorder - correct answer spend over 1 hour daily struggling
with repetitive, intrusive thoughts, impulses, and/or behaviors; try to control obsessions
with compulsive behaviors; initially rituals reduce anxiety, but over time decreasingly
effective in controlling obsessions
,Post-traumatic stress disorder - correct answer development of anxiety in response to
a traumatic event, re-experiences of the event(dreams, flashbacks, etc), intense
distress with exposure to any event-related stimulus
Social phobia - correct answer unreasonable fear or anxiety in connection to social
situations involving contact with new people or people who they expect to judge them,
avoidance of social situations
Brain imaging studies: increased activation in the __ cortex and __ gyrus; enhanced
response to anxiety-provoking stimuli in the __ and __ cortex; excessive __
neurotransmission may enhance anxiety; __ drugs are effective at reducing anxiety -
correct answer cingulate;
Parahippocampal;
Amygdala;
Prefrontal;
Excitatory;gabaergic
__ are drugs that combat anxiety; __ agonists and __ are also used to treat anxiety -
correct answer anxiolytics;
Serotonin;
Ssris
The GABAA receptor: __ produces an influx of __ ions which __polarizes the neuron; 2
receptor sites: antianxiety site - __, enhances binding effects of GABA, effect is
dependent on amount of GABA present, sedative-hypnotic site - __ and __, directly
influences Cl- influx - correct answer excitation;
Cl;
Hyper;
Benzodiazepines;
Alcohol;
Barbiturates
, Barbiturates - correct answer produce sedation and sleep; can also produce general
anesthesia, coma, and death; mostly replaced by benzodiazepines; tolerance builds up
very quickly
Dissociative anesthetics - correct answer group of sedative hypnotics developed as
anesthetics; produce altered states and hallucinations; ex: GHB, ketamine, "date rape"
drugs
Alcohol - correct answer similar neurochemical effects as barbiturates; activates
GABAA receptors and increases inhibitory effects - contributes to social disinhibition
and loss of motor coordination; stimulates dopamine pathways, causing euphoric
effects; chronic use causes liver damage and thiamine deficiency
Alcohol abuse __ nerve cells; __ lobes are most affected by chronic alcohol use, some
effects are __; periodic overconsumption, or bingeing, may cause __ damage and
reduces __; __ results in permanent damage to the fetus - correct answer damages;
Frontal;
Reversible;
Brain;
Neurogenesis;
Fetal alcohol syndrome
II. Antipsychotic agents:
__ is applied to behavioral disorders such as schizophrenia
1st generation: phenothiazines - __(Thorazine), butyrophenones - __(Haldol)
2nd generation: __(Clozaril), __(Abilify, Aripiprex) - correct answer psychosis;
Chlorpromazine;
Haloperidol;
Clozapine;
Aripiprazole
