30 Questions
Which symptom categories underlie personality disorders, according to the text?
Cognitive–perceptual distortions, affective symptoms, aggression, and anxiety
Which temperament is associated with categories of affective dysregulation, detachment, and cognitive disturbances?
Low reward dependence
Which type of aggression corresponds to the target symptoms of impulsiveness and aggression?
Impulsive aggression
What chronic symptoms usually respond to low-dose antipsychotic medications?
Cognitive–perceptual disturbances
Which of the following is NOT described as a type of aggression in people with personality disorders?
Normal electroencephalogram
What does high harm avoidance correspond to, according to the text?
Anxiety and depression symptoms
Which antidepressant can cause seizures at a rate four times higher than other antidepressants?
Bupropion
What is the recommended therapeutic level of lithium for bipolar disorder treatment?
1 mEq/L
Which drug is considered a first-line agent in bipolar disorder treatment?
Lithium
What can occur when combining MAOIs and SSRIs?
Serotonin syndrome
What is the potential consequence of taking lamotrigine in children younger than 16 years?
Serious rashes
What is the main purpose of mood-stabilizing drugs such as lithium and anticonvulsants?
To stabilize mood and treat bipolar disorder
Which neurotransmitters do antidepressants primarily interact with?
Norepinephrine and serotonin
What are SSRIs primarily effective in treating?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Which medications are often better choices for potentially suicidal or highly impulsive clients?
Nefazodone and bupropion
What symptoms are included in mood dysregulation?
Emotional instability, emotional detachment, depression, and dysphoria
Which group of antidepressants were the first choice for depression treatment despite side effects?
Tricyclic and related cyclic antidepressants
What are atypical depression often treated with?
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
Which type of antidepressant medication may cause priapism, a sustained and painful erection that necessitates immediate treatment and discontinuation of the drug?
Trazodone
Which class of antidepressants has fewer side effects compared to cyclic compounds and may cause anxiety, agitation, nausea, insomnia, sexual dysfunction, and less weight gain?
SSRIs
Which antidepressant medication needs 2 to 4 weeks to be effective?
MAOIs
Which type of antidepressant medication commonly causes dry mouth, constipation, urinary issues, orthostatic hypotension, sedation, weight gain, and tachycardia?
Cyclic antidepressants
Which antidepressant medication can cause a hypertensive crisis if combined with certain foods or drugs?
MAOIs
Which antidepressant medication is being studied as a potential alternative to oral MAOIs in the form of a transdermal patch?
Selegiline
What are the side effects of lithium therapy?
Nausea, diarrhea, hand tremor, polydipsia, and polyuria
What is a potential toxic effect of lithium and when is dialysis indicated?
Severe diarrhea, vomiting, muscle weakness, and lack of coordination; indicated if levels exceed 3 mEq/L
What are potential side effects of carbamazepine and valproic acid?
Hepatic failure and life-threatening pancreatitis
How do benzodiazepines mediate their actions in the brain?
By binding to a specific site on the GABA receptor
What distinguishes drugs with longer half-lives from those with shorter half-lives?
They require less frequent dosing and produce fewer rebound effects between doses
What distinguishes benzodiazepines from buspirone in terms of dependence and withdrawal symptoms?
Benzodiazepines may cause physical and psychological dependence, with significant discontinuation symptoms resembling the original symptoms for which the client sought treatment, but buspirone does not cause this type of dependence
Study Notes
Psychopharmacology and Medication Management
- Valproic acid is available in various forms with dosages ranging from 1,000 to 1,500 mg/day, and its extreme dosage range is 750 to 3,000 mg/day.
- Serum drug levels are monitored for therapeutic levels of anticonvulsants, and side effects of lithium therapy include nausea, diarrhea, hand tremor, polydipsia, and polyuria.
- Toxic effects of lithium include severe diarrhea, vomiting, muscle weakness, and lack of coordination, and if levels exceed 3 mEq/L, dialysis may be indicated.
- Side effects of carbamazepine and valproic acid include drowsiness, sedation, dry mouth, and blurred vision, while topiramate causes dizziness, sedation, weight loss, and increased incidence of renal calculi.
- Valproic acid can cause hepatic failure and life-threatening pancreatitis, and carbamazepine can cause aplastic anemia and agranulocytosis.
- For clients taking lithium and anticonvulsants, monitoring blood levels periodically is important, and taking these medications with meals minimizes nausea.
- Antianxiety drugs, such as benzodiazepines, are widely prescribed for anxiety, insomnia, and other disorders, and they may also be prescribed for their anticonvulsant and muscle relaxant effects.
- Benzodiazepines mediate the actions of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA in the brain by binding to a specific site on the GABA receptor, while buspirone is believed to exert its anxiolytic effect by acting as a partial agonist at serotonin receptors.
- Drugs with longer half-lives require less frequent dosing and produce fewer rebound effects between doses, while drugs with shorter half-lives do not accumulate in the body or cause next-day sedation but have rebound effects and require more frequent dosing.
- Benzodiazepines may cause physical and psychological dependence, with significant discontinuation symptoms resembling the original symptoms for which the client sought treatment, but buspirone does not cause this type of dependence.
- Common side effects of benzodiazepines are associated with CNS depression, and psychological dependence on benzodiazepines is common, leading to overuse or abuse.
- It is important to monitor blood levels periodically for clients taking lithium and anticonvulsants, and taking these medications with meals minimizes nausea. Clients should not attempt to drive until certain side effects have subsided.
Test your knowledge of psychopharmacology and medication management with this quiz. Explore topics such as monitoring serum drug levels, side effects of various medications, and the impact of different drug half-lives. Sharpen your understanding of antianxiety drugs, their mechanisms of action, and potential dependence issues.
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