Central Nervous System Pharmacology Quizzes for Advanced Diploma in Healthcare

Question 1

Which of the following is a common adverse effect of antipsychotics, characterized by involuntary, repetitive movements, typically of the face and mouth?

Accepted Answer

Tardive dyskinesia

Answer

Sedation

Answer

Hypertension

Answer

Constipation

Question 2

Which of the following drugs, commonly prescribed as an antidepressant, selectively inhibits the reuptake of serotonin?

Accepted Answer

Fluoxetine

Answer

Olanzapine

Answer

Diazepam

Answer

Lithium

Question 3

What is the primary mechanism of action of atypical antipsychotics, differentiating them from typical antipsychotics?

Accepted Answer

Serotonin and dopamine receptor blockade

Answer

Dopamine receptor blockade

Answer

GABA receptor potentiation

Answer

NMDA receptor antagonism

Question 4

Which of the following adverse effects is commonly associated with tricyclic antidepressants, due to their anticholinergic properties?

Accepted Answer

Anticholinergic effects

Answer

Sedation

Answer

Tardive dyskinesia

Answer

Hypotension

Question 5

Which drug, acting as a partial agonist at benzodiazepine receptors, is used for the treatment of anxiety disorders?

Accepted Answer

Buspirone

Answer

Diazepam

Answer

Zolpidem

Answer

Pregabalin

Question 6

Which of the following is the primary mechanism of action of antidepressants for treating depression?

Accepted Answer

Inhibiting serotonin reuptake

Answer

Inhibiting dopamine reuptake

Answer

Inhibiting noradrenaline reuptake

Answer

Activating muscarinic receptors

Question 7

What is the primary neurotransmitter targeted by benzodiazepines, a commonly used class of anxiolytics?

Accepted Answer

GABA

Answer

Dopamine

Answer

Serotonin

Answer

Noradrenaline

Question 8

What is the main distinction between first- and second-generation antipsychotics?

Accepted Answer

Side effect profile

Answer

Mechanism of action

Answer

Therapeutic efficacy

Answer

Route of administration

Question 9

Which of the following is a mechanism of action of tricyclic antidepressants?

Accepted Answer

Inhibiting serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake

Answer

Activating post-synaptic dopamine receptors

Answer

Inhibiting acetylcholinesterase

Answer

Blocking NMDA receptors

Question 10

Which of the following is an example of a drug used for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease?

Accepted Answer

Donepezil

Answer

Risperidone

Answer

Fluoxetine

Answer

Diazepam

Question 11

Which ethical and legal factors influence the prescription and monitoring of medications for central nervous system disorders?

Accepted Answer

Informed consent, patient autonomy, and confidentiality

Answer

Legal implications only arise when patients experience adverse effects

Answer

Monitoring CNS drugs is unnecessary due to their high tolerability

Answer

Prescribing decisions should prioritize scientific evidence over patient preferences

Question 12

Which of the following is NOT a mechanism of action for antidepressants?

Accepted Answer

Increasing the synthesis of dopamine

Answer

Increasing the availability of serotonin in the synaptic cleft

Answer

Blocking the reuptake of noradrenaline

Answer

Inhibiting the enzyme monoamine oxidase (MAO)

Question 13

Which of the following is a common adverse effect of antipsychotics?

Accepted Answer

Tardive dyskinesia

Answer

Hypertension

Answer

Bradycardia

Answer

Constipation

Question 14

Which of the following drugs is classified as a benzodiazepine anxiolytic?

Accepted Answer

Diazepam

Answer

Fluoxetine

Answer

Olanzapine

Answer

Lithium

Question 15

What is the primary mechanism of action of lithium in the treatment of bipolar disorder?

Accepted Answer

Stabilization of neuronal excitability

Answer

Inhibition of serotonin reuptake

Answer

Enhancement of GABA activity

Answer

Blockade of dopamine receptors

Question 16

What is the role of the blood-brain barrier in the treatment of CNS disorders?

Accepted Answer

It restricts the entry of many drugs into the brain, affecting drug delivery.

Answer

It enhances the delivery of drugs to the brain by increasing their permeability.

Answer

It regulates the pH of the brain microenvironment, influencing drug metabolism.

Answer

It plays no significant role in CNS drug delivery.

Question 17

What is the therapeutic index of a drug?

Accepted Answer

The ratio of the therapeutic dose to the toxic dose

Answer

The ratio of the toxic dose to the therapeutic dose

Answer

The difference between the toxic dose and the therapeutic dose

Answer

The concentration of the drug in the blood at which it exerts its therapeutic effect

Question 18

Which of the following is a neurotransmitter that is involved in reward and motivation?

Accepted Answer

Dopamine

Answer

Serotonin

Answer

Noradrenaline

Answer

Glutamate

Question 19

Which of the following medications is classified as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)?

Accepted Answer

Fluoxetine

Answer

Chlorpromazine

Answer

Diazepam

Answer

Lithium

Question 20

Which neurotransmitter is primarily targeted by antipsychotic drugs?

Accepted Answer

Dopamine

Answer

Serotonin

Answer

Norepinephrine

Answer

GABA

Question 21

Which of the following side effects is commonly associated with the use of benzodiazepines?

Accepted Answer

Drowsiness

Answer

Tardive dyskinesia

Answer

Serotonin syndrome

Answer

Euphoria

Question 22

What is the primary indication for the use of atypical antipsychotics?

Accepted Answer

Treatment of schizophrenia

Answer

Management of bipolar disorder

Answer

Relief of anxiety in generalized anxiety disorder

Answer

Control of muscle spasms in Parkinson's disease

Question 23

Which of the following is a potential adverse effect associated with long-term use of benzodiazepines?

Accepted Answer

Cognitive impairment

Answer

Hepatotoxicity

Answer

Tardive dyskinesia

Answer

Anticholinergic effects

Question 24

What is the key difference between a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI)?

Accepted Answer

SSRIs selectively inhibit serotonin reuptake, while SNRIs inhibit both serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake.

Answer

SNRIs selectively inhibit norepinephrine reuptake, while SSRIs inhibit both serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake.

Answer

SSRIs are more effective in treating depression, while SNRIs are more effective in treating anxiety.

Answer

There are no significant differences between SSRIs and SNRIs.

Question 25

Which of the following mechanisms is involved in the development of extrapyramidal side effects associated with antipsychotics?

Accepted Answer

Dopamine receptor blockade

Answer

Acetylcholine receptor activation

Answer

Histamine receptor antagonism

Answer

GABA receptor potentiation

Question 26

What is the primary role of GABA in the central nervous system?

Accepted Answer

Inhibitory neurotransmitter

Answer

Excitatory neurotransmitter

Answer

Modulator of neurotransmission

Answer

Hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles

Question 27

Which of the following is a primary mechanism of action for antidepressants?

Accepted Answer

Inhibition of norepinephrine reuptake

Answer

Stimulation of dopamine release

Answer

Blockade of serotonin receptors

Answer

Activation of GABAergic neurons

Question 28

What is the distinctive feature of atypical antipsychotics compared to typical antipsychotics?

Accepted Answer

Dual D2 and 5-HT2A receptor blockade

Answer

Selective D2 receptor blockade

Answer

Inverse agonism at D2 receptors

Answer

Antagonism of muscarinic receptors

Question 29

Which of the following is a common adverse effect of benzodiazepines, used for anxiolysis?

Accepted Answer

Drowsiness

Answer

Hyperexcitability

Answer

Hypertension

Answer

Bronchospasm

Question 30

In the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, which class of drugs is primarily employed to enhance cholinergic neurotransmission?

Accepted Answer

Cholinergic drugs

Answer

Dopaminergic drugs

Answer

Glutamatergic drugs

Answer

Serotonergic drugs

Question 31

In the management of central nervous system disorders, what is the primary objective of using multiple medications (polypharmacy)?

Accepted Answer

To increase treatment effectiveness

Answer

To minimize adverse effects

Answer

To overcome drug resistance

Answer

To simplify medication regimens

Question 32

Among the following anxiolytic drugs, which one is not a benzodiazepine?

Accepted Answer

Buspirone

Answer

Lorazepam

Answer

Diazepam

Answer

Alprazolam

Question 33

For the majority of CNS drugs, which route of administration is typically preferred?

Accepted Answer

Oral

Answer

Intravenous

Answer

Inhalation

Answer

Transdermal

Question 34

At the neuromuscular junction, neurotransmission is dependent on the release of __ neurotransmitters__ from presynaptic neurons. Which of the following is the primary neurotransmitter released at the neuromuscular junction?

Accepted Answer

Acetylcholine

Answer

Serotonin

Answer

Epinephrine

Answer

Dopamine

Question 35

Muscle relaxants can be categorized as either __ centrally acting__ or peripherally acting. Centrally acting muscle relaxants target receptors in the central nervous system. Which of the following is an example of a centrally acting muscle relaxant?

Accepted Answer

Baclofen

Answer

Atracurium

Answer

Rocuronium

Question 36

Benzodiazepines are a class of drugs that are commonly used to treat anxiety. They work by __ potentiating __ the inhibitory effects of a neurotransmitter. Which of the following is the main mechanism of action of benzodiazepines?

Accepted Answer

Enhancing the inhibitory effects of GABA

Answer

Blocking the reuptake of serotonin

Answer

Inhibiting the breakdown of acetylcholine

Answer

Stimulating the release of dopamine

Question 37

Antipsychotics are a class of drugs that are used to treat psychotic disorders such as __ schizophrenia__. Which of the following is a common adverse effect of antipsychotics?

Accepted Answer

Tardive dyskinesia

Answer

Hypotension

Answer

Bronchospasm

Question 38

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are a class of antidepressants that are contraindicated in patients with __ hypertension__. Which of the following is a contraindication to the use of MAOIs?

Accepted Answer

Hypertension

Answer

Schizophrenia

Answer

Anxiety

Answer

Depression

Question 39

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a class of antidepressants that are commonly used to treat __ depression__. Which of the following is the primary mechanism of action of SSRIs?

Accepted Answer

Blocking the reuptake of serotonin

Answer

Stimulating the release of dopamine

Answer

Inhibiting the breakdown of acetylcholine

Question 40

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by __ bradykinesia __ and rigidity. Which of the following is a first-line treatment for Parkinson's disease?

Accepted Answer

Levodopa

Answer

Amantadine

Answer

Selegiline

Answer

Trihexyphenidyl

Question 41

Schizophrenia is a complex mental disorder that is characterized by __ hallucinations__, delusions, and disorganized thinking. Which of the following is the main neurochemical hypothesis of schizophrenia?

Accepted Answer

Dopamine dysregulation

Answer

Glutamate dysregulation

Answer

Serotonin dysregulation

Answer

GABA dysregulation