Medical Pharmacology: Depression and Antidepressant Medications

Which one(s) of the following statements is/are true concerning depression and suicide?
1. Near-term suicidal risk is increased in the presence of panic, anxiety, or agitation.
2. About 4-5% of all depressed patients will commit suicide.
3. Most patients who commit suicide will have sought treatment from physicians within one month of their deaths.
4. Most patients who commit suicide will have sought treatment from physicians within one month of their deaths.
5. A & B
6. A & B & C
Choose the correct statement concerning unipolar depressive disorder.
1. The best predictor of the number of future risk for a unipolar depressive occurrence is patient gender and age.
2. Unipolar depressive disorder typically begins when the individual is in their early teens.
3. The duration of an untreated unipolar depressive episode can range from a few months to greater than or equal to one year.
4. In many patients, severe depressive episode may progress to a psychotic state.
In elderly patients, depressive symptoms may present with cognitive deficits similar to dementia, i.e. "pseudodementia."
1. True
2. False
Concerning seasonal affective disorder,a seasonal depressive pattern,which one(s) of the following statements is/are correct?
1. Seasonal affective disorder affects both men and women with equal frequency.
2. Prevalence of seasonal affective disorder increases with distance from the equator.
3. Both statements are true
Concerning unipolar depression and genetic transmission, choose the correct statement(s).
1. Based on medical evidence,evidence for genetic transmission of unipolar depression is stronger than that associated with bipolar disorder.
2. The concordance rate for monozygotic twins is the same is that observed for dizygotic siblings.
3. Both
4. Neither
Concerning the pharmacology and clinical efficacy of antidepressant drugs described in terms of their ability to inhibit neurotransmitter reuptake, choose which one(s) of the following statements is/are correct.
1. Inhibition of neurotransmitter reuptake following antidepressant drug administration occurs within hours.
2. Therapeutic action associated with these types of antidepressant medication develops over a period of several weeks.
3. Both
4. Neither
Which one(s) of the following statements is/are correct concerning treatment of depressive disorders?
1. About 80% of primary care patients exhibiting depression drop out of treatment and discontinue medication if symptomatic improvement is not noted within a month, unless additional support is provided.
2. Outcome improvement in treating depression appears correlated in part with an increased intensity and frequency of physician visits during the first month to month and a half.
3. Outcome improvementappears correlated with psychiatric consultation is indicated.
4. Less than 50% of all depressed patients respond to any drug chosen, provided it is given in sufficient dose for 6-8 weeks.
5. B & C
6. A & B & C
7. None of the above statements are correct
Second-generation antidepressants include(s) which one(s) of the following drugs.
1. Buproprion
2. Maprotiline
3. Amoxapine
4. Trazodone
5. All of the above drugs
6. None of the above drugs
Which one of the following drugs, a dibenzoxazepine, blocks norepinephrine and serotonin reuptake and also this metabolite that exhibits some dopamine blockade..
1. Amoxapine
2. Maprotiline
3. Trazodone
4. Buproprion
This "novel" antidepressant agent exhibits a mechanism that may involve enhanced noradrenergic function; furthermore, the drug exhibits no anticholinergic, sedating or orthostatic side effects and is associated with a low incidence of sexual side effects.
1. Fluoxetine
2. Buproprion
3. Trazodone
4. Escitalopram
Which one(s) of the following statements is/are correct?
1. Paroxetine is likely to exhibit more anticholinergic symptoms compared to fluoxetine norsertraline.
2. Sertraline is associated with a lower risk of adverse drug interaction compared to fluoxetine or paroxetine.
3. Both
4. Neither
Side effects (rare) associated with serotonin selective reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) include angina secondary to coronary vasospasm and prothrombin time prolongation.
1. True
2. False
Which one(s) of the following statement(s) concerning escitalopram is/are correct?
1. Escitalopram appears to be the most specific of currently available SSRIs (2012).
2. Escitalopram does not appear to exhibit inhibition of the cytochrome P450 drug metabolizing system.
3. Both
4. Neither
Which one of the following SSRIs is unlikely to inhibit one or more cytochrome P450 enzymes?
1. Sertraline
2. Fluoxetine
3. Citalopram
Following treatment of unipolar depression by antidepressant medication, if a resultant symptom remission in a compliant patient is inadequate, which one(s) of the following further medical interventions may be considered?
1. Adding thyroid hormone
2. Adding lithium
3. Adding "atypical" antipsychotic drugs to the regimen
4. A & C
5. A & B & C
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which is a structured psychotherapeutic approach, is considered an effective alternative to pharmacotherapy for initial depression treatment.
1. True
2. False
In pharmacological-treatment resistant depression, CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) is a likely effective intervention (in the drug-treatment resistant group)
1. True
2. False