Pharmacotherapy for depression — MCQs

A 27-year-old woman presents to the psychiatrist due to feelings of sadness for the past 3 weeks. She was let go from her job 1 month ago, and she feels as though her whole life is coming to an end. She is unable to sleep well at night and also finds herself crying at times during the day. She has not been able to eat well and has been losing weight as a result. She has no will to go out and meet with her friends, who have been extremely supportive during this time. Her doctor gives her an antidepressant which blocks the reuptake of both serotonin and norepinephrine to help with these symptoms. One week later, she is brought to the emergency room by her friends who say that she was found to be in a state of euphoria. They mention bizarre behavior, one of which is booking a plane ticket to New York, even though she has 3 interviews lined up the same week. Her words cannot be understood as she is speaking very fast, and she is unable to sit in one place for the examination. Which of the following was most likely prescribed by her psychiatrist?

A 25-year-old woman presents to her college campus clinic with the complaint of being unable to get up for her morning classes. She says that, because of this, her grades are being affected. For the past 6 weeks, she says she has been feeling depressed because her boyfriend dumped her. She finds herself very sleepy, sleeping in most mornings, eating more snacks and fast foods, and feeling drained of energy. She is comforted by her friend’s efforts to cheer her up but still feels guarded around any other boy that shows interest in her. The patient says she had similar symptoms 7 years ago for which she was prescribed several selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA). However, none of the medications provided any long-term relief. She has prescribed a trial of Phenelzine to treat her symptoms. Past medical history is significant for a long-standing seizure disorder well managed with phenytoin. Which of the following statements would most likely be relevant to this patient’s new medication?

A 24-year-old male comes into the psychiatric clinic complaining of consistent sadness. He endorses feelings of worthlessness, anxiety, and anhedonia for the past couple months but denies feeling suicidal. He further denies any past episodes of feeling overly energetic with racing thoughts. Confident of the diagnosis, you recommend frequent talk therapy along with a long-term prescription of a known first-line medication for this disorder. What is the drug and what are some of the most frequently encountered side effects?

A 32-year-old man comes to the physician because of generalized fatigue for the past 4 months. He also has difficulty sleeping and concentrating. He says he does not enjoy his hobbies anymore and has stopped attending family events. Mental status examination shows psychomotor retardation and a flat affect along with some evidence of suicidal ideation. His speech is slow in rate and monotone in rhythm. Treatment with fluoxetine is initiated. One month later, he reports significant improvement in his motivation and mood but also delayed ejaculation and occasional anorgasmia. The physician decides to replace his current medication with another agent. It is most appropriate to switch the patient to which of the following drugs?

A 26-year-old man being treated for major depressive disorder returns to his psychiatrist complaining that he has grown weary of the sexual side effects. Which other medication used to treat major depressive disorder may be appropriate as a stand-alone or add-on therapy?

A 27-year-old man comes to the physician for a follow-up examination. Paroxetine therapy was initiated 6 weeks ago for a major depressive episode. He now feels much better and says he is delighted with his newfound energy. He gets around 8 hours of sleep nightly. His appetite has increased. Last year, he had two episodes of depressed mood, insomnia, and low energy during which he had interrupted his job training and stopped going to the gym. Now, he has been able to resume his job at a local bank. He also goes to the gym three times a week to work out and enjoys reading books again. His temperature is 36.5°C (97.7°F), pulse is 70/min, and blood pressure is 128/66 mm Hg. Physical and neurologic examinations show no abnormalities. On mental status examination, he describes his mood as "good." Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

A 35-year-old banker is brought to a medical clinic by his concerned wife. For the past 3 weeks, he has not been eating well and has had a 10 kg (22 lb) weight loss. He wakes up very early in the mornings and feels extremely despondent. He no longer goes out on the weekends to hang out with his close friends nor does he go on date nights with his wife. He feels guilty for letting his friends and family down recently. He additionally has a history of fibromyalgia and deals with daily pain. What would be the most appropriate treatment plan for this patient?

A 17-year-old white female with a history of depression is brought to your office by her parents because they are concerned that she is acting differently. She is quiet and denies any changes in her personality or drug use. After the parents step out so that you can speak alone, she begins crying. She states that school has been very difficult and has been very depressed for the past 2 months. She feels a lot of pressure from her parents and coaches and says she cannot handle it anymore. She says that she has been cutting her wrists for the past week and is planning to commit suicide. She instantly regrets telling you and begs you not to tell her parents. What is the most appropriate course of action?

A 30-year-old man presents with fatigue and low energy. He says that he has been "feeling down" and tired on most days for the last 3 years. He also says that he has had difficulty concentrating and has been sleeping excessively. The patient denies any manic or hypomanic symptoms. He also denies any suicidal ideation or preoccupation with death. A physical examination is unremarkable. Laboratory findings are significant for the following: Serum glucose (fasting) 88 mg/dL Serum electrolytes Sodium 142 mEq/L; Potassium: 3.9 mEq/L; Chloride: 101 mEq/L Serum creatinine 0.8 mg/dL Blood urea nitrogen 10 mg/dL Hemoglobin (Hb %) 15 g/dL Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) 85 fl Reticulocyte count 1% Erythrocyte count 5.1 million/mm3 Thyroid-stimulating hormone 3.5 μU/mL Medication is prescribed to this patient that increases norepinephrine neurotransmission. After 2 weeks, the patient returns for follow-up and complains of dizziness, dry mouth, and constipation. Which of the following drugs was most likely prescribed to this patient?

Benzodiazepines are clinically useful because of their inhibitory effects on the central nervous system. Which of the following correctly pairs the site of action of benzodiazepines with the molecular mechanism by which they exert their effects?