Course
NR546 Advanced Pharmacology: Psychopharmacology for Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Preparing the Discussion
Follow these guidelines when completing each component of the discussion. Contact your course faculty if you have questions.
General Directions
Review the assigned topics listed by the first letter of your first name. For example, if your first name is Geoff, your assigned topic is norepinephrine.
| The First Letter of Your First Name | Topic |
| A – D | acetylcholine |
| E – H | norepinephrine |
| I – L | dopamine |
| M – P | serotonin |
| Q – T | gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) |
| U – Z | histamine |
- Application of Course Knowledge: Answer all questions/criteria with explanations and detail.
- Provide a 3-5 sentence paraphrased summary of the assigned neurotransmitter purpose and function.
- Link the assigned neurotransmitter to a psychiatric diagnosis or diagnoses.
- Discuss associated symptoms of the selected diagnosis or diagnoses. Determine if each symptom is related to an excess or deficiency in the neurotransmitter.
- Identify a drug class that treats the disorder associated with the assigned neurotransmitter. Discuss whether recommended medications in this class are agonists or antagonists, and explain how the medication influences the clinical signs and symptoms (i.e., treats the diagnosis) by impacting the neurotransmitter’s activity.
How to Approach This Discussion
To complete this discussion effectively:
Clearly explain the neurotransmitter’s role in the central nervous system.
Connect pathophysiology to psychiatric diagnoses using evidence-based reasoning.
Differentiate between excess vs. deficiency states and their clinical presentation.
Identify an appropriate pharmacologic class and explain its mechanism of action (agonist vs. antagonist).
Demonstrate understanding of how altering neurotransmitter activity improves symptoms.
Use scholarly sources where required and maintain professional, APA-formatted writing.
Key Concepts to Focus On
Neurotransmitter synthesis and function
CNS receptor activity
Psychiatric pathophysiology
Agonist vs. antagonist mechanisms
Medication impact on symptom management
Evidence-based pharmacologic treatment
Sample Solution
The neurotransmitter GABA is inhibitory in its purpose and function. When GABA interacts with the receptors at the ends of a neuron it reduces its action potential, decreasing its ability to release neurotransmitters. When thinking about its function, a hug from a friend or loved when you are overwhelmed, sad, or afraid comes to mind……Click below to access the full discussion sample PDF