Test your knowledge on mental health

An opportunity to test your knowledge on a range of mental health conditions and interventions.
Collage of mental health images with a question mark in the centre

Medicines are a primary treatment tool for many mental health conditions. For pharmacists to use their expert skills to help patients with mental health challenges, it is vital that they have a good understanding of those conditions.

Work your way through the quiz by expanding the questions in the boxes below. Each question includes a link to a relevant PJ article providing more information on the topic. When you have answered all the questions, select ‘Finish quiz’ at the bottom of the page to check your score.

For practice-based questions that could be influenced by various factors, please select the response that you judge to be the single best answer.

Switching antidepressants

Prescribing antidepressant. General practice doctor (GP) giving a female patient a prescription for drugs to treat depression. He is prescribing the antidepressant drug Sertraline.

SATURN STILLS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

In the right circumstances, changing to a different antidepressant can improve the chances of successfully treating depression, but judgement is required when considering if a switch is appropriate. Expand question 1 to test your knowledge.

This question is from ‘Switching antidepressants: advice and practicalities’. Please refer to the original article if you would like to learn more.

Older women’s mental health

Older woman in a mental health consultation

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Later life (age 50 years and over) can be a period of transition and adjustment to loss for many women, which can impact a person’s wellbeing and mental health. Expand question 2 to test your knowledge.

This question is from ‘Mental health considerations in older women’. Please refer to the original article if you would like to learn more.

Impact of physical conditions on mental health

Young boy taking blood sugar levels on mother's lap.

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Living with type 1 diabetes mellitus poses a unique set of challenges for children and young people, as well as their families, which can have an impact on emotional wellbeing. Expand question 3 to test your knowledge.

This question is from ‘Emotional wellbeing in children and young people with diabetes’. Please refer to the original article if you would like to learn more.

Poisonings

Glass of water, with emptied pill packets alongside.

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Patients experiencing mental health conditions are one of the groups that may present to emergency departments acutely for poisoning and overdose. Expand question 4 to test your knowledge.

This question is from ‘Management of poisonings: the pharmacists role’. Please refer to the original article if you would like to learn more.

Suicide

illustration-profile of a skull

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It is important that pharmacists are aware of the risk factors for suicide, as well as the psychological frameworks and practical tools that can be used when dealing with disclosure of suicidal ideation. Expand question 5 to test your knowledge.

This question is from ‘Suicide: how to recognise the warning signs and deal with disclosure’. Please refer to the original article if you would like to learn more.

Addiction and drug misuse

Man taking methadone

CORDELIA MOLLOY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Medicines adherence is vital to both successful treatment outcomes and the prevention of overdose in treated opiate users. Expand question 6 to test your knowledge.

This question is from ‘Opioid use disorder: adherence to prescribed medicines in community pharmacy’. Please refer to the original article if you would like to learn more.

Misuse of prescription and over-the-counter drugs

Misuse of prescription and OTC drugs to obtain illicit highs: how pharmacists can prevent abuse

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A range of prescription and over-the-counter drugs have the potential to be misused for recreational purposes. Expand question 7 to test your knowledge.

This question is from ‘Misuse of prescription and over-the-counter drugs to obtain illicit highs: how pharmacists can prevent abuse’. Please refer to the original article if you would like to learn more.

Neurodevelopmental disorders

dad and child using colouring pencils

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Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by age-inappropriate levels of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. Expand question 8 to test your knowledge.

This question is from ‘Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: characteristics and diagnosis’. Please refer to the original article if you would like to learn more.

Supporting people with autism

young boy facing window with hands over his ears

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Pharmacists need a robust knowledge of autism, and the challenges faced by autistic individuals and their carers, and should be able to identify potential overprescribing of antipsychotic medications. Expand question 9 to test your knowledge.

This question is from ‘Autism: identification, management and support’ . Please refer to the original article if you would like to learn more.

Psychosis

Diagram showing three stages of the organisation structure of UK mental health services. Stage one is primary care (GP), stage two is community mental health team, stage three is crisis teams, and stage four is blank for the quiz question.

The Pharmaceutical Journal

It is important to adopt a multidisciplinary and patient-centred approach when managing psychosis and take measures to optimise treatment with antipsychotics. Expand question 10 to test your knowledge.

This question is from ‘Case study: treatment-resistant schizophrenia’. Please refer to the original article if you would like to learn more.

Eating disorders

Photo of two women talking, one taking notes, in a safe, warmly lit environment.

Toa Heftiba (Unsplash)

Pharmacists are well positioned to identify the signs and symptoms of an eating disorder and can provide access to sources of help and support. Expand question 11 to test your knowledge.

This question is from ‘Eating disorders: identification, treatment and support’. Please refer to the original article if you would like to learn more.

Sleep disorders

silhouette of young boy in doorway holding teddy bear

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Over the years, many different pharmacological treatments have been used to address sleep problems; however, as more is understood about how they work, it is important to consider their safety profile. Expand question 12 to test your knowledge.

This question is from ‘Insomnia: the great melatonin delusion’. Please refer to the original article if you would like to learn more.

Pharmacogenomics in mental health

hand holding tray and squeezing pipette into it

Sergey Drozd / Alamy Stock Photo

There is much to be gained from improving our understanding of the role of genetics in drug response, and pharmacogenomic testing could help in the treatment of mental health conditions. Expand question 13 to test your knowledge.

This question is from ‘Making the case for pharmacogenomics in the management of mental health conditions’. Please refer to the original answer if you would like to learn more.

Healthcare inequalities

Racial and ethnic disparities in mental health care

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Inequalities exist across many areas of healthcare but are particularly evident in mental health settings, where healthcare professionals can restrict choices, hospital stays and treatments. Expand question 14 to test your knowledge.

This question is from ‘Racial and ethnic disparities in mental health care’. Please refer to the original answer if you would like to learn more.

Anxiety

Photo of a woman standing still, alone, in a bustling street moving quickly past her in a blur

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There are many types of anxiety disorders with varying levels of severity. Pharmacists should know the treatment options that are available and how to support patients. Expand question 15 to test your knowledge.

This question is from ‘Case-based learning: anxiety disorders’ Please refer to the original answer if you would like to learn more.

Last updated
Citation
The Pharmaceutical Journal, PJ, January 2024, Vol 312, No 7981;312(7981)::DOI:10.1211/PJ.2024.1.215013

1 comment

  • Fiona Raeburn

    Really liked this - I didn't know the answers in a few and enjoyed reading the documents. Antidepressant failure rates vary in reference sources so found it a bit difficult to answer

 

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