A 29-year-old used heroin 4 hours ago and wants to start buprenorphine immediately. He has mild anxiety but no objective withdrawal signs. What is the BEST next step?

A 38-year-old woman presents with excessive worry occurring more days than not for the past year, accompanied by muscle tension, irritability, and difficulty sleeping. She denies panic attacks and substance use. Which medication is considered first-line pharmacologic treatment for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)?

A 58-year-old with bipolar disorder and chronic hepatitis C has worsening LFTs. Which mood stabilizer most clearly requires caution or dose adjustment in hepatic impairment?

A 76-year-old with depression and insomnia takes multiple medications (antihypertensives, anticoagulant, diabetes meds). The PMHNP considers adding a sedative-hypnotic. Which risk is MOST heightened in older adults and should guide prescribing?

A 29-year-old patient with bipolar I disorder presents with decreased need for sleep, pressured speech, and grandiosity. Which medication is considered first-line for acute mania?

A 15-year-old with major depressive disorder is started on an SSRI. Which monitoring plan is MOST important early in treatment?

A 32-year-old woman with MDD presents for her first medication evaluation. She has no prior exposure to psychotropics, drinks alcohol socially, and takes levothyroxine. She works full-time and is concerned about daytime sedation and weight gain. As you consider first-line pharmacologic treatment, what is the MOST appropriate guiding principle?

A 16-year-old with ADHD asks how methylphenidate improves focus. Which mechanism best describes methylphenidate’s therapeutic effect?

A 27-year-old woman with MDD and panic disorder presents with insomnia and low appetite. She denies suicidal ideation and has no history of bipolar disorder. Which medication is MOST appropriate initially?

Tardive dyskinesia involves: