KPSC Staff Nurse - 2016
Applied Physiology
Easy
Which of the following neurotransmitter is known to be associated with sleep, mood and appetite?
Appeared in: KPSC Staff Nurse - 2016
Explanation
- Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine or 5-HT) is a key monoamine neurotransmitter that regulates a wide range of functions, most notably sleep, mood, and appetite.
- Its role in mood is significant, with low levels being a well-established factor in depression and anxiety disorders.
- Serotonin is a direct precursor to melatonin, the hormone that governs the body's sleep-wake cycle (circadian rhythm).
- In the gastrointestinal system and the brain, serotonin helps regulate appetite by promoting a feeling of satiety or fullness after eating.
Why Other Options Were Wrong
- Option A: Acetylcholine's primary roles are in muscle activation, learning, and memory. While it is involved in REM sleep, it is not the main regulator of mood and appetite.
- Option B: Dopamine is primarily associated with the brain's reward and pleasure centers, motivation, and the control of voluntary movement.
- Option D: GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. Its primary function is to reduce neuronal excitability, leading to a calming effect.
Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
- Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Functions of major neurotransmitters as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
- Understanding serotonin's function is critical for nurses, as many patients are prescribed Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) for depression and anxiety. Nurses monitor for therapeutic effects and side effects like nausea, insomnia, or changes in appetite.
- A rare but life-threatening condition called Serotonin Syndrome can occur when serotonin levels are too high, often from medication interactions. Nurses must recognize its symptoms: agitation, confusion, rapid heart rate, and muscle rigidity.
- What if? If a patient presents with symptoms of both depression and chronic neuropathic pain, a Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor (SNRI) might be prescribed instead of an SSRI. SNRIs target both serotonin and norepinephrine, the latter of which is involved in pain signaling pathways.
How to Approach the Question
- First, identify the key functions listed in the question stem: 'sleep', 'mood', and 'appetite'.
- This is a factual recall question testing your knowledge of the primary roles of major neurotransmitters.
- Systematically review the main function of each option provided.
- Recall that Acetylcholine is linked to muscles and memory.
- Recall that Dopamine is linked to reward and movement.
- Recall that GABA is the primary 'calming' or inhibitory neurotransmitter.
Concept Tested & Keywords
- Concept Tested: Functions of major neurotransmitters
- Stem keywords: neurotransmitter, sleep, mood, appetite
- Lead-in keywords: Which of the following
- Negative lead-in flag: false
Question ID
QXUsvOoHSK1xbMktzimPH5
Reference Book
E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) pp. 5336-5338, 793-795
Practise the full KPSC Staff Nurse - 2016
Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.
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