Georgette’s Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Certification LMR Practice Exam

Tourette’s involves dysregulation across several neurotransmitter systems within the circuits that control movement and habit formation. Dopamine is central to tic generation—antagonists that block dopamine receptors often lessen tics—so dopamine’s role is well established. However, the picture is broader: inhibitory signaling mediated by GABA and the excitatory drive from glutamate contribute to the abnormal motor output, and serotonergic systems modulate tic expression and associated behaviors. There’s also evidence for involvement of norepinephrine in attention and arousal related to tics. Because multiple neurotransmitters are implicated, describing Tourette’s as involving dopamine along with serotonin, GABA, and glutamate best reflects current understanding. Limiting it to just one or omitting these systems would miss important aspects of the disorder’s neurochemistry.