A nurse is caring for a patient with social anxiety disorder. The nurse understands that beta-blockers may be used as an adjunct to antidepressants for the treatment of social anxiety disorder. The nurse further explains that beta-blockers:

Choice A rationale:

Enhance the activity of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain. Benzodiazepines are known to enhance the inhibitory effects of GABA, the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. This results in reduced neuronal excitability, leading to the anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) effects of benzodiazepines.

Choice B rationale:

Block beta-adrenergic receptors in the heart and blood vessels. This statement is incorrect. While beta-blockers can be used to manage certain physical symptoms of anxiety (such as rapid heartbeat), benzodiazepines do not directly block beta-adrenergic receptors.

Choice C rationale:

Partially agonize serotonin 5-HT1A receptors and antagonize dopamine D2 receptors. This statement is inaccurate. Benzodiazepines primarily interact with GABA receptors, not serotonin or dopamine receptors.

Choice D rationale:

Modulate the activity of various neurotransmitters and ion channels in the brain. This statement is overly broad and doesn't accurately describe the specific mechanism of benzodiazepines. Their primary mode of action is through enhancing GABAergic inhibition.

Choice A rationale:

Rapid onset of action - Antidepressant medications with rapid onset of action, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), can lead to quicker relief of symptoms. However, the nurse's statement mentions that it may take several weeks for the medication to start working fully, which contradicts the idea of rapid onset. Therefore, this choice is not applicable.

Choice B rationale:

Long duration of action - Antidepressants with long duration of action might provide sustained symptom relief once they take effect, but the nurse's statement focuses on the time it takes for the medication to start working fully rather than its duration of action. Thus, this choice is not relevant.

Choice C rationale:

Choice D rationale:

Slow onset of therapeutic effect - The nurse's statement, "It may take several weeks for the medication to start working fully," suggests that the medication has a slow onset of therapeutic effect. This is characteristic of many antidepressant medications, which often require several weeks of consistent use before significant symptom improvement is observed.