Antipsychotic Agents Flashcards
define psychoses
mental disorders characterized by rifts in rational thought, inappropriate processing of sensory information, and disturbed views of reality itself. psychotic symptoms are generally not recognized as much by the sufferer
define neuroses
abnormal reaction to an external state that is generally recognized as abnormal by the sufferer
what are typical psychotic markers (noticeable symptoms)
delusions and/or paranoia
hallucinations
disordered thoughts
inappropriate emotional responses
what drugs can induce psychoses?
amphetamines, steroids, LSD, ketamine, PCP, sedative/hypnotics
T/F men are more effected by schizophrenia
False, men and women are equally effected
what is the typical age of onset of schizophrenia?
15-25 years old
T/F it is difficult to retain a long term prognosis for schizophrenia
true
what are “negative” or residual symptoms of schizophrenia?
-flat effect
-anhedonia and apathy
-lack of volition
-social and emotional withdrawal
-disorganized speech, thinking and behavior
-impaired attention
-poor self-care
what is “flat effect”
your emotions are not perceived by others and you can come across as uncaring or unresponsive
define anhedonia
inability to feel pleasure
what does lack of volition mean?
have no will power, you have no power over decisions
T/F occurrence of schizophrenia can have both genetic and environmental factors
True
what are examples of anatomic irregularities that may make people more susceptible to schizophrenia?
enlarged cerebral ventricles
reduced cortical mass
“hypofrontality”: reduced processing in the prefrontal cortex
what was a treatment in the 1940s and 1950s for schizophrenia? what was the negative outcome?
frontal lobotomy
it was permanently debilitating
T/F psychotherapy is a good monotherapy for schizophrenia
False, ineffective by itself
how does cognitive behavioral therapy improve schizophrenic patients?
improves social skills
improves life skills
may improve ability to self-assess
what drug can schizophrenic patients self-medicate with?
nicotine
what is the main treatment used for schizophrenia?
antipsychotics
what drug class do we use that we label as antipsychotic agents?
neuroleptics or major tranquilizers
T/F antipsychotics can eventually cure schizophrenia when combined with cognitive behavioral therapy
false
what symptoms do antipsychotics help manage with schizophrenia?
reduce frequency of hallucinations and delusions
improve mood, reduce anxiety and improve sleep
what is the timeline for effectiveness for psychosis with antipsychotics?
calming effects occur within minutes to hours
diminished psychotic symptoms within 24-28 hours
full antipsychotic effects evolve over 2-8 weeks
improvement may continue for up to 6 months
all antipsychotics are what drug class?
D2 dopamine receptor antagonists or weak partial agonists
antipsychotic _____ for D2 receptors correlates with ________
what does this mean?
affinity, average clinical dose
the larger of dose we can use with an antipsychotic the greater affinity that drug will have at D2 receptors
What is the mesocortical pathway (logic, judgement, and affect)?
ventral tegmental area to frontal and prefrontal cortex
What is the mesolimbic pathway (emotion and delusions)?
ventral tegmental area to nucleus accumbens in limbic area
What is the nigrostriatal pathway (regulation of movement)?
substantia nigra to striatum in basal ganglia
What is the tuberoinfundibular pathway (involved in prolactin secretion)?
hypothalamus to pituitary
explain the dopamine theory of psychosis
psychoses is a result from over-stimulated dopamine receptors in the cortex (reasoning) and limbic (emotional) areas
how do drugs that increase dopamine levels effect psychosis?
increasing dopamine can worsen or cause psychoses
how do drugs that block dopamine release effect psychosis?
decreasing dopamine release can decrease psychoses
“positive” symptoms of psychosis seem to be a result of?
dopamine hyperactivity
“negative” symptoms of psychosis seem to be a result of?
reduced cortical activity
what is the “grandparent” of all antipsychotics?
chlorpromazine
what does FGA mean?
first generation antipsychotics
list all of the FGAs:
Chlorpromazine
Thioridazine
Fluphenazine
Thiothixene
Haloperidol
Pimozide