Anxiolytics (+ hypnotics)

Question 1

What is anxiety in humans?

Answer 1

Anticipatory fear response, often independent of external events

Question 2

Name some fear responses

Answer 2

Defensive behaviours (alertness), sympathetic ANS activation + reflexes (fight or flight), Corticosteriod secretion, negative emotions

Question 3

Difference between fear responses in animals and anxiety in humans

Answer 3

Humans evolved to not require the same fear responses as animals (not necessary) so our fear responses are more anticipatory than fight or flight.

Question 4

Low level anxiety

Answer 4

Can be good and healthy
- example is exam stress can be motivational

Question 5

Extreme/ non-beneficial anxiety disorders

Answer 5

Panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, PTSD, OCD and generalised anxiety disorder

Question 5

Extreme/ non-beneficial anxiety disorders

Answer 5

Panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, PTSD, OCD and generalised anxiety disorder (+ phobias)

Question 6

Explain the Elevated Maze or Cross animal model of anxiety

Answer 6

One line of cross has no barrier, other line fenced off. Control animal stays on fenced off sides, doesn’t cross into open area. Fear of falling
Animal treated with anxiolytic crosses between both sides, fear response dampened. Shows drug reduces anxiety.

Question 7

Explain the light/ dark box

Answer 7

Light and dark areas of the box
Control animal stays in the dark- out of sight from danger (predators)
Drugged animal crosses between light and dark- reduced anxiety

Question 8

GABAa receptors- how many subunits + their names

Answer 8

5 subunits (pentameric), 2 alpha units, 2 beta units + 1 gamma unit

Question 9

What do the GABAa receptor subunits influence?

Answer 9

The receptors pharmacology, location and function

Question 10

Function + class of GABAa receptors

Answer 10

Mediates fast inhibitory transmission (post-synaptic)
Activation leads to hyperpolarisation and reduced excitability
Ionotropic (ligand gated ion channel)
Chloride selective