BB psychiatry Flashcards
Structural changes in depression
Decreased metabolism in subgenual prefrontal cortex
Decreased hippocampal volume
Why do antidepressants have a delay of action?
Due to changes in autoreceptors
Inhibiting monoamine reuptake increases autorecepotr activation, reducing neurone firing rate
During the first few weeks, these autoreceptors become desensitised
Neurones return to their normal firing rate
Normal firing rate + inhibit reuptake = increased levels in synapse –> full efficacy
Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome
Insomnia Anxiety Nausea Headaches Electric shock sensations
Garcia effect
Avoid food because of past unpleasant experience
Unconditioned stimulus
Stimulus that already elicits a response
Unconditioned response
Response that doesn’t have to be learned
Conditioned stimulus
Previously neutral stimulus
Conditioned response
Learned response stimulated by CS
Psychological treatments that use classic conditioning
Aversion therapy
Systematic desensitisation
Flooding
Positive reinforcer
Reward following behaviour
Increases the behaviour
Negative reinforcer
Removal of negative stimulus with behaviour
Increases behaviour
Positive punishment
Application of an unpleasant stimulus
Negative punsihment
Removal of a pleasant stimulus
Neurobiology of classic conditioning
Amygdala and LTP
Neurobiology of operant conditioning
Dopamine in the nucleus accumbens
Pain gate open
Noxious stimuli
Anxiety
Tension
Focus on pain
Pain gain closed
Analgesia Pleasure Relaxation Distraction Counter stimulation --> TENS, rubbing, acupuncture
NT systems in pain, addiction, depression
Serotonin
NA
DA
Opioids
Positive symptoms of schizophrenia
Hallucinations Delusions Agitation Disorganised behaviour Catatonia
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia
Introversion
Apathy
Self neglect
Low self esteem
Cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia
Poor memory
Poor attention
Executive dysfunction
Genetics in schizophrenia
Dysbindin BDNF COMT DISC1 Neuregulin 1
Testing frontal lobe function
Wisconsin card sorting test
Structural changes in schizophrenia
Larger ventricles
Smaller mesial temporal lobe
Decreased blood flow to prefrontal cortex (executive function dysfunction)
Increased blood flow to thalamus and cerebellum
Neuroleptic malignancy syndrome
Rare complication of antipsychotic use Autonomic instability Hyperpyrexia Rigidity Confusion Tremor
Tarditive dyskinesia
Irreversible complication
Involuntary movements such as lip smacking, tongue thrusting, grimacing, chewing
