biological basis of addiction and schizophrenia

Question 1

how do drugs affect the mesolimbic pathway?

Answer 1

• most drugs share the ability to increase dopamine release dopamine in the nucleus accumbens which is the terminal region for the mesolimbic pathway
• by activating the pathway the drug increase motivation towards behaviours associated with taking the drug

Question 2

treatments for schizophrenia

Answer 2

• chlorpromazine (antagonist at dopamine receptors)
• haloperidol (antagonist at dopamine receptors)

Question 3

how is dopamine involved in schizophrenia?

Answer 3

• typical antipsychotic drugs are dopamine antagonists but is only effective in 50% of patients
• therefore dopamine systems are involved but only in POSITIVE SYMPTOMS

Question 3

how is dopamine involved in schizophrenia?

Answer 3

• typical antipsychotic drugs are dopamine antagonists but is only effective in 50% of patients
• therefore dopamine systems are involved but only in POSITIVE SYMPTOMS

Question 4

neurochemical basis of schizophrenia

Answer 4

• several drugs cause symptoms similar to schizophrenia eg:
• amphetamine (increase dopamine)
• LSD (5HT agonist)
• phencyclidine (glutamate agonist)