Biological issues in psych

Question 1

Where are steroids produced?

Answer 1

The adrenal cortex. They perform many bodily functions, including mediating the stress response and maintaining blood sugar levels, bodily fluids, and electrolytes. Cortisol is one of several.

Question 2

When MAOIs are combined with certain cold, cough, sinus, or allergy medication, what side-effect can occur?

Answer 2

Potentially fatal: hypertensive crisis (noradrenergic syndrome) which involves a severe headache, diaphoresis (perspiring profusely), elevated blod pressure, neck stiffness, and neuromuscular agitation; OR

hyperpyrexic crisis (seratonin syndrome), which is characterized by hypothermia, tachycardia, nausea, shivering, restlessness, confusion, and insomnia

Question 3

What type of medication can cause a hypertensive crisis if taken in combination with certain drugs or foods?

Answer 3

MAOIs

Question 4

What type of medication can cause a hyperpyrexic crisis (seratonin syndrome) if taken in combination with certain drugs or foods?

Answer 4

MAOIs.

Question 5

Is Parkinson’s disease a cortical dementia or a subcortical dementia?

Answer 5

Subcortical. There is neuron loss in the substantia nigra. The dementia occurs because of their influence on the frontal cortex.

Question 6

Why does Parkinson’s disease have some symptoms that look related to the frontal cortex?

Answer 6

The damage to the subcortical areas (specifically the substantia nigra) has influence on the frontal cortex area.

Question 7

Are atypical neuroleptics (such as Risperidone / Risperdal) more or less likely to cause tardive dyskinesia than conventional neuroleptics?

Answer 7

Less likely.

Question 8

What is Klinefelter’s syndrome?

Answer 8

Two or more female (X) chromosomes and a single Y chromosome.

Question 9

What are characteristics of Klinefelter’s syndrome?

Answer 9

Small testicles, infertility, enlarged breast tissue, scant facial / body hair, and a decreased libido.

Question 10

Where is the anterior cingulate cortex located?

Answer 10

In the limbic cortex on the medial side of the cerebral hemispheres.

Question 11

What does the anterior cingulate cortex do?

Answer 11

Exposure to painful stimuli activates the ACC. It appears to be involved in the emotional reaction to pain, not to the perception of pain.

Question 12

What percentage of patient with Parkinson’s show signs of depression before showing other symptoms?

Answer 12

About 20%. It provides evidence that in some cases, depression related to Parkison’s is not just a reaction to the diagnosis.

Question 13

To what has damage to the temporal lobe been associated? (note: there are other issues as well)

Answer 13

Disturbances in language comprehension
Deficits in long-term memory
Changes in sexual behavior

Question 14

What are the prodromal symptoms of a tyramine-induced hypertensive crisis? What causes it?

Answer 14

Taking an MAOI and consuming food containing tyramine causes this to occur. Prodromal symptoms are headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, and sweating.

Question 15

What are common side effects of MAOIs?

Answer 15

Orthostatic hypotension (light headedness when going from prone to upright); insomnia, edema, paresthesias (pins and needles), myoclonus (brief, involuntary muscle jerks), and muscle pain.

Question 16

What are symptoms of serotonin syndrome? What is it?

Answer 16

Serotonin symdrome happens when taking a new medication or upping the dosage. It can also occur when an MAOI and an SSRI are taken together. Symptoms include irritability, confusion, dizziness, and cardiac arrhthmia.

Question 17

What is MS?

Answer 17

A chronic, progressive neurological disease characterized by myelin loss in the brain and spinal cord, causing neurological symptoms. The most common characteristics of MS are fatigue, weakness, spasticity, balance problems, bladder and bowel problems, numbness, burning sensation, vision loss, tremor, and memory problems. Not all symptoms affect MS patients and symptoms and signs may be persistent or may cease from time to time. Because the signs and symptoms that define the clinical picture of MS are the result of nerve lesions causing disturbances in electrical conduction in one or more areas of the central nervous system, the nature of the symptoms are determined by the location of the lesion. It often begins an young to mid-adulthood, is more common in females, and is more prevalent in cooler climates. Estimates indicate approximately 1/4th of all individuals have mild disease, half have moderate disease, and a quarter have severe disease, with rapid progression.

Question 18

What is benign multiple sclerosis?

Answer 18

It tends to present with non-visible sensory symptoms at onset and has a complete recovery without disability. After 10-15 years with only one or two attacks and complete recovery without any disability, this form of MS does not worsen over time. For these individuals, there is no permanent disability or disease progression. However, some in this category will experience disease progression; the course of disease changing and evolving within 10-15 years into the progressive stages of MS.

Question 19

What is relapsing-remitting MS (RMMS)?

Answer 19

It is the most common beginning phase of MS. In this stage, there are sporadic exacerbations or relapses in which symptoms become more severe and / or new ones appear. Symptoms can appear for days to months, after which they usually resolve or remit spontaneously. MS may be clinically inactive between intermittent attacks and varying periods of time. The disease is ongoing and damage continues, with or without clinical attacks, with 50% of an individuals’ disease progressing to the secondary progressive stage (SPMS) within 10 - 15 years, and an additional 40% within 25 years of onset.

Question 20

What is the secondary progressive stage (SPMS) of multiple sclerosis?

Answer 20

It occurs within 10-15 years of relapse-remitting MS (the first stage) for 50% of people with MS who do not have benign MS. An additional 40% will have it within 25 years of onset. During this stage, pre-existing neurological deficits and symptoms gradually worsen while inflammatory relapses become less and less frequent until eventually there are no more relapses or remissions.

Question 21

What is primary progressive multiple sclerosis? (PPMS)

Answer 21

This is the clinical course of MS characterized from the beginning by progressive disability, with no plateaus or remissions or an occasional plateau and very short-lived, minor improvements.

Question 22

What is progressive-relapsing multiple sclerosis (PRMS)?

Answer 22

It indicates disease progression or increased disability from the onset, but has clear, acute relapses, with or without full recovery after each. It is a rare form and associated with a high mortality rate.

Question 23

What is an NDRI?

Answer 23

A norepinephrine dopamine reuptake inhibitor. Buproprion (a.k.a. Wellbutrin and Zyban) is one. It is prescried for depression, smoking cessation, and off-lable for distractability due to ADHD. Side effects include abdominal pain constipation, decrease in appetite, diziness, dry mouth, increased sweating, nausea, trembling, difficulty sleeping, unusual dreams, and may induce pre-existing seizures or psychosis.

Question 24

Buproprion falls into what drug category?

Answer 24

NDRI (norepinephrine dopamine reuptake inhibitor.) It is better known as Wellbutrin or Zyban.

Question 25

What is the generic name of Wellbutrin or Zyban?

Answer 25

Buproprion.

Question 26

What is the distinction between primary and complex emotions?

Answer 26

Primary emotions happen in the first 6 months of life. They are: interest; joy; disgust; sadness; anger; and fear.

Complex emotions require self-awareness. Complex emotions can be divided into two groups:
(a) the self is the object of attention and does not involve self-evaluation (e.g. embarassment, envy, and empathy);
(b) those that require both self-awareness and self-evaluation, or the ability to compare oneself to an internal or external standard (e.g. shame; pride; guilt).
Both types of complex emotions emerge between the second and third years of life.