Block 6 W3 Flashcards
What are the 4 dopamine pathways?
- nigrostriatal - initiation and control of movement
- mesolimbic - reward, reinforcement
- mesocortical - cognition, planning and motivation
- tubero-infundibular - hypothalamus to pituitary, inhibits release of prolactin hormone from pituitary.
Describe noradrenaline.
Released by neurones originating from the locus coeruleus in the brainstem.
Projects widely influencing sleep, wakefulness, attention and feeding.
Inactivated by reuptake and oxidation.
Describe serotonin.
Released by neurones originating from raphe nuclei in the brainstem.
Project to various parts of brain influencing mood, emotional behaviour, satiety and sleep.
Inactivated by reuptake.
Describe GABA.
Released by inhibitory neurones throughout CNS.
Activated GABA receptors allow influx of Cl- -> hyper polarises the neurones.
Describe schizophrenia.
Relapsing and remitting illness, typical starting in young adult life.
Characterised by positive symptoms during episodes - hallucinations, delusions and thought disorder.
An accumulation of negative symptoms over time - lack of motivation, reduced speech, reduced emotion, social withdrawal.
Describe the MoA, e.g. and uses of antipsychotics.
MoA - antagonises D2 receptors in the mesolimbic pathway.
e.g. olanzapine, risperidone, haloperidol
Uses - schizophrenia and mania-depression.
What are the side effects of antipsychotics?
Effects on other dopamine pathways:
- nigrostriatal -> Parkinsonian, acute dystonias, tardive dyskinesia
- tubero-infundibular -> excess prolactin - galactorrhea, infertility
Blocking other receptors:
- antagonises H1 receptors -> sedation
- antagonises muscarinic receptors -> dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation
- antagonists a1 receptors -> postural hypotension
- antagonises 5-HT2c receptors -> hunger and weight gain.
What are the metabolic and cardiac side effects of antipsychotics?
Weight gain, diabetes and raised cholesterol.
People with schizophrenia may loose 15-20 years due to increased CV risk.
Arrhythmias and rare idiosyncratic neuroleptic malignant syndrome.
What is the dopamine hypothesis in schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is a result of dopamine hyperactivity in certain areas of brain:
- excess dopamine in mesolimbic -> positive symptoms
- inadequate dopamine in mesocortical -> negative symptoms.
What are the arguments for and against the dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia?
For:
+ antipsychotics block dopamine receptors
+ drugs that increased dopamine cause psychosis e.g. amphetamines, cocaine and L-DOPA
+ reserpine depletes dopamine transmission so had antipsychotic effects
+ PET and SPECT scans show increased brain dopamine activity
Against:
- NT effects are immediate but antipsychotics take 2 weeks for effects
- other transmitters appear to be involved with psychosis e.g. glutamate, 5-HT2 and 1A
- cause of schizophrenia may be upstream
What are the other hypotheses for schizophrenia?
- neurodevelopment -> from twin studies, shown not to be purely genetic, enlarged brain ventricles in twins with disease
- psychological
- damage from auto-antibodies
Define depression.
A collection of several symptoms occurring together:
- persistent low mood, reduced enjoyment/interest and fatigue
- sleep, appetite, weight, concentration changes
- loss of confidence, guilt, hopelessness, suicidal thought and acts
What are the classes of antidepressants?
Tricyclic antidepressants
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, SSRIs
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors, MOAIs
Serotonin noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors, SNRIs
What is the MoA, e.g. and uses of tricyclics?
MoA - blocks noradrenaline and serotonin reuptake transporters at synapses -> increases availability of these monoamines.
e.g. amitriptyline, lofepramine
Uses - depression, anxiety and pain
What are the side effects of tricyclics?
Toxic in overdose
Antagonises H1 receptors -> sedation
Antagonises muscarinic receptors -> dry mouth, blurred vision, urinary retention
Antagonises a adrenoceptors -> postural hypotension.
What is the MoA, e.g. and uses of SSRIs?
MoA - Blocks serotonin reuptake transporters -> increases serotonin availability at synapses.
e.g. fluoxetine, citalopram
Uses - depression and anxiety
What are the side effects of SSRIs?
Stimulates 5-HT receptors:
- nausea and vomiting
- sexual dysfunction
- increased suicidal ideation in children
- withdrawal reaction
- safer in overdose
What is the MoA, e.g. and side effects of MOAIs?
MoA - block action of monoamine oxidase in nerve terminals -> increases availability of NA, serotonin and dopamine.
e.g. phenelzine, moclobemide
Side effects: produces hypertensive crisis if people eat food rich in tyramine e.g. mature cheese since tyramine precipitates NA release from vesicles.
What is the monoamine theory of depression?
Depression is a result of deficiency in brain monoamine Its -> NA, serotonin and dopamine.
What are the arguments for and against for the monoamine theory of depression?
For:
+ antidepressants increase availability of monoamines at synapses.
+ reserpine depletes monoamine transmission -> causes depression as it stops monoamines getting into vesicles.
+ people with depression have lower levels of monoamine precursors/metabolites in their CSF/blood.
Against:
- NT effects of antidepressants are immediate but takes 2 weeks for effects.
- cocaine and amphetamine mimic NA and 5-HT but don’t act as antidepressants.
- inprindole is an antidepressant which doesn’t affect NA or 5-HT reuptake. It is a 5-HT2 antagonist.
What are the other hypotheses for depression?
Behavioural, cognitive and other psychological.
Monoamine
Endocrine
Why do antidepressants take 2 weeks for effect?
Initially, the increased 5-HT in synapses is cancelled out by auto-receptors -> reducing 5-HT release and more reuptake of the extra 5-HT in the synapses.
After 2 weeks, the auto-receptors desensitise and the blocked reuptake transporters become internalised so eventually there really is an increase in 5-HT at synapses.
Define anxiety.
Collection of illness
Common thread - excessive fear and associated physical responses.
Nervousness, foreboding, agitation, palpitations, sweating, bowel upset.
GAD, panic disorder, phobias, OCD, PTSD
What is the MoA, e.g. and uses of benzodiazepines?
MoA - bind to regulatory sites on GABA receptors -> potentiates the inhibitory effects of GABA -> causes more Cl- influx -> hyperpolairses -> inhibition.
e.g. diazepam, lorazepam, temazepam
Uses - anxiety, seizures
What are the side effects of benzodiazepines?
Drowsiness, confusion, forgetfulness, impaired motor control, tolerance and dependence, respiratory depression.
What are other anxiolytic and hypnotic drugs?
Anxiety - SSRI sertraline, SNRI venlafaxine.
Hypnotics - Z-drugs zopiclone, zolpidem and short-acting benzodiazepines temazepam.
What are the physical symptoms of anxiety?
Muscle tension - headaches, pain, fatigue
Hyperventilation - dizziness, tingling fingers + toes (reduced pCO2 -> Ca2+ changes)
SNS over-activity - increased HR, BP, sweating, dry mouth, butterflies.
What are the psychological symptoms of anxiety?
CNS - poor concentration, memory
Mood - fear, worry, on edge, irritable
Thoughts - future danger, fear of dying/losing control, worry about worry.
What are the unhelpful behaviours exhibited in anxiety?
- pacing
- attempts at coping - caffeine, smoking, alcohol, drugs
- avoiding
- safety behaviour
- asking for reassurance - visiting GP
CBT reduces 3, 4 and 5
What are the treatment options for anxiety?
Education/explanation Relaxation - mindfulness Advice on sleep CBT - changes thinking and behaviour SSRI - sertraline Benzodiazepine - diazepam
Define learning.
Relatively permanent change in behaviour that occurs as a result of experience. It enables people to adapt to environment and increases chances of survival.
What is the neuronal basis of learning?
Amgydala - in temporal lobe, involved in learning + expressing fear. More axonal connections between neurones. Increased efficiency of NT release between neurones across synaptic cleft.
What are the types of learning?
- associative - learning that certain events go together e.g. classical and operant conditioning
- vicarious - learning by direct observation
- factual transmission - lectures
- complex - social learning, emotional intelligence.
Define classical conditioning.
A learning process where a previously neutral stimulus becomes associated with another stimulus by repeated pairing. e.g. Pavlov's dogs and taste aversion Explains origin of phobias Respondent learning A reliably predicts B
Define operant conditioning.
The alteration of behaviour by reward or punishment i.e. certain responses are learned because they affect the environment.
e.g. positive reinforcement - praise, negative reinforcement - picking up crying baby, punishment - smacking, extinction - time out.
Explains maintenance of phobias
Instrumental learning
Outcome is controllable
Give clinical examples of classical conditioning.
Visit to dentist/doctors - pain/anxiety linked to white coats, disinfectant smell, equipment.
Chemotherapy - anticipatory nausea entering the room.
Little Albert - scared every time rat was presented.
Music in films - enhances emotions.
Describe positive reinforcement.
Stimulus is given to increase behaviour.
Thorndike’s law of effect - successful behaviour will be repeated.
Reinforcers can be:
- primary -> food, water, escape
- secondary -> money, praise
Reinforcer must be immediate/linked to act if not, harder to change behaviour i.e. stopping smoking.