Ch 2: Biological implications Flashcards
Cerebrum
gray matter & white matter. Gray matter helps with processing info. Myelin helps in white matter to transport information.
Frontal lobe
Makes us who we are. Damage to this can change personality. Internal or external trauma. Other things too.
Parietal lobes
Touch and pain.
Temporal
Auditory. Emotions too.
Occipital
Mainly vision
Diencephalon
includes thalamus (see the big picture) and hypothalamus (also regulate the appetite center, and may be involved in anorexia nervosa). Both part of the limbic system. REMEMBER.
Our emotions (limbic system) is…
present in many regions of the brain
Hope assessment
something we do with our patients - It helps us see how at risk someone will be for suicide
Mesencephalon
Reflexes
Keeping upright
The Hindbrain: Medulla, Pons, Cerebellum
Pons: respiration & sleep
Medulla: HR, RR, reflexes like sneezing
Cerebellum: involuntary movement like balance and running and many more
Any damage to these brain structures can cause…
mental illness
Nerve tissue
Most neurons are interneurons. Carry chemical signals.
Synapse
Junction between neurons
Difference between PNS and SNS
Para = rest and digest
symp = FFF
the 4 groups of neurotransmitters
- Cholinergics
- Monoamines
- Amino acids
- Neuropeptides
Cholinergic: Acetylcholine
Decreased levels: Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, Parkinson’s
Increased: Depression
Monoamines: Norepinephrine
Decreased levels: Depression
Increased: Mania, Anxiety states, schizophrenia
Monamines: Dopamine
Decreased levels: Parkinson’s disease, depression, tourette syndrome, and ADHD
Increased: Mania, schizophrenia, & addictions
Monamines: Serotonin
Decreased: Depression, anxiety
Increased levels: Anxiety states. some of the receptors for serotonin have an anti-anxiety effect. others may increase anxiety.
Monamines: Histamine
Decreased: depression
Increased: Sleep disorders, anxiety, Alzheimers, psychosis.
Amino acids: GABA
Decreased: Huntington’s disease, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, and various forms of epilepsy
Not covered in class much: other 3 amino acids
Glycine: if low –> spastic motor movements. if high –> glycine encephalopathy
Glutamate and aspartate: high –> huntington’s, temp lobe epilepsy, spinal degenration, anxiety, depression
D-serine: Decreased –> schizophrenia
Neuropeptides: Substance P
MAYBE: Substance P is implicated in PTSD
Decreased: alzheimer’s
Increased: Huntington’s
Neuropeptides: Endorphins and enkephalins
Modulation of dopamine activty by opioid peptides may indicate some link to the symptoms of schizophrenia
Neuropeptides: Somatostatin
Decreased: Alzheimer’s
Increased: Huntington’s
Hormones of the neuroendocrine system
Issues with hormones can greatly affect mental states
Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)
- Helps to maintain our BP & conserve water. Emotional stress is involved. Polydipsia (drinking a lot). Bipolar and schizophrenia pts have a problem with their ADH.
- Location of origin: Posterior lobe of pituitary gland
Oxytocin
- Location: posterior pituitary lobe
- May play a role in stress response by stimulation of ACTH
Growth hormone (GH)
- anterior pituitary
- Altered secretion may correlate with anorexia nervosa
Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
- Decreased: Insomnia, Anxiety, emotional lability
- Increased: Fatigue, depression
- Decreased levels of TSH result in INCREASED THYROID hormones
- Anterior pituatary
Adrenocorticotropic (ACTH)
- Anterior pituitary
- Decreased: depression, apathy, fatigue
- Increased: Mood disorders, psychosis
Prolactin
- Anterior pituitary
- Increased: Depression, anxiety, decreased libido, irritability
Gonadotropic hormones
- Anterior P.
- Decreased: Depression and anorexia nervosa
- Increased testosterone: Increased sexual behavior and aggressiveness
melanocyte stimulating hormone
- Anterior P.
- Increased: depression
Pituitary gland
- Circadian rhythms follow a 24 hour cycle and may influence a variety of regulatory functions
Genetics. Phenotype vs Genotype
Phenotype: Expressed genes
Genotype: ur whole set of genes. Unexpressed ones as well.
Involvement of Genes vs environment in development of mental illness
Psychiatric disorders are most likely due to a combination of Genetics and environmental influence
Psyc-pharm:
A primary modality for treatment of mental illness. Most action occurs at neuronal synapses.
Antidepressants work by…
blocking reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine
Antipsychotics work by…
blocking specific neurotransmitter receptors
Benzodiazepines work by…
Facilitating the transmission of GABA
Psychostimulants work by…
Increasing the release of Norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine.
What interdisciplinary approach is best for psych nursing as a whole?
A biopsychosocial approach
