Ch 4: Neurotransmitters in Psychiatry Flashcards
What are the four major categories of neurotransmitters implicated in psychiatry?
- Cholinergic
- Monoamines
- Amino Acids
- Neuropeptides
What system do cholinergics effect?
Autonomic Nervous System
To what functions do cholinergics contribute?
- sleep
- arousal
- pain perception
- modulation and coordination of movement and memory
What diseases are cholinergics attributed to?
- Parkinson’s (tremulous)
- Huntington’s (tremulous and movement)
- Alzheimer’s (memory)
Increased levels of cholinergics can lead to…
Depression
Name 3 monoamines
- Norepinephrine
- Dopamine
- Serotonin
What system do monoamines effect?
CNS & ANS
Norepinephrine is responsible for what instinct?
Fight or flight
To what functions does norepinephrine contribute?
- Regulation of mood
- Cognition & perception
- Cardiovascular functioning
- Sleep & arousal
Overactivity or high levels of norepinephrine can contribute to…
- Mania
- Anxiety
- Schizophrenia
Decreased levels of norepinephrine can contribute to…
- Depression
- Excessive sleep
- Psychomotor retardation
To what functions does dopamine contribute?
- Regulation of movement and coordination
- Emotions
- Decision making
Low levels of dopamine can contribute to what two things?
- Depression
- Parkinson’s Disease
Increase levels of dopamine can lead to
- Manic states
- Increased hallucinations and delusions in Schizophrenia
Serotonin elevates _____.
Mood
To what functions does serotonin contribute?
- Sleep
- Arousal/Libido
- Appetite
- Aggression
- Pain perception
What condition can indicate high concentrations of serotonin in the GI tract and what is it associated with?
- Nausea
- SSRI’s
High levels of serotonin will be found in patients with _____ and_____.
- Schizophrenia
- Anxiety
Low levels of serotonin will be found in…
Depression
