Chapter 1 & 2 - Intro Flashcards
Psychoneuroimmunology
The study of the effects of emotional factors on disease susceptibility and resistance.
Kindling
If the disorder is not controlled, each episode further affects the nervous system; the threshold for recurring episodes then becomes progressively lower (e.g., bipolar - first episodes often reactions to environment, or exogenous, non-biological, but neurochemical and structural brain changes occur that increase risk for future episodes with or without external stressor).
Stimulus-response specificity
Conditions where a very specific response can be predicted with high regularity when a stimulus is applied (e.g., CPR) - not the case for psychological/psychiatric problems and interventions.
Pharmacokinetics
How the body (e.g., metabolic rates) affect drugs and their effects.
Polydipsia
Then need to drink a lot of water.
Polyuria
Frequent urination.
What organic psychotic syndromes that were discovered in the 1800s fueled biopsychiatry?
Treponema pallidum (bacteria) associated with late stage syphillis and pellagra (niacin and protein deficiency).
What 3 discoveries of the 1950s sparked new interest in biopsychiatry?
- Psychotropic medications like chlorpromazine (Thorazine).
- The synapse and neurochemical transmission.
- Genetic studies identifying heritability of mental illnesses.
How many nerve cells/synapses in the human brain?
100 billion/100 trillion
Ligand
A molecule that can bind to and possibly activate a receptor. Neurotransmitters, hormones, and drugs can all be ligands.
Conduction transmission
The passage of the nerve impulse (converted from electrical action potential) across the synaptic space.
What neurotransmitter can be both excitatory and inhibitory?
Serotonin, depending on which serotonin receptor is activated by the molecule, which is more or less neutral.
How many receptors can be on a single neuron cell?
2-3000 on cell body and de dendrites.
How long is the lifespan of receptors?
Between 12-24 hours.
Pharmacodynamics
Effects of drugs on the body
Steady state
When concentrations of a medication in the bloodstream have reached plateau so that the amount administered is equal to the amount being eliminated. Generally takes 4 half life periods. Steady state does not necessarily imply onset of the medication’s desired action.
5 types of medication effects
Pharmacological Side Idiosyncratic Allergic Discontinue syndrome
Activation
Acute onset anxiety occurs after the first dose of an antidepressant that was prescribed for a person suffering from an anxiety disorder - sometimes leads to discontinuation.
