CHAPTER 16: PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC DRUGS Flashcards
affective disorders
emotional disorders that are characterized by changes in mood
agoraphobia
an anxiety disorder that involves an intense fear of being in unfamiliar situations or places that may be difficult to leave or in which help may not be available in the event of having an unexpected panic attack or panic-like symptoms
akathisia
a movement disorder in which there is an inability to sit still; motor restlessness. It can occur as an adverse effect of psychotropic medications
anxiety
the unpleasant state of mind in which real or imagined dangers are anticipated and/or exagerragted
bipolar disorder
a major psychological disorder characterized by episodes of mania or hypomania, cycling with depression; formerly called main-depressive illness
biogenic amine hypothesis
a theory suggesting tha depression and mania are caused by alterations in the concentrations of dopamine and norepinephrine, and serotonin and histamine in the brain
depression
an abnormal emotional state characterized by exaggerated feelings of sadness, melancholy, dejection, worthlessness, emptiness and hopelessness that impact the patients life and may be out of proportion to reality. Signs include withdrawal from social contact, loss of appetite, and insomia
dopamine hypothesis
a theory suggesting that dopamine dysregulation in certain parts of the brain is one of the primary contributing factors to the development of psychotic disorders (psychoses)
dyskinesia
term for abnormal and distressing involuntary movements; inability to control movements
dysregulation hypothesis
a theory that views depression and affective disorders as caused not simply by decreased or increased catecholamine and serotonin activity but by failure of the brain to regulate the levels of these neurotransmitters
dystonia
a syndrome of abnormal muscle contraction that produces repetitive involuntary twisting movements and abnormal posturing of the neck, face, trunk, and extremities; often caused as an adverse reactions to psychotropic medications
extrapyramidal symtoms
the term for signs and symptoms that resemble pathologic changes to the pyramidal portions of the brain. such symptoms include various motion disorders similar to those seen in parkinson’s disease and are an adverse effect associated with use of various antipsychotic drugs
gamma-aminobutyric acid
an amino acid in the brain that functions to inhibit nerve transmission in the central nervous system
hypomania
a less severe and less potentially hazardous form of mania
mania
an acute illness characterized by an expansive emotional state, including extreme excitement, elation, hyperactivity, agitation, talkativeness, flight of ideas, reduced attention span, increased psychomotor activity, impulsivity, insomnia, anorexia and sometimes violent, destructive and self-destructive behavior
metabolic syndrome
a cluster of conditions ( increased glucose level, increased blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels, excessive body fat around waist) occurring together that increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes
neuroleptic malignant syndrome
an uncommon but serious adverse effect associated with the use of antipsychotic drugs and characterized by symptoms such as fever, cardiovascular instability and myoglobinemia (presence in the blood of muscle breakdown proteins)
neurotranmitters
endogenous chemicals in the body that serve to conduct nerve impulses between nerve cells (neurons)
permissive hypothesis
a theory postulating that reduced concentrations of serotonin (5 hydroxytriptamine) is the predisposing factor in individuals with affective disorders
psychosis
(plural: psychoses) a type of serious mental illness that can take several different forms and is associated with being out of touch with reality; that is, the individual is unable to distinguish imaginary from real circumstances
psychotherapeutics
treatment of emotional and mental disorders
psychotropic
capable of affecting mental processes; usually said of a medication
serotonin syndrome
a rare collection of symptoms resulting from elevated levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin; may occur with the use of any psychotropic drug (e.g. antidepressants, buspirone, tramadol) that enhances brain serotonin activity
stigma
widespread negative perceptions of and prejudice toward a specific group of people such as those with mental illness
tardive dyskinesia
a serious drug adverse effect characterized by abnormal and distressing involuntary body movements and muscle tension that is associated with the use of antipsychotic medications
