Chapter 18: Affective Disorders Flashcards
Affective Disorders
Major Depressive Disorder
Bipolar Disorders
Neurobiology of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
The role of stress and the stress hormone, cortisol
The monoamine hypothesis
The neurotrophic hypothesis
The monoamine hypothesis is […]
The monoamine hypothesis is mostly wrong
- reduced levels of monoamines in CNS
- tricyclics and SSRI antidepressant (AD) mechanisms
- SNRIs and “new generation” ADs
Mania
Excess MAO activity
Environmental stressors activate a stress response
- activation of the HPA axis
- CRH released from the hypothalamus initiates a cascade that results in cortisol release from the adrenal glands
- cortisol levels are reduced via negative feedback, involving the hippocampus
- normally follows a circadian rhythm
- family history is strongest predictor of vulnerability
[…] is altered with depression
Biological clock is altered with depression
- found in suprachiasmatic nucleus of hypothalamus
Early life stressors alters set point of HPA, […]
Early life stressors alters set point of HPA, making it overly responsive and increased risk for depression, anxiety, and alcohol use
The best- established abnormality of the HPA axis in MDD is […]
The best- established abnormality of the HPA axis in MDD is an over-secretion of cortisol
- blood levels of cortisol are normally reduced by dexamethasone
- some people with MDD fail to suppress cortisol following dexamethasone
- the endocrine system is signaling chronic stress because the negative feedback system is inefficient
- high levels of cortisol is characterized by abnormal circadian rhythm in cortisol secretion
Dexamethasone
Synthetic glucocorticoid that should act as negative feedback stimulus to decrease CRF and ACTH release
Depression is associated with atrophy in […]
Depression is associated with atrophy in hippocampus
- stress increases cortisol levels, which leads to decreased BDNF
- less BDNF causes neuronal atrophy and decreased neurogenesis
Chronic stress causes atrophy of cortical neurons
Restraint stress: reduced dendritic length and branching of mPFC neurons
BDNF: polymorphism, which reduced the effects of BDNF, mimics stress-induced damage
- Both stress and the BDNF polymorphism result in depression-like and anxiety-like behavior in rodents
Neurotrophic hypothesis
Less BDNF may be responsible for loss of dendritic branches and spines in hippocampus and PFC
Both […] result in depression-like and anxiety-like behavior in rodents
Both stress and the BDNF polymorphism result in depression-like and anxiety-like behavior in rodents
Anhedonia- sucrose preference
Anxiety- novelty-suppressed feeding
[…] are involved in depression
Neurotrophins are involved in depression
*Chronic stress causes elevated cortisol, which reduced BDNF levels and activity, leading to neuronal atrophy and decreased neurogenesis
MDD Remission: therapeutic lag
Antidepressants:
- increase synaptic levels of NE and 5-HT, but is not primary therapeutic mechanism
Alternative hypothesis:
- Receptor adaptations: biochemical and genetic changes that alter synaptic structure and function
- AD- induced neurogenesis in the hippocampus
AD treatment promotes […]
AD treatment promotes dendritic branching and increases neurogenesis
- Neurogenesis in the hippocampus is proposed to be the “slow step” of therapeutic lag
- ADs increase synaptic levels of 5-HT and NE
- increased expression of BDNF
Glucocorticoid hypothesis
Focuses on stress-related neuroendocrine abnormalities
Mechanism of AD’s according to the neurogenic hypothesis: stress-induced damage is repaired
Chronic AD —>
5-HT and NE levels are increased —>
Increases BDNF expression —>
Repaires the stress-induced damage
Serotonin Vulnerability
- low levels of 5-HT only cause depression in already vulnerable populations
- SERT: short allele is associated with decreased level and function of transporter
- Receptor binding studies in unmediated individuals: increased postsynaptic 5-HT2 receptors
Chronic stress reduces […], altering structure and function of […]
Chronic stress reduces BDNF, altering structure and function of mPFC and hippocampus
- most consistent chronic effects of AD: down-regulation of B-receptors and 5-HT2 receptors
Major classes of AD drugs
Monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAO-I)
Tricyclics antidepressant (TCA)
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)
New generation AD’s (dual-action, multi-action)
Selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (NRI)
Monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAO-I)
Last resort AD
Phenelzine (Nardil), tranycypromine (Parnate), and isocarboxazid (Marplan)
FDA-Approved Psychiatric Medication in Past Decade
Oleptro (trazodone HCl) Viibyrd (vilazodone HCl) Trintellix (vortioxetine) Fetmiza (levomilnacipran) Rexulti (brexpiprazole) *add on for depression Spravato (esketamine; nasal spray); TRD Zulresso (brexanolone); PPD
Spravato (esketamine)
- for TRD
- Noncompetitive antagonist of NMDA receptors
- nasal spray (used in conjunction with oral AD)
- available only through the Spravato REMS
Zulresso (brexanolone)
- for PPD
- neuroactive steroid
- Positive allosteric modulator of GABAa- R
- continuous IV infusion over 60 hours
- headache, dizziness, somnolence
Acute Effects of ADs
- ) Reuptake transporter blocked by ADs leads to acutely more 5-HT in synapse
- ) Autoreceptors activated by increased synaptic 5-HT reduces 5-HT synthesis and release
- ) Effects cancel out and cause little change in 5-HT action
Class notes:
- SERT blockade elevates synaptic 5-HT
- 5-HT activates 5-HT1A autoreceptors
- slows cell firing and reduces 5-HT synthesis and release
Chronic effects of ADs
- ) Reuptake transporter continues to be blocked
- ) Autoreceptors are down-regulated and 5-HT release is increased
- ) Move 5-HT produced greater postsynaptic
Class notes:
- 5-HT1A autoreceptors down-regulate (internalize)
- 5-HT release gradually increases
- therapeutic lag
TCA therapeutic effects
Block the reuptake of NE and 5-HT
- differing affinity for SERT or NET
- unrelated to AD efficacy
TCA Drugs
Elavil (amitriptylin) Norpramin (desipramine) Tofranil (imipramine) Pamelor (nortriptyline) Vivactil (protriptyline) Surmontil (trimipramine) Anafranil (clomipramine)
TCA NET and SERT selectivity
1- more selective for NET
5- more selective for SERT
1- Norpramin (desipramine) 2- Vivactil (protriptyline) 3- Elavil (amitriptylin) 4- Tofeanil (imipramine) 5- Anafranil (clomipramine)
TCA side effects
(HAM) side effects due to non-selective antagonism:
- H1- sedation/ fatigue, weight gain
- a- AR- hypotension, arrhythmia
- mACh- dry mouth, constipation, dizzy
Low therapeutic index, lethal at 10x daily dose
SSRI Therapeutic Effects
Block the 5-HT transporter (SERT)
- more selective than TCAs