Chapter 4: Psychopharmacology Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

Psychopharmacology

A

The study of the effects of drugs on the nervous system and behavior

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Drug

A

An exogenous chemical not necessary for normal cellular functioning that significantly alters the functions of certain cells of the body when taken in relatively low doses

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Two major aspects of drug influence:

A

Drug effects and sites of action

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Drug effect

A

the changes we can observe in an individual’s physiological processes and behavior

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Sites of action

A

the points at which molecules of drugs interact with molecules located on or in cells of the body, thus affecting some biochemical processes of these cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Psychopharmacologists study drugs that affect the nervous system and behavior in two broad classes: ________ drugs and drugs of _____

A

therapeutic; abuse

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Pharmacokinetics is ___.

A

the life cycle of a drug molecule.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Steps of pharmacokinetics:

A

1.) Absorption
2.) Distribution within the body
3.) Metabolized
4.) Excretion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Drug is administered and absorbed through tissues

A

Absorption

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Drug is distributed throughout the body and blood

A

Distribution

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Drug is changed to an inactive form by enzymes (usually in liver)

A

Metabolism

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Drug is excreted in urine by kidneys

A

Excretion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Routes of drug administration (absorption):

A

Intravenous injection, intraperitoneal injection, intramuscular injection, subcutaneous injection,
intracerebral administration, intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration, oral administration, sublingual administration, inhalation, topical administration

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

The fastest route of administration is ________ injection

A

intravenous

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Routes of administration used if the drug can’t cross the blood-brain barrier

A

Intracerebral administration and ICV administration

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

The most common route of administration is ________ ______

A

oral administration

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Insufflation, or “snorting,” is considered _______ administration

A

topical

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

True or false: Drugs exert effects only at their sites of action

A

True

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Most sites of action are located on or in cells of the CNS/PNS.

A

CNS

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

The most important factor in determining the rate of distribution is ____ _______ because ________

A

lipid solubility; fat molecules can cruise on through the BBB

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

True or false: Not all drugs are excreted

A

False, all drugs are eventually excreted, mostly by the kidneys

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Many drugs are metabolized and deactivated by _______ in the brain and liver

A

enzymes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

During metabolism, sometimes enzymes transform molecules into ________ versions.

A

more active

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

The dose-response curve locates the point of _________ _____.

A

maximum effect

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

True or false: most drugs have more than one effect

A

True

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

The _________ _____ measures a drug’s margin of safety

A

Therapeutic index

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Why are some drugs more effective than others?

A

Sites of action; affinity of a drug with its site of action

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Affinity

A

The readiness with which the two molecules join together

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

The most desirable drug has high/low affinity for sites of action producing therapeutic effects and high/low affinity for sites of action producing toxic side effects

A

high; low

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

Often, when a drug is administered repeatedly, its effects _______, which is called tolerance.

A

diminish

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

Sometimes a drug becomes more and more effective after repeated administration, called _________.

A

Sensitization

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

After someone has built up tolerance to a certain drug and they suddenly stop taking it, they may experience __________ symptoms

A

withdrawal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

Withdrawal symptoms indicates _______ _______.

A

Physical dependence

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

Compensatory mechanisms the brain uses in response to repeated use of a drug:

A

Decrease the effectiveness of binding with receptors; coupling process

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

An inactive substance that may have physiological or psychological effects

A

Placebo

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

The effects of a placebo results from changes in _______, _______, or _______.

A

motivation, expectation, learning

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

True or false: Placebo studies for new drugs are required by the FDA

A

True

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

______ drugs facilitate postsynaptic effects

A

Agonist

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

_________ drugs block or inhibit postsynaptic effects

A

Antagonists

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
40
Q

Most drugs affecting behavior affect ______ _______

A

Synaptic transmission

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
41
Q

A drug that mimics the effects of a neurotransmitter acts as a ______ ______

A

direct agonist

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
42
Q

How do direct agonists work?

A

Direct agonists attach to the binding site to which the neurotransmitter normally attaches, causing the receptor to respond in the same way as when the neurotransmitter is present.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
43
Q

Some drugs act as antagonists by __________________

A

preventing release of NTs from the terminal button

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
44
Q

Other drugs act as agonists by ______________________

A

binding with proteins and triggering release of NTs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
45
Q

An analogy for the direct agonist is the right/wrong key in the keyhole

A

right

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
46
Q

An analogy for the receptor blocker (direct antagonist) is the right/wrong key in keyhole

A

wrong

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
47
Q

How do receptor blockers (direct antagonists) work?

A

Binds with postsynaptic receptors but does not open the ion channel or trigger intracellular events

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
48
Q

Another word for a direct antagonist is ________ _____

A

receptor blocker

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
49
Q

Noncompetitive binding occurs when postsynaptic receptor sites have _____ binding site

A

more than one

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
50
Q

In ___________ _______, molecules of the neurotransmitter bind with one site, and other substances bind with the others

A

noncompetitive binding

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
51
Q

Examples of an indirect antagonist:

A

PCP, ketamine

52
Q

Examples of an indirect agonist

A

Valium

53
Q

Which two processes result in the termination of the postsynaptic potential?

A

Reuptake; deactivation via enzyme

54
Q

If reuptake is blocked, would it have an agonist or antagonist effect?

A

Agonist, causing the neighboring neuron to be more likely to fire

55
Q

If a deactivating enzyme is blocked, would it have an agonist or antagonist effect?

A

Agonist

56
Q

Unlike neurotransmitters, __________ adjust the release rather than directly shooting them off.

A

neuromodulaters

57
Q

Function of NT Glutamate:

A

Excitatory; interacts with other neurotransmitter systems

58
Q

Which two NTs do the most work in the brain?

A

Glutamate (excitatory); GABA (inhibit)

59
Q

Function of NT GABA:

A

Inhibitory; interacts with other neurotransmitter systems

60
Q

Function of NT Dopamine:

A

Voluntary movement, attention, learning, reinforcement, planning, problem solving

61
Q

Function of NT Norephinephrine/epinephrine

A

Vigilance

62
Q

Function of NT Serotonin:

A

Mood regulation, eating, sleep, dreaming, arousal, impulse control

63
Q

CNS Function of NT Histamine:

A

Wakefulness

64
Q

PNS function of NT Histamine:

A

Immune response

65
Q

PNS function of NT Serotonin:

A

Enteric nervous system (digestive)

66
Q

PNS function of NTs Norepinephrine/Epinephrine

A

Autonomic nervous system regulation

67
Q

CNS function of Opioids:

A

Reinforcement, pain modulation

68
Q

PNS function of Opioids:

A

Pain modulation

69
Q

CNS function of Endocannabinoids:

A

Appetite regulation

70
Q

PNS function of Endocannabinoids:

A

Immune response

71
Q

Two amino acid NTs in the brain:

A

Glutamate and GABA

72
Q

Amino acid NT in the spinal cord and lower brain stem:

A

Glycine (inhibitory)

73
Q

The main excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain and spinal cord is _______

A

Glutamate

74
Q

Four major types of receptor sites of glutamate:

A

NMDA receptor, AMPA receptor, kainate receptor, metabotropic glutamate receptor

75
Q

____ blocks the glutamate binding site

A

AP5

76
Q

The inhibitory neurotransmitter with widespread distribution in brain and spinal cord.

A

GABA

77
Q

GABA-secreting neurons exhibit inhibitory influence to help keep brain ______

A

stable

78
Q

_______ may be the result of lacking or poorly functioning GABA-secreting neurons or receptors

A

Seizures (too much going on at once!)

79
Q

GABA(a) receptors are ionotropic/metabotropic and control _____ channels.

A

ionotropic; chloride

80
Q

ACh functions in CNS/PNS.

A

Both…trick question, girl. ; )

81
Q

In the PNS, ACh is the primary neurotransmitter to control _______ ________.

A

muscle contraction

82
Q

In the CNS, ACh is located mostly in the _________ and is important for _______ and ______.

A

brain stem; REM sleep; learning

83
Q

The ionotropic ACh receptor is stimulated by _______.

A

Nicotine

84
Q

The metabotropic ACh receptor is stimulated by _________.

A

muscarine

85
Q

ACh is deactivated by the enzyme ________, present in the postsynaptic membrane

A

AChE

86
Q

AChE inhibitors are used to treat ___________ _______. How?

A

myasthenia gravis; By inhibiting the inhibitor. What power.

87
Q

Monoamine neurotransmitters:

A

Dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine, serotonin (because they have more of a modulating effect)

88
Q

________ modulate functions of widespread regions of the brain, either increasing or decreasing brain functions.

A

Monoamines

89
Q

True or False: Dopamine is inhibitory.

A

False; DA produces both excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic potentials, depending on the postsynaptic receptor

90
Q

Dopamine affects _______, _______, _______, and reinforcing effects of ______.

A

movement, attention, learning, drugs

91
Q

The three most important DA pathways originate in the ________.

A

Midbrain

92
Q

Three most important DA pathways:

A

1.) Nigrostriatal system
2.) Mesolimbic system
3.) Mesocortical system

93
Q

The Nigrostriatal system helps with ________.

A

Movement

94
Q

The mesolimbic system helps with ________.

A

reward

95
Q

The mesocortical system helps with ________ and ________.

A

memory; planning

96
Q

Degeneration of dopaminergic neurons that connect the substantia nigra with the caudate nucleus causes ______________.

A

Parkinson’s disease

97
Q

List the catecholamines:

A

Dopamine
Norepinephrine
Epinephrine

98
Q

List the indolamines:

A

Serotonin

99
Q

List the ethylamines:

A

Histamine

100
Q

Origin and location of terminal buttons of the nigrostriatal system:

A

Substantia nigra –> neostriatum (caudate nucleus and putamen)

101
Q

Origin and location of terminal buttons of the mesolimbic system:

A

Ventral tegmental area –> Nucleus accumbens, amygdala, hippocampus

102
Q

Origin and location of terminal buttons of the mesocortical system:

A

Ventral tegmental area –> prefrontal cortex

103
Q

Synthesis of the catecholamines:

A

1.) Tyrosine
*tyrosine hydroxylase
2.) L-DOPA
*DOPA decarboxylase
3.) Dopamine
*Dopamine Beta-hydroxylase
4.) Norepinephrine

104
Q

People with Parkinson’s disease are often given the drug ______, which can cross the BBB for conversion to dopamine

A

L-DOPA

105
Q

The dopamine receptors are ionotropic/metabotropic

A

metabotropic

106
Q

___________ ___________ remove dopamine from the synapse

A

Dopamine transporters

107
Q

Deactivation of catecholamines is regulated by an enzyme called ______.

A

MAO

108
Q

Norepinephrine is found in the CNS/PNS.

A

Both. Burn. 🔥

109
Q

Norepinephrine is made when vesicles fill with ___, then an enzyme converts to NE.

A

DA

110
Q

NE is released through _______ ________.

A

Axonal varicosities

111
Q

NE receptors are ionotropic; metabotropic

A

metabotropic

112
Q

The _________ ________ removes excess norepinephrine from the synapse

A

Norepinephrine transporter

113
Q

_______ deactivates excess norepinephrine in the terminal buttons

A

MAO-A

114
Q

Serotonin is found in __ clusters, most located in the raphe nuclei of the midbrain, pons, and medulla

A

9

115
Q

The precursor for 5-HT (serotonin) is ______.

A

tryptophan

116
Q

Serotonin plays a role in regulation of _____, control of ______, ______, _______, ___ regulation, and _______.

A

mood, eating, sleep, arousal, pain, dreaming

117
Q

The ________ _______ removes 5-HT from the synapse

A

Serotonin transporter

118
Q

Drugs that inhibit the uptake of serotonin:

A

Fluoxetine (Prozac–depression, some anxiety, OCD)
MDMA (Ecstasy…hallucinating much?)

119
Q

Histamine pathways are found only in the ________.

A

hypothalamus

120
Q

Drugs that block histamines cause drowsiness, acting as agonists/antagonists.

A

antagonists

121
Q

Two or more amino acids linked by peptide bonds

A

Peptides

122
Q

True or false: peptides are released from all parts of the terminal button

A

True

123
Q

The best known peptides are ___________ _______, and their receptors are called enkephalins.

A

endogenous opioids

124
Q

The natural ligands for peptide receptors are called _________.

A

enkephalins

125
Q

Naloxone is used clinically to reverse ______.

A

overdose

126
Q

_____ neurotransmitters appear to be synthesized on demand, produced, or released as needed rather than stored in synaptic vesicles.

A

Lipid

127
Q

The best known lipid neurotransmitters are ____________, responsible for the effects of THC in marijuana

A

endocannabinoids