Drug therapy

Question 1

3 assumptions of drug therapy?

Answer 1

Medical model of illness
Behaviour is determined by neurotransmitters
Behaviour is determined by localisation of briain function

Question 2

Medical model of illness

Answer 2

psychological disorders, have a biological cause. medical illnesses are like physical illness and so can be treated in a physical way.
Therefore, these illnesses can be treated in a physical way using drug therapies.

Question 3

Neurotransmitters

Answer 3

Low levels of serotonin have been linked to depression. High levels of dopamine have been linked to schizophrenia.
Drugs can be used to increase or block the action of neurotransmitters in the brain which will alter our mood, thoughts and actions.

Question 4

localisation of brain function

Answer 4

Different areas of the brain are responsible for different functions.
We can use drugs to target specific regions of the brain to treat mental illnesses such as anxiety, depression and schizophrenia.

Question 5

3 components of drug therapy

Answer 5

antidepressants
antipsychotics
antianxiety

Question 6

Antipsychotic drugs

Answer 6

used to treat psychotic mental disorders such as schizophrenia

Question 7

Whats a psychotic illness

Answer 7

a person with a psychotic illness such as schizophrenia, has lost touch with reality and has little insight into their condition.

Question 8

Symptoms of schizophrenia

Answer 8

Positive: an addition, the presence of symptoms (delusions, hallucinations, hearing voices)
Negative symptoms: an absence, or lack of normal function (flattened affect, reduced speech, lack of motivation)

Question 9

What are the 2 types of antipsychotic drugs?

Answer 9

Conventional antipsychotics: treat positive symptoms of schizophrenia. They block the action of dopamine neurotransmitters binding to (but not stimulating) dopamine receptors.

Atypical antipsychotics: treat positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
They temporarily bind to dopamine receptors and then rapidly dissociate (separate) allowing normal dopamine transmission. They have fewer side effects than conventional antipsychotics. (eg, clozaril)

Question 10

What are antidepressants?

Answer 10

Treat depression

Question 11

Symptoms of depression

Answer 11

Low mood, changes in appetite

Question 12

Whats reuptake?

Answer 12

In neurotypical brains, neurotransmitters are constantly being released from the presynaptic neuron to stimulate the postsynaptic neuron. To terminate their action, neurotransmitters are reabsorbed back into the presynaptic neuron and are broken down by an enzyme.

Question 13

Types of antidepressants

Answer 13

SSRI: Selective seortonin reuptake inhibitors
They bind onto the presynaptic neuron so that serotonin cannot be reabsorbed. This increases the amount of serotonin in the synapse, prolonging its activity which can be received by the postsynaptic neuron.

Question 14

What do antianxiety drugs do

Answer 14

treat anxiety and stress

Question 15

biological cause of anxiety?

Answer 15

low levels of GABA (a neurotransmitter that slows down the activity of the central nervous system).
High levels of adrenaline and noradrenaline which are part of the fight or flight response.

Question 16

2 types of antidepressants

Answer 16

Benzodiazepines (BZs): Slow down the activity of the central nervous system (CNS)
By enhancing the activity of GABA, the bodys natural form of anxiety relief
GABA is a neurotransmitter that inhibits the activity of neurons. The overall effect is to ‘calm’ the activity of the CNS

Beta blockers (BBs): Reduce adrenaline and noradrenaline, which play a key role in the fight or flight response. Slow down heart rate and blood pressure.
Bind to the receptors on the cells of the heart and other parts of the body that are normally stimulated during sympathetic arousal. Blocking these receptors makes it harder to stimulate cells in this part of the body, so the heart beats slower and blood pressure is reduced. The person feels calmer and less anxious.