Drugs and Behavior Final Flashcards
Behavioral Effects of Major Stimulants
Increases motor activity Decreased fatigue Increased Energy Elated Mood Increased Vigilance Appetite Suppression Sympathetic activation Desire to work Persistance
Neurochemical Effects of Major Stimulants
Promotes DA transmission by stimulating release or blocking reuptake. Dopamine Agonists
Doses of Major Stimulants
Low: decreased fatigue, increased energy
High: Produces Stereotypy in humans (hand movements and chewing) and in rodents (head movements, gnawing, licking)
Areas of the Brain Affected by Major Stimulants
Caudate Putamen and
Nucleus Accumbens
- dopmaine depletion impairs locomotion with a low dose of amphetamine.
Behavioral Effects of Anti-Psychotic Drugs
Drugs were sedatives and blunted effects of 70-75% of patients with therapeutic effects.
Suppresses locomotion rearing blocks amphetamine locomotion and stereotypy
Neurochemical Affects of Anti-Psychotic Drugs
Block dopamine receptors so there is a deletion of dopamine leading to locomotor problems and parkinsonism.
Examples of Anti-Psychotic Drugs
Reserpine (Sersapil)
Chlorpromazine (Thorazine)
Halopeirdol (Haldol)
Side Effects of Anti-Psychotic Drugs
Parkinsonism
Tardrive Dyskinesia
Akathesia
Pystonia
Behavioral Affects of Atypical Anti-Psychotics (Clozapine)
Produces little motor side effects and is very effective in treating patients who don’t respond to other drugs
Highly effective drugs with fewer motor side effects
Can be lethal
Neurochemical Responses to Atypical Psychotics
Blocks DA receptors
Does not bind to both D1 and D2 receptors
Binds to Muscarinic antagonist receptors various sub-types of 5-HT receptors, alpha adrenergic and histamine receptors
Examples of Atypical Anti-Psychotics
Clozapine Quatiapine Olanzapine Risperidone Ziprazidone
Behavioral Effects of Anti-Depressants (Tricyclics)
Act to elevate levels of one or more monoamine by blocking their inactivation.
Neurochemical Effects of Anti-Depressants
Blocks all monoamine reuptake so theres more monoamines in the brain
Side Effects of Anti-Depressants
no consistent pattern of acute effects across the different drugs.
Examples of Anti-Depressants
Tofranil
Elavil- NE, 5-HT
Norpramine- NE
Surmontil
Neurochemical Effects of SSRIs
serotonin reuptake inhibitor, increases serotonin
Side Effects of SSRIs
typically need chronic administration of antidepressants to produce changes
Examples of SSRIs
Prozac
Zoloft
Paxil
Behavioral Effects of Anxiolytic Drugs
benzodiazepines and barbituatues are sedatives, anti-convulsants, and anti-anxiety
Neurochemcial effects of Anxiolytic Drugs
Amygdala
- area involved in emotion and stress
- lesions lead to reduced emotionality
- hyperactivity leads to aggressiveness
- hippocampus is also involved
- benzodiazepines are positive allosteric modulators
- binds to GABA-A receptors
Doses of Anxiolytic Drugs
Barbituates -produces effects with any dose but becomes more toxic Benzodiazepine -low doses- anti-anxiety -High doses- sedatives
Example of Anxiolytic Drugs
Benzodiazepines: -Valium -Librium -Ativan -Xanax Barbituates -phentobarbital -phenobarbital
Behavioral Effects of Opiates Withdrawal
Increased Tolerance Dysphoria Anxiety Hyperalgesia Peripheral Stress
Treatment of Opiate Addiction
Cold Turkey
Substitution
Drugs that reduce stress
behavioral therapies
Examples of Opiates
Sublimaxe
Perscoset
Percodan
Heroin
Effects of Opiate Peptides
Analgesia (inability to feel pain) Cough Suppressant Decreased intestinal motility Nausea Somnolence ( strong desire to sleep)
Examples of Opiate Peptides
Endorphins
Enkephalins
Dynorphins
Opiate Agonists
Naloxone
Naltrexone
Behavioral Effects of Widely Abused Stimulants
Decreased fatigue Desire to work Increase in motor activity Motor Speed Anxiety or euphoria High Doses: lead to crashes that result in depression and psychomotor slowing
Neurochemical effects of Widely Abused Stimulants
Act on Calcium transmission
Dopamine plays a role in the toxicity of meth
Examples of Widely Abused Stimulants
Meth Cocaine Cathione Methcathione Ritalin (Methylphenidate)
Behavioral Effects of Dissociative Anesthetics
Disconnected from the environment, euphroia, numbness, alteration of sense of time, some alterations of visual processing.
Can cause psychosis similair to psychosis
Neurochemical Effects of Dissociative Anesthetics
NMDA receptor antagonist
Interacts with a number of other neurotransmitters including Dopamine, serotonin and adenosine
Examples of Dissociative Anesthetics
Ketamine (NMDA recpetor antagonist)
PCP
Neurochemical Effects of Hallucinogens
Most have actions on Serotonin (5-HT) as full or partial agonists on 5-HT2A
LSD: most potent on 5-HT21 receptors
Catechol Hallucinogens
Naturally Occuring
Mescaline (in cactus)
Myristicin (nutmeg)
Elemicin (Mace)
Neurochemical Effects of Amphetamine Derivative
MDMA (Ecstacy)
- tends to show rapid tolerance to positive effects
- chronic use causes cognitive impairments and depression
Behavioral Effects of Amphetamine Derivative
MDMA- mixture of stimulant and hallucinogenic effects
Main effect- positive mood, feeling of intimacy, increased extroversion, mild hallucinations and perceptual alterations
Behavioral Effects of Indole and Catechole Hallucinogens
Visiual distortion
Altered colors
Apparent movements
Geometric Hallucinogens
Examples of Indole (Natural) Hallucinogens
Psilocybin (mushroom)
DMT (from toad)
Ergot Alkaloid (fungi that grows on grains)
Synthetic Idole Hallucinogens
Lysergic Acid diethylamide (LSD) “acid”
5-methoxyl DPT (Foxy)
Behavioral Effects of Anticholinergic Hallucinogens: Scopolamine and Atropine
Vivid objects and sounds can be frigtening and last for days
Neurochemical Effects of Anticholinergic Hallucinogens: Scopolamine and Atropine
Blocks muscarinic Acetylcholine receptors
Pathology of Parkinson’s Disease
Dopamine depletion in neostriatum. 90% death
Symptoms of Parkinsons
Akinesia (lack of desired movement)
Bradykinesia (slow movement)
Paradoxical kinesia (capable of movement in severe stimuli)
Types of Parkinson’s Disease
Idiopathic- most common, unknown origin Familial -hereditary, rare Neurotoxin induced Post-encephalitic Pugilistic- brain damage Drug induced- DA antagonists
Treatments for Parkinsons
Dopaminergic- L-Dopa, Dopamine agonists: apomorphine, bromocriptine, ropintole
Nondopaminergic- muscrinic ACh antagonists: atropine
Experiemental- D1 agonists, surgery to restore chemical balance in basal ganglia
Pathology of Schizophrenia
Hypofrontality
Reduction in frontal cortex,amygdala and hippocampus(with disorganization)
Maybe too much DA
Hypofrontality
impairment on neuropsychological tasks related to frontal lobe function, decrease in frontal metabolic activity.
Positive and Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia
Positive: delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, disrganized behaviors
Negative: catatonia, lack of speech, flact affect, avolition (lack of movement), cognitive dysfunction
Types of Schizophrenia
Paranoid Disorganized Undifferentiated Catanoid (immobility) Residual
Treatments of Schizophrenia
Neuroleptics, major tranquiliazers and anti-psychotics.
Percentage of Schizophrenia Cases
1% of population, usually started at 18-35 years of age, minor genetic predisposition.
Pathology of Depression
PETand cerebral blood flow studies show decreases in prefrontal cortex activity, increased total volume in hippocampus
Symptoms of Depression
Sadness, hopelessness, anhedonia (Lack of pleasure),loss of appetite, feelings of worthlessness or guiltm difficulty making decisions, suicidal
Treatments to Depression
SSRIs resperpine tetrabenazine MAO inhibitors Anxiotyics
Percentage of Depression Cases
Extremely common, 8-15%
Genetic predispostion and gene/environment interaction
Pathology of Bipolar Disorder
Fluctuations between depression and mania
Symptoms of Mania (Bipolar Disorder)
Optimism Irritability Elation Heightened energy Loud rapid speech Extravagant plants
Types of Bipolar Disorder
Unipolar mania- mania without depression
Hypomania- a milder to moderate level of mania
Treatments of Bipolar Disorder
DA antagonists
Lithium- antipsychotic
Anticonvulsants
Pathology of Generalaized Anxiety Disorder
chronic anxiety, excessive worrying, irritbility, feelings of dread, inability to relax, restlessness, difficulty sleeping, autonomic signs like increased heart rate and sweating
Percentage of Anxiety Cases
15-25% of the population (overlap with depression)
Panic Disorder
Repeated and unexpected panic attacks
Transient episodes of intence pain or fear, Sence of loss of control, Heart papitations, hyperventilation
Phobias
Unrealistic or exaggerated fear of something that presents little to no harm, person goes to great lengths to avoid the phobic stimulus
Obsessive Complusive Disorders (OCD)
unwanted thoughts or behaviors that are difficult to control
PTSD
anxiety disorder occurring in the after math of a traumatic or life-threatening event
Symptoms of PTSD
Flashbacks
Nightmares
Fear responses tp stimuli associated with trauma
Alternative Neurobiological Theory
It is too simplistic to maintain that all reinforcers including all drugs of abuse are acting by turning on DA systems. Food reinforcement and drug reinforcement are different.
Stereotypy
humans, hand movements or chewing, (rodents: head movements, gnawing, licking)
Reserpine
(Sersapil)—blocks mononoamine storage, depletes DA, NE, EPI, 5-HT
Parkinsonism
slowed movement, tremor, most common; typically treated with muscarinic antagonists
Tardive Dyskinesia
involuntary movements, mostly facial and lingual (5-17% of patients)
Akathesia
motor restlessness (relatively uncommon)
Dystonia
abnormal limb and body movements (relatively uncommon)
Allosteric Modulators
bind to GABAa receptors which when binded to open Cl- channel complex (benzodiazepines enhance affinity for GABAa receptors)
Hypofrontality
impairment on neuropsychological tasks related to frontal lobe function, decrease in frontal metabolic (blood flow activity), lack of task-stimulated frontal lobe metabolic or blood flow activity
