Exam 2; Schizophrenia and the Anti-Psychotic Drugs Flashcards
What are the 7 symptoms of schizophrenia
delusions hallucinations disorders thinking paranoia inappropriate or bizarre behavior violence incontinence
What proportion of people in the hospital have schizophrenia
roughly 25% of all the beds at the hospital
What group of people is there a significant portion of those with schizophrenia
homeless people
What is the suicide rate of those with schizophrenia
greater than 10%
What are some supposed causes of schizophrenia
genetics
environmental (?)
there is evidence of excess activity of Da; link between schizophrenia and parkinson’s
This was the first anti-psychotic drug used; it suppressed the complex but not reflex behaviors
chlorpromazine
What are three symptoms of chlorpromazine
loss of initiative
disinterest in the environment
decrease in emotion
What is it that all the anti-psychotic drugs work in part by
blocking the dopamine receptors in the brain
What is the timing of anti-psychotic beginning to work
may take several weeks for the full effect of the drugs to take place
True or False
Patients can become addictive and tolerant to anti-psychotic drugs
False; it is non addictive and patients do not become tolerant
What is the mechanism behind typical (first gen.) anti-psychotic drugs
have a strong affinity for DA receptors and some affinity for histamine 1 receptors
These are two typical high potency anti-psychotics
haloperidol
pimozide
What class of drugs are the typical low potency anti-psychotic
“-zine’s”
triroidazine, etc.
What classes of drugs are the “atypical” anti-psychotic
“-done”
“-apine”
aripiprazole
What is the mechanism of atypical anti-psychotic drugs
strong affinity for dopamine, histamine-1, and SHT
What is the mechanism behind most anti-psychotic drugs
inhibit dopaminergic neurons
anti-psychotics act on the cortical receptors causing these three symptoms
decreased delusions
decreased agitation
impaired intellectual function
anti-psychotics act on the basal ganglia and cause what symptom
extrapyramidal symptoms
anti-psychotic drugs can act on the hypothalamus and cause what to occur
inhibit the secretion of some hormones like GH or corticotropin releasing factor
lower body temperature
anti-psychotic drugs can act on the chemoreceptor trigger zone to do what
decrease nausea
What is the therapeutic index of anti-psychotics
very high; virtually impossible to kill you
What are some major symptoms of anti-psychotics
Parkinson’s like effects; bradykinesia, dystonias, akasthisia, tardive diskinesthia
How do anti-psychotics cause sedation
histamine1 blockade
How do anti-psychotics cause postural hypotension
due to alpha-1 blockage
What is the result of a hypersensitive reaction caused by anti-psychotics
rashes
How do anti-psychotics alter the visual system
anticholinergic effects
chlorpromazine causes deposition of metabolism in the eye and leads to irreversible lens pigmentation
How do anti-psychotics cause endocrine disturbances
increase in prolactin secretion
This is much like malignant hyperthermia
neuroleptic malignant syndrome
anti-psychotics can cause this; not feeling well when you take these agents
dysphoria
What type of drug interaction can occur with anti-psychotics
interacts with CNS depressants
What other symptoms are anti-psychotics used to treat
bipolar hiccups nausea Tourettes OCD stuttering migraines
