Exam I: Psychopharm & Research Methods

Question 1

Methods of Agonistic and Antagonistic Drug Effects

Answer 1

(1) Effects on Production of Neurotransmitter-lrvel of nucleus
Agonistic (Step 1): Drug serves as Precursor–more ingredients, more opportunity
Antagonistic (Step 2): Drug inactivates Synthetic Enzyme

(2) Effects on Storage and Release of Neurotransmitter-
Antagonistic (Step 3): Drug prevents Vesicle Storage-problem getting cake in box
Agonistic (Step 4): Drug stimulates NT release on Proteins
Antagonistic (Step 5): Drug prevents NT release on Proteins

(3) Effects on Receptors
Agonistic (Step 6): Drug mimics effect of NT (Direct Agonist)
Antagonistic (Step 7): Drug blocks receptor (Direct Antagonist)
• Competitive binding. Direct agonist and direct antagonist act directly on post-synaptic binding site (steps 6, 7)
• Noncompetitive binding. Indirect agonist and indirect antagonist act indirectly on post-synaptic binding site.
Antagonistic (Step 8): Drug stimulates autoreceptors: inhibits synthesis/release
Normal situations, autoreceptors
Agonistic (Step 9): Drug blocks autoreceptors: increase synthesis/release

(4) Effects on Reuptake or Destruction of Neurotransmitter-after axion
Agonistic (Step 10): Drug blocks reuptake
Agonistic (Step 11): Drug inactivates acetylcholinesterase

Question 2

(1) Effects on Production of Neurotransmitter-lrvel of nucleus

Answer 2

Agonistic (Step 1): Drug serves as Precursor–more ingredients, more opportunity
Antagonistic (Step 2): Drug inactivates Synthetic Enzyme

Question 3

(2) Effects on Storage and Release of Neurotransmitter-

Answer 3

Antagonistic (Step 3): Drug prevents Vesicle Storage-problem getting cake in box
Agonistic (Step 4): Drug stimulates NT release on Proteins
Antagonistic (Step 5): Drug prevents NT release on Proteins

Question 4

(3) Effects on Receptors

Answer 4

Agonistic (Step 6): Drug mimics effect of NT (Direct Agonist)
Antagonistic (Step 7): Drug blocks receptor (Direct Antagonist)
• Competitive binding. Direct agonist and direct antagonist act directly on post-synaptic binding site (steps 6, 7)
• Noncompetitive binding. Indirect agonist and indirect antagonist act indirectly on post-synaptic binding site.
Antagonistic (Step 8): Drug stimulates autoreceptors: inhibits synthesis/release
Normal situations, autoreceptors
Agonistic (Step 9): Drug blocks autoreceptors: increase synthesis/release

Question 5

(4) Effects on Reuptake or Destruction of Neurotransmitter-after axion

Answer 5

Agonistic (Step 10): Drug blocks reuptake

Agonistic (Step 11): Drug inactivates acetylcholinesterase

Question 6

Factors that impact rate at which drug reaches sites of action within the brain:

Answer 6

(1) Lipid (Fat) solubiliity: Blood-brain barrier in effect for water-soluble molecules only; Fat-soluble molecules may pass through capillaries into CNS
> For instance: heroin > fat-soluble than morphine; IV injection produces greater effect as function of rate of action
> Opiods, narcotics
> Therapeutic effects in small doses, assist in pain releif

(2) Extent of depot binding
> More drug on albumin, more powerful the effect

(3) Inactivation and Excretion
> Keep your eye on metabolism and excretion
– Especially in aging population who have been on same prescription for a long time because ineffective excretion

Question 7

Psychopharmacology

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Drug effect

Answer 8

The changes a drug produces in an animal’s physiological processes and behavior.

Question 9

Sites of action

Answer 9

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

Question 10

Pharmacokinetics

Answer 10

The process by which drugs are absorbed, distributed within the body, metabolized, and excreted.

Question 11

intravenous (IV) injection

Answer 11

Injection of a substance directly into a vein.

Different trajectory,

Question 12

intraperitoneal (IP) injection, into gut

Answer 12

Injection of a substance into the peritoneal cavity – the space that surrounds the stomach, intestines, liver, and other abdominal organs.

Question 13

intramuscular (IM) injection

Answer 13

Injection of a substance into a muscle.

Question 14

subcutaneous (SC) injection

Answer 14

Injection of a substance into the space beneath the skin.

Question 15

oral administration

Answer 15

requires more the drug
– Administration of a substance into the mouth, so that is swallowed. A drug is most effective for oral administration when drug molecules are:
• Small in size, Weakly acidic, Water & fat soluble, Potent in small amounts, and not easily degraded

Question 16

sublingual administration

Answer 16

Administration of a substance by placing it beneath the tongue.

Question 17

intrarectal administration

Answer 17

– Administration of a substance into the rectum.

Question 18

inhalation

Answer 18

Administration of a vaporous substance into the lungs.

Question 19

topical administration

Answer 19

– Administration of a substance directly onto the skin or mucous membrane.

Question 20

intracerebral administration

Answer 20

—requires very little amount of the drug

–Administration of a substance directly into the brain.

Question 21

intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration

Answer 21

– Administration of a substance into one of the cerebral ventricles.

Question 22

depot binding

Answer 22

– Binding of a drug with various tissues of the body or with proteins in the blood (e.g., albumin).
– Free ride into brain, importance of being fat soluble

Question 23

albumin

Answer 23

A protein found in the blood; serves to transport free fatty acids and can bind with some lipid-soluble drugs.

Question 24

dose-response curve

Answer 24

A graph of the magnitude of an effect of a drug as a function of the amount of drug administration.

Question 25

therapeutic index

Answer 25

The ratio between the dose that produces the desired effect in 50 % of the animals and the dose that produces toxic effects in 50 % of the animals. *alcohol changes the safety v danger rates

Question 26

affinity

Answer 26

The readiness with which two molecules join together.

Question 27

tolerance

Answer 27

A decrease in the effectiveness of a drug that is administered repeatedly.

Question 28

withdrawal symptom

Answer 28

The appearance of symptoms opposite to those produced by a drug when the drug is administered repeatedly and then suddenly no longer taken. Delirium tremens, seizures, etc.

Question 29

sensitization

Answer 29

An increase in the effectiveness of a drug that is administered repeatedly.

Question 30

Placebo

Answer 30

(p for positive)
(double-blind random control trial placebo
– An inert—technically inactive—substance that is given to an organism in lieu of a physiologically active drug; used experimentally to control for the effects of mere administration of a drug.
– Expectancy effects

Question 31

nocebo

Answer 31

When the “placebo effect” has a negative effect

n for negative

Question 32

Drug

Answer 32

“An exogenous (born from without) chemical not necessary for normal cellular functioning that significantly alters the functions of certain cells of the body (neurons) when taken in relatively low doses” (Carlson, 2007, p. 103).

Question 33

MRI v CT:

MRI Advantages

Answer 33

Greater Imaging Ability
Greater resolution
Detect smaller objects
Distinguish white/gray matter
3 Planes: Coronal, Axial, Sagittal
No Distortion from Bone
Display posterior fossa, pituitary, optic nerves, spinal cord
Does not utilize Ionizing Radiation
Applied to Intra- and Extra-cranial arteries
Identify White Matter Plaques
MS
PML
AVM
Mesial-temporal sclerosis
MRA-surrounding arteries, find aneurysms

Question 34

MRI v CT:

MRI Disadvantages

Answer 34

Expense: MRI Costs 2-3 times more than CT
Duration: 40 minutes instead of Pacemaker
> Aneurysm clips
> Cochlear implant

Question 35

Parkinson’s & TRAP

Answer 35

Parkinson’s disease is a movement disorder that results from degradation of cell bodies and dopaminergic neurons within the substantia nigra (component of basal ganglia)

Symptoms/Signs:
Tremor (characteristically resting)
o different than action, essential, born out of degradation
o Upper extremity, starts and moves down same side

•Rigidity (diminished fluid motion of limbs, ‘cog-wheel’)

•Akinesia/Bradykinesia (psychomotor slowing)
o Absence of movement or slow movement
o Slow thinking also

•Postural Instability
o Fall risk
o Natural reflex might break down