Intro to Psychopharmacology

Question 1

What is pharmacology?

Answer 1

Scientific study of the actions of drugs and their effects on living things.

Question 2

what is neuropharmacology?

Answer 2

Drug-induced changes in the functioning of cells in the nervous system.

Question 3

What is psychopharmacology?

Answer 3

Study of drug-induced changes in mood, thinking and behaviour.

Question 4

what are the two main types of reasons why people take psychoactive drugs?

Answer 4

Recreational and therapeutic.

Question 5

Give some examples of recreational reasons for people taking psychoactive drugs.

Answer 5

Increased energy
Euphoria
Relaxation
Hallucinogenic
Empathogenic

Question 6

Give some examples of therapeutic
reasons for people taking psychoactive drugs.

Answer 6

Anxiety
depression
Schizophrenia
Insomnia
ADHD

Question 7

What are the three drug classifications?

Answer 7

Depressants
Stimulants
Hallucinogens

Question 8

Give examples of drugs that are depressants.

Answer 8

Alcohol
Benzodiazepines
Opioids
Cannabis

Question 9

Give examples of drugs that are stimulants.

Answer 9

Caffeine
Cocaine
Methamphetamine
Nicotine

Question 10

Give examples of drugs that are hallucinogens.

Answer 10

LSD
Ketamine
Cannabis (at high concentrations)
MDMA (at high concentrations)

Question 11

In general, how do drugs influence behaviour?

Answer 11

Have effects on neurotransmitters in the central nervous system.

Question 12

How many neurotransmitter chemicals have been identified?

Answer 12

> 100

Question 13

Give 4 examples of neurotransmitter classes.

Answer 13

Amino acids, monoamines, acetylcholine, neuropeptides.

Question 14

What is classification of neurotransmitte4rs based on?

Answer 14

Chemical and molecular properties

Question 15

Give two examples of amino acid neurotransmitters.

Answer 15

Gamma-aminobutryic acid (GABA)
Glutamate

Question 16

What is GABA?

Answer 16

Most common inhibitory neurotransmitter in the CNS.

Question 17

In general, how does GABA work?

Answer 17

During stressful situations, neurons can be hyperactive. GABA reduces stimulation.

Question 18

Knowing how GABA works, what is an example of a medication type that may target GABA?

Answer 18

Seizure medication

Question 19

What is glutamate?

Answer 19

Most common excitatory neurotransmitter in CNS

Question 20

What are the two major categories of transmitter receptors?

Answer 20

Ionotropic and metabotropic

Question 21

True or false: all neurotransmitters are affected by psychoactive drugs that lead to a change in behaviour

Answer 21

False. Most are not significantly affected.

Question 22

How can drugs alter synaptic transmission and nt availability?

Answer 22

Through indirect or direct interactions

Question 23

In what type of cases can psychopharmacology be relevant?

Answer 23

Homicide trials
Sexual assault cases
Impaired driving cases

Question 24

How might forensic psychopharmacology be used in a homicide trial?

Answer 24

Explain actions/behaviours of accused and deceased.

Question 25

What types of information is a toxicologist able to provide in assisting forensic cases?

Answer 25

What is the drug Time duration of the effects Concentration Typical side effects

Question 26

What types of information is a psychologist/psychiatrist able to provide in assisting forensic cases?

Answer 26

Underlying mental health disorders Was the individual able to consent/know what they were doing. Perceptions of situations e.g., threats

Question 27

What is the most frequently detected drug in forensic cases?

Answer 27

Alcohol

Question 28

How does alcohol affect behaviour?

Answer 28

Aggression Memory

Question 29

What is automatism?

Answer 29

An individual is unaware of their behaviour and has no conscious control over it.

Question 30

What is a common effect of automatism?

Answer 30

Partial or full amnesia afterwards

Question 31

What is a blackout?

Answer 31

Memory loss. Failure to recall events during the period of intoxication.

Question 32

Why does alcohol not cause automatism?

Answer 32

As BAC increases, brain activity is reduced. So once consciousness is reduced, phsyical activity is no longer possible.

Question 33

What types of drugs induce automatism? Give examples

Answer 33

Dissociative anesthetics e.g., ketamine, PCP, Z drugs

Question 34

Is cocaine-induced psychosis automatism?

Answer 34

No. Consciousness is still present, thus not fitting criteria.

Question 35

What is ambien?

Answer 35

Short acting sedative prescribed for insomnia

Question 36

What is important to keep in mind when it is stated certain side effects "have been reported"?

Answer 36

Means these were instances documented outside of controlled clinical trials, meaning it would have no other data on whether additional influences played a role.

Question 37

What is sleep-driving?

Answer 37

Driving while not fully awake with amnesia for the event

Question 38

What are important questions in trial when a prescription medication is under scrutiny?

Answer 38

Was the medication being taken as prescribed? Was it taken with other substances?