Lecture 27: Disorders of the nervous system 2 Flashcards
Prior to any psychotic episodes, what may people with schizophrenia exhibit?
prodromal signs which may include social withdrawal, neglect of personal hygiene, odd ideas and behaviour and flattened affect and paucity of speech
What may non-psychotic signs include?
tendency to become overloaded with information
easily distracted
difficulty in crowded rooms or when lots of people are talking
periods of great mental activity and creativity and excitement
What might psychotic episodes entail?
distortions in thinking, perception, emotions, language, sense of self and behaviour
What do common psychotic experiences include?
hallucinations and delusions
What are hallucinations?
commonly voices that instruct or comment on the person - usually critically, or less commonly, seeing or feeling things that are not there
What are delusions?
fixed false beliefs or suspicions that are firmly held contrary to evidence
What are acute psychotic episodes characterised by?
delusions of paranoia and grandiosity and spiritual or supernatural experiences;
Which drugs are used in the treatment of schizophrenia?
D2 receptor antagonists
What can dopamine antagonists be shown to bind?
to receptors a short time after administration, but relief of symptoms takes several weeks (as with antidepressants)
What is significant about PCP?
is a drug that causes psychotic states with similarities to schizophrenia but it acts on a subclass of glutamate receptors not dopamine receptors
What do some people with schizophrenia respond to?
to drugs that show broad monoamine antagonism and not D2 blockers
What does a major depressive episode involve?
social withdrawal
What does manic depression involve?
typically highly distractible, irritable, and exhibiting poor judgment
How is depression treated?
electroconvulsive therapy, psychotherapy and antidepressant drugs
What are examples of antidepressant drugs?
tricyclics, SSRIs NERIs and monoamine oxidase inhibitors
