Mental Disorders and Drugs Flashcards
Causes of Alzheimer’s
Build up of protein amyloid and tau that damage and kill brain cells
Symptoms of Alzheimer’s
- Becoming forgetful
- Becoming repetitive
- Problems with speech
- Becoming anxious or irritable
- Hallucinations
Treatment for Alzheimer’s
- No cure
- Drug that increases the amount of acetylcholine; other drugs may be used to relieve some of the later symptoms
- Non-drug treatments such as taking part in activities to stimulate thinking skills: games, discussion groups
Causes of Vascular Dementia
Diseased and damaged blood vessels in the brain.
The blood vessels become blocked or leak, reducing the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the brain causing brain cells to die.
Symptoms of Vascular Dementia
- Memory loss
- Problems with thinking and reasoning
Treatment for Vascular Dementia
- No cure or drug treatment for Alzheimer’s doesn’t work
- Drugs to reduce high blood pressure or blood cholesterol and risk of strokes
- Non-drug treatments to stimulate thinking skills
Causes of Parkinson’s disease
- Death of certain neurons that produce dopamine. A decrease in dopamine levels produces the abnormal brain activity, leading to symptoms
- Presence of Lewy bodies that contains a protein called alpha-synuclein
Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease
- Tremors
- Slow movement, steps shorten, difficulty walking
- Muscle stiffness (pain)
- Bent posture and balance problems
- Loss of automatic movements
- Speech difficulty
Treatment for Parkinson’s disease
- Natural chemical (drug): levodopa that passes into the patient’s brain and is converted into dopamine
- Dopamine agonists: mimic the action of dopamine in the brain
- Enzyme inhibitors (that break down dopamine)
- Chemicals to block impulse transmission to muscles (to control tremors)
- Surgery: Deep Brain Stimulation (helps to reduce tremors)
- Lifestyle remedies: healthy diet, exercise, physiotherapy
Causes of Schizophrenia
- Dopamine
- Stress
- Heredity
- Drug abuse (cocaine, cannabis)
- brain injuries, viruses, hormones, diet and allergies
Symptoms of Schizophrenia
- Lack of interest
- Anxiety and confusion
- Focus problems
- Hallucinations and delusions
- Paranoia
Treatment for Schizophrenia
- Antipsychotic drugs (tranquilizers)
- Talking treatments
- CBT
- Family intervention therapy
Causes of depression
- Genetic factor
- Social problems (life-changing events, bad childhood experience)
- Financial problems
- Stress
- Drug abuse
- Poor physical health, mental health issues
Symptoms of depression
- Restless, irritated
- No self-esteem
- Unable to relate to others or find pleasure in anything
- Sense of unreality
Treatment for depression
- Antidepressants
- Talking treatments
- CBT
What are drugs?
How may paracetamol work?
chemicals that affect normal chemical reaction taking place in the body
It may inhibit an enzyme that controls the production of prostaglandins which have protective roles but one of their side effects is that they lead to pain and fever
Overdose can cause permanent liver damage and death
What does alcohol work on your body?
It slows down the nervous system, increasing reaction times to stimulus
Larger amounts interfere with balance and muscle control, blurred vision and slurred speech
coma and death
Negative effects of alcohol?
Cirrhosis - liver doesn’t perform properly and may lead to a build-up of toxins in the blood
Damages the brain and stomach lining
What psychoactive substance (affect bran functions and changing a person’s mood and consciousness) is present in cannabis
TBC - tetrahydrocannabinol
What is heroin (legally and illegally)
Legally: painkiller (diamorphine)
Illegally: narcotic, depressant
What is cocaine (legally)
Legally: local anesthetic
Health problems associated with cocaine
- Increased heart rate
- Increased blood pressure
- Nosebleed, dizziness, nausea, seizures, tremors, breathing difficulties
- Breakdown of the large intestine due to reduced blood flow
