Mental Health and Pharmacology Flashcards

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1
Q

Explain what an antihistamine is:

A
  • agent that reduces the effects of histamine
  • a compound found in all cells which is released in response to allergic inflammatory reactions
  • histamine causes dilation of capillaries, a decrease in blood pressure, constriction of the bronchial tubes and an increase of secretion of gastric juices
  • many of these responses cause unpleasant and unwanted reactions therefore antihistamines are taken to lessen the unpleasant effects of the histamine
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2
Q

Explain what dementia is:

A
  • irreversible, progressive, cognitive brain disorder that results from damage to the brains structure
  • people with dementia demonstrate a gradual loss of intellectual abilities, impaired judgement and memory and personality changes
  • loss of ability to process information and make decisions
  • social situations can be stressful due to inappropriate behaviour
  • dementia can be caused by Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, cerebrovascular accidents and brain tumours
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3
Q

Explain toxicity:

A
  • a reaction to a drug that is serious and potentially life threatening
  • related to the level of a drug in the bloodstream
  • may be caused by overdose of medication, cumulative build-up of a drug in the body over time or due to the body’s inability to excrete the drug
  • toxic effects may include, idiosyncratic (peculiar or individual) or allergic in nature or may be an extreme extension of the therapeutic effect of the specific drug produced by overdosing
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4
Q

Explain schizophrenia:

A
  • a type of psychotic disorder in which there is dissociation from reality
  • most common symptom is psychosis (a severe mental disorder in which thought, and emotions are so impaired that contact is lost with external reality), often experienced in short, intense bursts
  • patients may withdraw from reality into an inner world
    Symptoms include:
  • delusions of harm
  • hallucinations (hearing voices, seeing things that aren’t there)
  • disordered thought processes
  • decreased emotional expressiveness
  • impaired social skills
  • anxiety and depression
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5
Q

Explain bulimia:

A
  • bulimia (nervosa) (BN) is a chronic morbid disorder involving repeated and secretive episodic bouts of eating characterised by uncontrolled rapid ingestion of large quantities of food over a short period (binge eating), followed by self-induced vomiting, use of laxatives or diuretics, fasting, or vigorous exercise in order to prevent weight gain; often accompanied by feelings of guilt, depression, or self-disgust.
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6
Q

Define a contraindication:

A

A known factor that prohibits the administration of a specific drug in a specific patient

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7
Q

Define a side-effect:

A

Known reactions to, or consequences of, a medication or therapy other than the desired effect

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8
Q

Define the generic name of a drug, e.g. what ‘type’ of name is it?

A
  • scientific name
  • legal name
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9
Q

Define the proprietary name of a drug?

A
  • trademark
  • the name belongs to the manufacturer
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10
Q

Explain a dysthymic disorder? Clue, it’s a depressive state.

A

Where a person may experience at least 2 years of depressed mood more days than not

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11
Q

Explain a cyclothymic disorder? Clue, it’s a depressive state.

A

A chronic (at least 2 years) low-level disturbance mood with periods of hypomania and numerous depressive episodes

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12
Q

Define antiemetics:

A

Agents that alleviate nausea and vomiting, and can overcome vertigo, motion sickness and labyrinthitis

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13
Q

Define antipyretics:

A

Agents that reduce fever e.g. aspirin and other non-narcotic analgesics

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14
Q

Explain agoraphobia:

A

Literally ‘fear of marketplace’, agoraphobia is an irrational fear of leaving the familiar setting of home or venturing into the open

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15
Q

Explain claustrophobia:

A

A morbid fear of being trapped or in an enclosed place, such as an elevator or tunner

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16
Q

Expand this acronym: PTSD (this condition can occur after a traumatic event)

A

post-traumatic stress disorder

17
Q

Expand this acronym: MVA (this is an event which could occur while travelling)

A

motor vehicle accident

18
Q

Expand this abbreviation: tab

A

tablet

19
Q

Expand this mode of administering a drug: SL

A

sublingual

20
Q

Define this frequency of drug taking: p.r.n (hint: the letters do not give any clues about the answer - the answer is 5 words)

A

as required or when necessary

21
Q

Define this disorder which is diagnosed based on a person having social and communication impairments noted when they start school: ASD

A

autism spectrum disorder

22
Q

Wally was prescribed amitriptyline, a type of TCA, for his deepening depression. Define the acronym TCA:

A

tricyclic (having three rings of atoms in its molecule) antidepressant

23
Q

Expand the abbreviation Mg: (it’s a measurement)

A

milligram(s)

24
Q

What does this drug instruction mean? Mane

A

in the morning

25
Q

Amlopdipine is an example of a CCB, a type of antihypertensive drug. What does CCB mean?

A

calcium channel blocker: Note: if there’s a little ‘s’ after the CCB e.g. CCBs, then it’s calcium channel blockers