Methods of Research in Psychopharmacology

Question 1

Why are behavioural measures for animals crucial?

Answer 1

• To understand the neurochemical basis of behaviour, as well as drug-induced changes in that behaviour
• To develop animal models of psychiatric disorders
• To screen the large number of newly designed and synthesized drug molecules in preclinical pharmaceutical settings

Question 2

What are some advantages that animal studies have over human studies?

Answer 2

• Use of rigorous controls can be regulated more precisely (diet, exercise, room temperature, etc.)
• Histories of animal subjects are well known
• Genetic backgrounds of a group of animals are very similar and well characterized
• Animal subjects are the most appropriate subjects for the study of mechanisms of drug action
• The brains and behaviours of non-human mammals and humans are similar enough to allow generalization across species

Question 3

What are the three considerations when assessing scientific protocol regarding research involving animals?

Answer 3

• Research should be relevant to human or animal health, advancement of knowledge, or the good of society
• Alternative methods that do not require animal subjects must be considered
• Procedures must avoid or minimize discomfort, distress, and pain

Question 4

What are the criteria for an optimal animal behaviour test?

Answer 4

• Be specific for the class of drug being screened
• Be sensitive so that the doses used are in a normal therapeutic range and show a dose-response relationship
• Demonstrate the same rank order of potency in the animal test as the order of potency of the therapeutic action of the drugs

Question 5

What are some measures of motor activity in studies of animal behaviour?

Answer 5

• Counting the number of times infrared light beams directed across a designated space are broken
• Automated video tracking
• Open field tests
• Counting the number of fecal droppings
• Observing the amount of time an animal spends along the walls of the chamber rather than venturing toward the open space

Question 6

High fecal counts and low activity seem primarily at the perimeter of the cage are common indicators of what?

Answer 6

Anxiety

Question 7

Analgesia

Answer 7

The reduction of perceived pain without loss of consciousness

Question 8

Fear-potentiated startle

Answer 8

Enhancement of the basic startle response when the stimulus is preceded by the presentation of a conditioned fear stimulus

Question 9

What is an accurate indicator in animals of drug abuse potential in humans?

Answer 9

Self-administration method

Question 10

Breaking point

Answer 10

The point at which the effort required exceeds the reinforcing value

Question 11

Discriminative stimulus

Answer 11

Any stimulus that signals reinforcement for a subject in an operant task

Question 12

In vivo methods

Answer 12

Those involving measurement of behaviour or physiology in a living animal

Question 13

In vitro methods

Answer 13

Those involving measurement of anatomical and physiological correlates of pharmacological interventions; outside of the body