neurobiology of mental health Flashcards

1
Q

what are ‘stress’ risk factors of schizophrenia?

A
  • hypoxia in utero
  • perinatal injury or trauma
  • migration
  • canabi use
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2
Q

what are genetic predisposing factors of schizophrenia?

A
  • COMT
    • dysbindin 1
  • NRG1
  • they are polygenic and have partial penetrance
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3
Q

what are positive sx of schizophrenia?

A

Voices,

delusions

thought insertion/withdraal/broadcast

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4
Q

what are negative sx of schizophrenia?

A

Neglect,

isolation,

lack of emotional expression

avolition

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5
Q

what are cognitive sx of schizophrenia?

A

Reduced concentration and attention

reduced executive functioning (ability to plan complex tasks)

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6
Q

what is the precursor to dopamine?

A

tyrosine

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7
Q

what typeof receptor is the dopamine receptor?

A

g coupled

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8
Q

what does dopamine do?

A
Executive functions
 Motor control 
Motivation 
Reward 
Lactation- inhibits prolactin so stops lactation  
Nausea
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9
Q

which ares of the brain is dopamine evolved in?

A
  • mesolimbic
  • nigrostraital
  • mesocortical
  • tuberoinfundibulnar
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10
Q

what happens to the dopamine pathways in schizophrenia?

A
  • too much dopamine in the mesolimbic pathway responsible for the positive sx
  • too little dopamine in the mesocortical pathway- responsible for the negative sx
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11
Q

what sx are typical antipsychotics good at addressing?

A

Typical antipsychotics are D2 receptor antagonists.
This means they block the effect of dopamine at the level of the synapse.
Therefore most effective at addressing +ve symptoms

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12
Q

what is the effect of typicalantipsychotics on the tuberinfundibulary pathway?

A

Dopamine has inhibitory effect on prolactin release.
Reduced dopamine by D2 antipsychotics therefore causes
Hyperprolactinaemia

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13
Q

what are the effects of atypical antipsychotics?

A

5HT2 antagonists

  • clozapine
  • quitiepine
  • respiridone
  • olanzapine
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14
Q

what are neuroanatomical changes that occur in schizophrenia?

A
  • enlarged ventricles
  • reduced grey matter volume
  • decreased gyrification
  • loss of symmetry of planum temporale- associated with auditory processing
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15
Q

what are some organic causes of schizophrenia?

A
  • NMDA receptor autoimmune encephalitis
  • temporal lobe epilepsy
  • huntingtons
  • Wilson disease
  • Parkinson’s disease
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16
Q

what sign should you look for for wilson’s disease?

A

kayer Fleischer ring in eyes

17
Q

what causes wilsons disease?

A
  • autosomal recessive disease affecting ATP7B gene

leads to copper deposition in brain and liver

18
Q

what is the triad for autism?

A
  • limited repertoire
  • reduced social interaction
  • reduced communication
19
Q

what are 2 practical ways that autism can be tested?

A
  • sally anne test to show theory of mind hypothesis of lacking in empathy
  • nano test to show over systemisation
20
Q

what have functional scan shoed about autism?

A
  • hypoactive fusiform gyrus in response tp faces - may be y they can’t recognise emotion in others
21
Q

what is the triad for ADHD?

A
  • Attention difficulties
  • Impulsivity
  • Hyperactivity
22
Q

where do individuals have deficits in ADHD?

A

deficit in executive functioning (planning)

and delayed rewards (delay aversion)

23
Q

Where does executive function come from?

A

frontal lobe.

24
Q

what areas of the brain are involved in delayed aversion?

A

amygdala and frontal lobe.

25
Q

which neurotransmitters are abnormal in ADHD patients?

A

dopamine and noradrenaline

26
Q

what does FMRI show in ADHD patients?

A

If someone with ADHD knows a delay is coming, we can see over activation of the prefrontal cortex and amygdala.

27
Q

what medications are given for ADHD

A

Noradrenaline and

Dopamine Reuptake inhibitors.
Methylphenidate (Ritalin)

28
Q

what brain changes are observed in bipolar?

A

Loss of prefrontal cortex mass and progressive hypoactivation

Sustained hyperactivity of amygdala and increasing volume size

29
Q

what are the 3 main sx of depression?

A

Low mood
Anhedonia
Tiredness

30
Q

what are supplementary sx of depression?

A

Cognitive (hopelessness, helplessness, worthlessness, guilt, poor concentration, poor attention, lack of motivation)

Somatic (early morning waking, loss of appetite, weight loss, libido)

Motor symptoms (slow motor movements – “Motor Retardation”)

31
Q

what is evidence of the involvement of serotonin in depression?

A

Dietary depletion of tryptophan (precursor for serotonin) can cause relapse of depression

Reserpine – An antihypertensive that causes rapid depletion of serotonin in the synaptic cleft classically causes depression

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) work by blocking the reuptake of serotonin in to the pre-synaptic neuron

32
Q

where does serotonin project from?

A

raphe nucleus

33
Q

where does noradrenaline project from?

A

Locus Coreleus to innervate the limbic system and frontal lobe

34
Q

which drugs inhibit rey-take of noradrenaline and serotonin?

A

Venlafaxine, Duloxetine

35
Q

how cab stress relate to anxiety?

A

Chronic stress exposure with prolonged raised cortisol is closely associated with anxiety disorders

36
Q

which area of brain shrinks in PTSD?

A

hippocampus

37
Q

what is the cascade of events in PTSD?

A

Trigger (e.g. smell)

Hippocampus recalls fragment of memory (e.g. image)

Amygdala reacts to memory (“flashback”)

Pre-frontal cortex unable to rationalise the situation. Unable to recognise person is safe

Person attempts to avoid or escape