Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Brain and Behavior Part 2 > Principles of Psychopharmacology > Flashcards

Principles of Psychopharmacology Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
The Brain flashcards
1
Q

What brain process is thought to be exclusively the domain of 5-HT?

A

Obsessions / compulsions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What brain process is thought to be exclusively the domain of NE?

A

Alertness

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What brain process is thought to be exclusively the domain of dopamine?

A

Attention, pleasure/reward, motivation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What 2 monoamines are thought to affect anxiety?

A

5-HT and NE

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Review: Main source of 5-HT in the brain?

A

Raphe nuclei.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Four 5-HT -related psychiatric conditions?

A

Mood disorders
Anxiety disorders
OCD
Eating disorders

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Review: Main source of NE in the brain?

A

Locus ceruleus (but it doesn’t project to the nucleus accumbens)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Four NE-related psychiatric conditions?

A

Mood disorders
Anxiety disorders
ADHD
Pain disorders

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Review: 2 areas which dopamine for the brain is produced?

A

Substantia nigra, ventral tegmental area

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Four dopamine-related psychiatric conditions?

A

Schizophrenia
ADHD
Mood disorders
Addictions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What’s the most important glutamate receptor for psychopharmacology?

A

NMDA receptor.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

3 glutamate-related psychiatric conditions?

A

Schizophrenia
Mood disorders
Alzheimer’s disease

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

4 psych conditions involving GABA?

A

Anxiety disorders (note that benzos treat symptoms, but not cause of anxiety)
Insomnia
EtOH withdrawal
Pain disorders

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

3 things histamine is involved with in the brain?

A

appetite, weight, and sleep

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What’s the MoA that all antipsychotics share?

A

They’re all D2 dopamine receptor antagonists (some to other things in addition to this).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Why do cocaine and amphetamine cause psychosis at high levels?

A

Because they increase dopamine levels.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What are the 2 areas of the brain that are affected by dopamine levels during psychotic episodes? With what signs and symptoms are they associateed?

A

Mesocortical: Negative symptoms of social isolation, poor hygiene.
Mesolimbic: Positive signs of delusions, perceptual disturbances.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What are the 2 areas of the brain associated with the side effects of antipsychotics? Side effects associated with each?

A

Nigrostriatal: Extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS), dystonia, akathisia
Tuberoinfundibular: Prolactin effects -> galactorrhea, gynecomastia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What is a dystonic episode?

A

Uncomfortable contractions, eg. eyes rolling painfully back into head, lock-jaw, etc.

20
Q

What’s akathisia? (wasn’t on slides)

A

Inability to not move.

21
Q

Major cardiovascular side effect of antipsychotics?

A

QTc prolongation -> risk for arrhythmia.

22
Q

What effects do antipsychotics have on seizures?

A

They lower the seizure threshold.

23
Q

What’s the practical difference between a high-potency and a low-potency antipsychotic? What’s an example of one high-potency drug and one low-potency drug?

A

High potency antipsychotics have fewer side effects (but some of these side effects can be desirable).
Haloperidol (Haldol) = high-potency
Chlorpromazine = low-potency

24
Q

What does “potency” actually mean when talking about a 1st gen. antipsychotic?

A

Ability to inhibit the D2 dopamine receptor.

25
Q

3 types of side effect caused by 1st gen. antipsychotics?

A

Antihistamine effects
Antiadrenergic effects
Anticholinergic effects
(which make actually be useful for sedation, in context)

26
Q

2 specific antihistaminic side effects from antipsychotics?

A

Weight gain

Sedation

27
Q

5 specific anticholinergic side effects from antipsychotics?

A 
Delirium
Blurry vision
Xerostomia (dry mouth)
Constipation
Urinary retention
(nobody likes these)
28
Q

2 specific antiadrenergic side effects from antipsychotics? What receptor do they most affect?

A

Orthostasis (can’t increase blood pressure when going from sitting to standing)
Arrythmias.
These act on alpha-1 receptors.

29
Q

What’s the practical difference between 1st and 2nd generation antipsychotics?

A

2nd generation are not more effective, but they’re better tolerated.

30
Q

What’s the mechanistic difference between 1st and 2nd gen. antipsychotics?

A

2nd gen. drugs acts on 5-HT receptors (mostly 5-HT2) in addition to the D2 receptor.

31
Q

What’s a very significant side effect of clozapine?

A

1-2% risk of agranulocytosis. (must get CBC before and monitor while using)

32
Q

What side effect profile are most atypical, 2nd gen. antipsychotics associated with?

A

Weight gain & metabolic syndrome.
(Dr. Dube notes that this may be “unmasking” of underlying predisposition, and if this doesn’t happen after 6mo, it probs won’t happen)

33
Q

What are some desirable additional effects of atypical, 2nd gen. antipsychotics? (3 things)

A

Mood-stabilizing, antidepressant, and anxiolytic effects.

34
Q

What’s a unique risk of aripiprazole (Abilify)?

A

Being a partial DA agonist in some parts of brain makes it have risk of increasing psychosis. (but it works well for most people)

35
Q

Which 2 drugs (1 of which is an antipsychotic) decrease suicide risk?

A

Lithium

Clozapine (brand name: Clozaril)

36
Q

What serotonin receptor is most associated with depression?

A

5-HT 1a (but not all brains are the same!)

37
Q

4 classes of antidepressants?

A

MAOIs
TCAs (tricyclics)
SRIs / SSRIs
SNRIs (5-HT and NE reuptake inhibitors)

38
Q

What serious cardiovascular event are people on MAOIs at risk for? Why?

A

Hypertensive crises.

Decreased tyramine breakdown. Tyramine in the circulation appears to increase blood pressure.

39
Q

What is one additional effect or consideration for each of the 4 classes of antidepressant?

A

MAOIs - food restrictions
TCAs - fatal in overdoses
SSRIs - safest, fewest side effects
SNRIs - can be used to treat pain

40
Q

Do antidepressants increase suicidal ideation? Clinical implication?

A

No - but they may give people who are already suicidal the energy to go through with it.
Don’t put somebody on an antidepressant and then not follow up for 3 months.

41
Q

Why might anticonvulsants stabilize mood?

A

Stablizing membrane potentials in the brain. Maybe.

42
Q

What’s the MoA of valproic acid?

A

Hyperpolarization via increasing K+ channel permeability.

43
Q

Do mood-stabilizers have lots of side effects?

A

Yep. (impaired cognition, weight gain, neural tube defects, etc.)

44
Q

What property of a benzodiazepine is most associated risk of addiction?

A

Speed of onset and duration (quicker and shorter duration -> more likely to cause addiction)

45
Q

What receptor to the most common benzos (eg. clonazepam, lorazepam) act on?

A

GABA-A

46
Q

Which benzo has the highest risk of abuse?

A

Alprazolam - has a quick onset and short duration.

47
Q

What 2 classes of drugs are used to treat dementia?

A

acetylcholinesterase inhibitors

NMDA receptor antagonist (memantine)

Brain and Behavior Part 2 (58 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions