psychiatric disorders

Question 1

OCD

Answer 1

obsessive compulsive disorder, characterised by uncontrollable, recurring thoughts (obsessions) and repeated, ritualistic behaviours (compulsions) to compensate for the obsessions.
Brain regions involved in obsession and compulsion are: basal ganglia (connects to cortex helps to move, think and conduct ritual behaviours, involved also in reward system and in NT release of dopamine, serotonin, glutamate) –> disrupted signalling between BG ad cortex may lead to obsessive behaviour.
Treatment involves meds (mainly SSRI) and therapy such as CBT, maybe DBS

Question 2

DBS

Answer 2

deep brain stimulation, primarily developed as treatment for Parkinson’s disease, now also used in psychiatric disorders;
electrodes implanted at specific brain locations emit high-frequency electrical pulses–> Reset abnormal neuronal firing.

Question 3

panic disorder

Answer 3

type of anxiety disorder characterized by sudden, unexpected bouts of intense, irrational fear, physical symptoms such as difficulty breathing, a racing heart, sweating, and dizziness;
linked to other mood disorders (depression, bipolar, anxiety..) and psychiatric disorders (OCD, schizophrenia)
medication treatment with SSRI and benzos

Question 4

Major depression

Answer 4

• diagnosis: based on a set of criteria (at least 4 must be met for 2 weeks or longer): feeling empty/sad, loss of appetite, sleeping problems, changes in weight etc.
• cause: genetic, biological risk factors, environmental and psychological influences.
• in the brain: disrupt the hypothalamus; disruption of the monoamine NT system (dopamine and serotonin); smaller hippocampus and PFC (as in PTSD); when exposed to triggering pictures- high activity in cortex regions connected to limbic system
• treatment with SSRI, MOAI, therapy as CBT, DBS

Question 5

Bipolar disorder

Answer 5

extreme mood swings, manic and depressive episodes (last between hours to months)
- manic episodes: boundless energy, racing thoughts, and insomnia; may also involve substance abuse
and harmful behaviors like promiscuity
- depressive episodes have symptoms of depression.
- treatment is hard, medications include anti-epileptic drugs (act as mood stabilisers), anti depressants and anti psychotic drugs (for mani episodes); therapy as CBT.

Question 6

Schizophrenia

Answer 6

symptoms are negative or positive

• positive symptoms: hallucinations, delusions, confused thinking
• negative symptoms: inability to experience pleasure, severe lack of motivation
• treatment involves antipsychotics that damping the dopamine response (help for the “positive symptoms)