Psychopharmacology

Question 1

What is psychopharmacology?

Answer 1

The study of drug effects on the nervous system and behaviour

• Mood
• Sensation
• Cognition

Question 2

What is a drug?

Answer 2

An exogenous chemical (vs. neurotransmitter - endogenous) that significantly alters function of cells in the body when taken in low doses
Not required for normal cellular functioning

Question 3

What is an agonist?

Answer 3

A chemical that binds to a receptor, activates it and produces a biological effect

Question 4

What is an antagonist?

Answer 4

A chemical that binds to a repceptor, and prevents agonist-mediated effects

Question 5

What is an enzyme inhibitor?

Answer 5

A chemical that prevents the activity of an enzyme

Question 6

What can tolerance reflect?

Answer 6

Reduced drug-receptor binding and reduced postsynaptic action of the drug

Question 7

Opium use dates back to at least…

Answer 7

the Neolithic era 4500- 2000 BCE

Question 8

Residue on ancient pottery has confirmed fermented drinks (alcohol) were being produced…

Answer 8

~7000 BCE

Question 9

Chewing coca leaves dates back over_____ in Peruvian society

Answer 9

8000 years ago

Question 10

What is pharmacodynamics?

Answer 10

Pharmacodynamics- the physiological effects of drugs on the body

Question 11

What is pharmacokinetics?

Answer 11

Essentially the effect of the body on drugs (metabolism)

Question 12

What are the routes of drug administration into the body?

Answer 12

 Intravenous (IV): into a vein (rapid absorption)
 Intraperitoneal (IP): into the gut (used in animal research)
 Subcutaneous (SC): under the skin
 Intramuscular (IM): into a muscle
 Inhalation: drug into the lungs
 Topical: absorbed through the skin
 Oral: via the mouth

Question 13

What do monoamine oxidase inhibitors do?

Answer 13

They inhibit monoamine oxidase which breaks down monoamine neurotransmitters. As a result there are more monoamine neurotransmitters present.

Question 14

What do tricyclic antidepressants do?

Answer 14

Developed in 1950s

They blocked the 5-HTTs and NE transporters so that reuptake of 5-HT and NE is inhibited. As a result there are more serotonin and norepinephrine neurotransmitters in the synaptic cleft.

Question 15

What do typical antipsychotics do?

Answer 15

They are D2 receptor agonists. However lead to extrapyramidal side effects
- This is because they act on the substantia nigra - striatum pathway (movement) as well as the VLA - frontal lobe pathway (reward) for dopamine

Question 16

What do atypical antipsychotics do?

Answer 16

Introduced in the 1990s and have less side effects.

Dual D2 and 5-HT2 antagonists

Question 17

What are the subclasses of depressants?

Answer 17

Sedatives/hypnotics

Narcotics

Question 18

What are the effects of alcohol?

Answer 18

 Depressant due to its effects on
GABA signalling (benzo receptor)
 Acute increases in dopamine and endorphins

Question 19

What does opium and opoids act as?

Answer 19

An exogenous activators of the endorphin system

Question 20

MDMA and methamphetamine administration can cause ______

Answer 20

MDMA and methamphetamine administration can cause serotonin cell death in the brain
 Connections may never recover

Question 21

What do anxiolytics and depressants act on?

Answer 21

The barbiturate and benzodiazepine site on GABA-A receptors (ionotropic).