Psychopharmacology History

Question 1

neuropharmacology (definition)

Answer 1

study of how drugs affect the brain

Question 2

Psychopharmacology

Answer 2

study of how drugs affect psychology (mood, cognition and behaviour)

Question 3

Psychotropic drug (definition and synonym)

Answer 3

aka: psychoactive drug

a drug that affects psychology (mood, behav, cognition, perception)

Question 4

Psychotherapeutic drug

Answer 4

One that is used to treat psychosis or MI or Disorder. It affects psychology.

Question 5

Explain why psychotherapeutic drugs are always psychotropic, but not…

Answer 5

all psychotropics are psychotherapeutics

Question 6

Side effect

Answer 6

any effect of a drug/treatment that isn’t the intended effect or purpose of administering the drug.

Question 7

Why side effects can differ

Answer 7

the same drug can be different depending on who is taking it and why they’re taking it. (side effect vs intended effect)

Question 8

Sedative

Answer 8

a calming (depressant) drug that can also have analgesic effects

ex: benzo’s

Thought to depress CNS

Question 9

Argument of sedatives depressing CNS

Answer 9

sedatives depress behaviour of patient, but don’t necessarily depress CNS directly

Question 10

Stimulant

Answer 10

(aka psychostimulant)

a drug that increases mood, alertness, wakefulness

Ex: amphetamines

Thought to excite the CNS

Question 11

Argument of stimulants exciting CNS

Answer 11

stimulants may excite patients, but don’t necessarily (directly) excite the CNS.

Question 12

Tranquilizer

Answer 12

a drug that has calming and sleepiness effect.

Similar to sedatives, but don’t have very strong analgesic effects.

Ex: (then) Neuroleptics (now) Antipsychotics

Question 13

Before 1950’s, treatments for Mental illness were

Answer 13

not very good.

Question 14

Age of the culture of pills

Answer 14

Discovery of 1st generation antidepressants. Became more widely accepted treating MI with pills
TCA’s and MAOI’s

Question 15

TCA’s vs MAOI’s (similarities and differences)

Answer 15

Sim: 1st gen antidepressants, 2/3 effective, Narrow TI. SE’s= lower sexual desire, anorgasmia and ED
Diff: MAOI’s are slightly less dangerous.

Question 16

Therapeutic index (TI)

Answer 16

the range or distance between the dose that is effective and the dose that is toxic or lethal

Question 17

1950-1960’s culture of pills

Answer 17

Benzo’s (anxiolytics)
High abuse potential
Withdrawal can occur. rebound effects coming off the drug

Question 18

1950’s to 1960’s (part 2)

Answer 18

Valium glamorized (a benzo)

Question 19

Uppers vs downers

Answer 19

pepp in day, amphetamines (speed) clinically benzedrine

to relax at night, sedatives like barbiturates (sleeping pills) clinically seconal

Question 20

Amphetamine psychosis

Answer 20

Use of amphetamines patients in 1960’s:

syndrome brought on by large/repeated doses of amphetamines. akin to +ve symptoms of schizo. Similar treatments.

Led to 1970’s FDA restriction and less AMPH usage

Question 21

End of culture of pills:

Answer 21

1970’s AMPH use restricted and less, but still prescribing barbs and benzo’s.

Question 22

discovery of Fluoxetine

Answer 22

1988
aka prozac
TI very wide (safer)
still sexual side effects

Question 23

Discovery of SSRI’s

Answer 23

Fluoxetine

Much safer than prev gen of antidepressants

Question 24

SSRI revolution

Answer 24

safest psychotherapeutics
cosmetic fix don’t always work (nose job, for ex) but psychopharma to make people feel good.
Pharma marketed the fuck out of it.
Later retracted