Psychotherapetic Drugs Flashcards
agoraphobia
an anxiety disorder that involves an intense fear of being in unfamiliar situations or places that may be difficult to leave or in which help may not be available in the event of having an unexpected panic attack or panic-like symptoms
affective disorders
emotional disorders that are characterised by changes in mood
akathisia
a movement disorder in which there is an inability to sit still; motor restlessness; it can occur as an adverse affect of psychotropic medications
anxiety
the unpleasant state of mind in which real or imagined dangers are anticipated and/or exaggerated
biogenic amine hypothesis
a theory suggesting that depression and mania are caused by alterations in the concentrations of dopamine and norepinephrine, and serotonin and histamine in the brain
bipolar disorder
a major psychological disorder characterised by episodes of mania or hypomania, cycling with depression; formerly called manic-depressive illness
depression
an abnormal emotional state characterised by exaggerated feelings of sadness, melancholy, dejection, worthlessness, emptiness, and hopelessness that impact the patient’s life and may be out of proportion to reality; signs include withdrawal from social contact, loss of appetite, and insomnia
dopamine hypothesis
a theory suggesting that dopamine dysregulation in certain parts of the brain is one of the primary contributing factors to the development of psychotic disorders (psychoses)
dyskinesia
term for abnormal and distressing involuntary movements; inability to control movements
dysregulation hypothesis
a theory that views depression and affective disorders as caused not simply by decreased or increased catecholamine and serotonin activity but by failure of the brain to regulate the levels of these neurotransmitters
dystonia
a syndrome of abnormal muscle contraction that produces repetitive involuntary twisting movements and abnormal posturing of the neck, face, trunk, and extremities; often caused as an adverse reaction to psychotropic medications
extrapyramidal symptoms
the term for signs and symptoms that resemble pathologic changes to the pyramidal portions of the brain; such symptoms include various motion disorders similar to those seen in Parkinson’s disease, and are an adverse effect associated with use of various antipsychotic drugs
gamma-aminobutyric acid
an amino acid in the brain that fictions to inhibit nerve transmission in the central nervous system
hypomania
a less severe and less potentially hazardous form of mania
mania
an acute illness characterised by an expansive emotional state, including extreme excitement, elation, hyperactivity, agitation, talkativeness, flight of idea, reduced attention span, increased psychomotor activity, impulsivity, insomnia, anorexia, and sometimes violent, destructive, and self-destructive behaviour
metabolic syndrome
a cluster of conditions (increased glucose level, increased blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels, excess body fat around the waist) occurring together that increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes
neuroleptic malignant syndrome
an uncommon but serious adverse effect associated with the use of antipsychotic drugs and characterised by symptoms such as fever, cardiovascular instability, and myoglobinemia (presence in the blood of muscle breakdown proteins)
neurotransmitters
endogenous chemicals in the body that serve to conduct nerve impulses between nerve cells (neurons)
permissive hypothesis
a theory postulating that reduced concentrations of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) is the predisposing factor in individuals with affective disorders
psychosis
(plural: psychoses) a type of serious mental illness that can take several different forms and is associated with being out of touch with reality; that is, the individual is unable to distinguish imaginary from real circumstances and events
psychotherapeutics
the treatment of emotional and mental disorders
psychotropic
capable of affecting mental processes; usually said of a medication
serotonin syndrome
a rare collection of symptoms resulting from elevated levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin; may occur with the use of any psychotropic drug (e.g. antidepressants, buspirone, tramadol) that enhances brain serotonin activity
stigma
widespread negative perceptions of and prejudice toward a specific group of people such as those with mental illness
