Treatment of Affective Disorders/ Antidepressants

Question 1

what are affective/mood disorders?

Answer 1

disorders w/ exaggerated mood swings which interfere w/ daily functions

Question 2

depression can be described as

Answer 2

dominant feelings of despair

Question 3

what is considered depression?

Answer 3

major “unipolar” disorder

Question 4

mania can be described as

Answer 4

dominant feelings of euphoria

Question 5

bipolar disorder involves both

Answer 5

manic-depressive illness

Question 6

bipolar (manic-depressive) disorder cycles between

Answer 6

highs ans lows that are interspersed w/ periods of normal moods

Question 7

opioids were used until the

Answer 7

1950s

Question 8

amphetamines were used until mid

Answer 8

1960s

Question 9

give an example of anti-tuberculosis drugs

Answer 9

iproniazid

Question 10

what types of drugs showed positive anti-depressant properties?

Answer 10

anti-tuberculosis drugs

Question 11

anti-tuberculosis drugs were later shown to be a

Answer 11

monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor

Question 12

what is the aminergic hypothesis?

Answer 12

that depression is due to a deficit of norepinephrine and serotonin in the brain

5-HT

NE

Question 13

tricyclic antidepressants block the reuptake of

Answer 13

norepinephrine (NE) and serotonin (5-HT)

Question 14

how should TCA’s be given during treatment?

Answer 14

slowly increased at the beginning and tapered off at the end

Question 15

some antidepressants such as TCAs are classified as

Answer 15

dirty drugs

Question 16

dirty drugs act at….

this leads to…

Answer 16

• multiple receptors in addition to their major targets
• ADR

ADR: adverse drug reactants

Question 17

what ADR can be expected from an anticholinergic drug?

Answer 17

• dry mouth
• constipation
• blurred vision
• urinary retention

Question 18

what ADR can be expected from an antihistaminergic drug?

Answer 18

• sedation
• weight gain

Question 19

what ADR can be expected from an NE reuptake inhibitor drug?

Answer 19

• tachycardia
• tremors
• hypertension

Question 20

what are the most widely prescribes class of antidepressants?

Answer 20

SSRIs

• selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors

Question 21

SSRIs can be described as

Answer 21

2nd generation antidepressants

Question 22

what are 4 benefits of SSRIs compare to TCA’s and MAOI’s?

Answer 22

1. higher therapeutic index (TI)
2. no anticholinergic effect w/ toxicity
3. no cardiac toxicity w/ overdose
4. no “cheese effect” syndrome

Question 23

what is termed the serotonin syndrome?

Answer 23

adverse effects to serotonin overdose or toxicity

Question 24

What are the symptoms of “Serotonin Syndrome” due to SSRI’s administered with MAO inhibitors?

Answer 24

• agitation
• tachycardia
• hypertension
• muscle rigidity
• seizures
• arrythmias
• loss of consciousness