Week 1

Question 1

What is pharmacokinetics?

Answer 1

the science of the rate of movement of drugs within biological systems, as affected by absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination of medications

Question 2

What is pharmacodynamics?

Answer 2

the study of the biochemical and physiological processes underlying drug action

Question 3

What is bioavailability?

Answer 3

the fraction of the administered dose of drug that reaches the systemic circulation
Expressed as F

Question 4

What is volume of distribution?

Answer 4

volume = dose/plasma concentration

Question 5

What is clearance?

Answer 5

volume of plasma cleared of drug per unit of time

Question 6

What is half-life?

Answer 6

time required for serum plasma concentration to decrease by half

Question 7

WHat is half life determined by?

Answer 7

clearance and volume of distribution

Question 8

How many half lives does it take to reach steady state?

Answer 8

4-5

Question 9

WHat is meant by linear pharmacokinetics?

Answer 9

concentration that results from a dose is proportional to the dose
rate of elimination is proportional to the concentration

Question 10

What is meant by non-linear pharmacokinetics?

Answer 10

concentration that results is not proportional to dose

rate of elimination is constant regardless of amount of drug present

Question 11

WHat are the key types of drug receptors?

Answer 11

enzyme linked
ion channel linked
g protein linked
nuclear linked

Question 12

What is affinity?

Answer 12

measure of propensity of a drug to bind receptor

Question 13

What is efficacy?

Answer 13

ability of a bound drug to change the receptor in a way that produces an effect

Question 14

What are the core features of ADHD?

Answer 14

inattention and lack of persistence in activities requiring concentration
excessive activity
impulsivity

Question 15

What are the requirements for an ADHD diagnosis?

Answer 15

apparent before the child is 7
excessive for child's age and development 
pervasive in more than 1 environment 
symptoms may worsen in the afternoon 
must have significant impact on life

Question 16

What are some of the main genes associated with ADHD?

Answer 16

DRD4 receptor
SLC6A3 /DAT1
DRD5
SL6A4/5HTT

Question 17

Describe the genetic-environmental interactions in ADHD

Answer 17

genes can either increase or reduce the impact of an environment or an environment can activate a genetic effect
genetic factors contritute to the development of behavioural symptoms on a background of high environmental adversity

Question 18

What are some of the executive difficulties found with ADHD?

Answer 18

organisation
planning 
working memory 
attention 
response inhibition 
impulse control

Question 19

What are some of the comorbid associations with ADHD?

Answer 19

sleep disorders 
behavioural difficulties 
specific learning disabilities 
developmental co-ordination disorders 
social communication 
anxiety 
tic disorders 
mood difficulties

Question 20

What are the first line ADHD medications?

Answer 20

psychostimulants - methylphenidate and dexamphetamine

Question 21

What is the second line medication for ADHD?

Answer 21

atomoxetine

Question 22

What are the third line treatments for ADHD?

Answer 22

clonidine and guanficine

Question 23

What are the factors associated with persistence of ADHD into adulthood?

Answer 23

progressive reduction in cerebellar and hippocampal volumes 
maternal depression 
marital discord 
negative parent-child interaction
family socio-economic disadvantage
familial ADHD

Question 24

Describe dopamine neurotransmission relative to ADHD

Answer 24

enhances signal 
improves attention 
focus
on task behaviour
on task cognition

Question 25

Describe noradrenaline neurotransmission relative to ADHD

Answer 25

dampens noise
executive operations
increases inhibition

Question 26

Describe the problems in ADHD due to deficiency in arousal mechanisms

Answer 26

defective inhibitory response (in compromised PFC) leads to insufficient information processing (symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity)
PFC neurones are out of tune and can’t distinguish between important signals and background noise - can’t focus as all the signals are at the same time

Question 27

What are the three overlying processes in the formation of the cerebral cortex?

Answer 27

neuroblast proliferation
migration of immature neurones from ventricular zone to the cortical plate
organisation into 6 layered cortex and formation of connections throughout the brain

Question 28

What is congenital malformation?

Answer 28

primary failure of development of an organ

Question 29

What is dysplasia in terms of brain development?

Answer 29

abnormal cellular migration and differentiation

Question 30

What is congenital deformation?

Answer 30

damage to an organ after it has normally formed - hydrocephalus

Question 31

What are the risks associated with cocaine consumption during pregnancy?

Answer 31

intrauterine growth retardation
microcephaly 
cerebral infarction
urogenital abnormalities
sudden infant death syndrome
neuronal and behavioural abnormalities

Question 32

What is the triad of shaken baby syndrome?

Answer 32

subdural haematoma
retinal haemorrhage
encephalopathy

Question 33

What is the best predictor of a child’s IQ?

Answer 33

the mothers

Question 34

What are some of the problems related to lack of secure attachment in infancy?

Answer 34

disturbances of social relatedness and attachment
externalising behaviour problems 
inattention / hyperactivity 
deficits in IQ
syndrome that mimics autism