Week 10 - Psychological Disorders

Question 1

1. Is a drug with high affinity and low efficacy an agonist or an antagonist?

Answer 1

1. It is an antagonist because, by occupying the receptor, it blocks out the neurotransmitter.

Question 2

What factors indicate an enhanced probability of substances abuse

Answer 2

Growing up in an unstable environment
Certain genes (e.g. one that affects serotonin synapses)

Question 3

2. How does predisposition to alcohol abuse relate to how the liver metabolizes alcohol?

Answer 3

2. The liver metabolizes alcohol to acetaldehyde, which
   is toxic, and then to acetic acid. People whose enzymes are slow to metabolize acetaldehyde to acetic acid are less likely than others to abuse alcohol, because rapid or excessive drinking makes them ill.

Question 4

10. What evidence suggests two types of depression are influenced
    by different genes?

Answer 4

11. People with
    the short form of the gene controlling the serotonin transporter
    are more likely than other people to react to stressful
    experiences by becoming depressed. However, in the absence
    of stressful experiences, their probability is not increased.

Question 5

11. What did Caspi and colleagues report to be the relationship between depression and genetics?

Answer 5

10. Relatives of people with early-onset depression have a
    high risk of depression and many other psychological disorders.
    Relatives of people with late-onset depression have a
    high probability of circulatory problems

Question 6

12. Some people offer to train you to use the right hemisphere of your brain more strongly, allegedly to increase creativity. If they were successful, can you see any disadvantage?

Answer 6

12. People with predominant right-hemisphere activity

show an increased tendency toward depression.

Question 7

13. What are the effects of tricyclic drugs?

Answer 7

13. Tricyclic drugs block reuptake of serotonin and
    catecholamines. They also block histamine receptors,
    acetylcholine receptors, and certain sodium channels,
    thereby producing unpleasant side effects.

Question 8

14. What are the effects of SSRIs?

Answer 8

14. SSRIs

selectively inhibit the reuptake of serotonin.

Question 9

15. What are the effects of MAOIs?

Answer 9

15. MAOIs
    block the enzyme MAO, which breaks down catecholamines
    and serotonin. The result is increased availability
    of these transmitters.

Question 10

16. In what way does the time course of antidepressants conflict with the idea that they improve mood by increasing neurotransmitter

Answer 10

16. Antidepressants produce their effects on serotonin
    and other neurotransmitters quickly, but their
    behavioral benefits develop gradually over 2 to 3
    weeks.

Question 11

17. As opposed to an interpretation in terms of neurotransmitter levels, what is an alternative explanation for the benefits of antidepressant drugs?

Answer 11

17. Antidepressant drugs increase production
    of BDNF, which gradually promotes growth of new
    neurons in the hippocampus and new learning.