Week 13 - Psychopathology Flashcards
What term did Hans Selye coin, and what did he define this term as?
He coined the term “stress” as being non-physiological responses to any kind of demand made on the organism.
Describe General Adaptation Syndrome.
Made up of the 3 phases in response to stress:
(1) Alarm Phase
- the initial physiological response to stress
(2) Resistance Phase
- the HPA axis gets activated paired with the sympathetic nervous system to cause the appropriate reaction
- The HPA axis supports the sympathetic nervous system in getting glucose to your muscles so you have the energy to run away (if you were being chased by a bear for example)
(3) Exhaustion Phase
- this is referred to as wear and tear on the system (we can’t run forever)
What did Richard Lazarus propose about stress? Which model did he create to support this?
Richard Lazarus proposed that stress is experienced when an individual feels they lack the resources to overcome some situation. He created the Transactional Model of Stress, which has 3 processes:
(1) Primary Appraisal
- when one perceives that they are in a dangerous situation
(2) Secondary Appraisal
- when one asks themselves if they have the resources to cope
(3) Reappraisal
- when one reflects on their coping mechanism to determine if it is effective
Who proposed the allostatic load model? What does this model suggest?
Bruce McEwen. This model suggests that allostatic load is the wear and tea of an organism due to repeated allostasis, or repetitive shifting or adjusting to one’s environment (constant stress)
What gene mutations are implicated in Schizophrenia?
(1) Mutation of the DISC1 gene. - - This gene is important for neurodevelopment, so dysfunction of this gene leads to neurological problems.
(2) mutation of NRG1 Gene (neuregulin 1)
- also important for neurodevelopment
What brain abnormalities are seen in those with Schizophrenia?
(1) Enlarged lateral ventricle and prominent sulci
(2) decreased brain tissue (hypofrontality)
(3) smaller cell bodies in PFC and hippocampus
(4) reduced connections of the cortex
(5) glial reductions (dysregulation in myelin sheaths)
What treatments are available for Schizophrenic individuals and what do they do?
(1) Glycine r D-sterine
- stimulates NMDA receptors to properly produce DA again
(2) Antipsychotic drugs (eg. Clozapine)
- increases DA into PFC and decreases DA in nucleus accumbens (getting rid of both positive and negative symptoms)
Which hypothesis suggests that depression is caused by low activity of one or more monoaminergic synapses?
The Monoamine Hypothesis.
What are the different types of treatment medications for MDD (Depression)?
(1) MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors) – Since MAOs remove neurotransmitters like 5HT, NE, E, and DA from the brain leading to depression, MAOIs inhibit MOAs to prevent this
(2) TCAs – these enhance the amount of monoamines in the cell by blocking their reuptake
(3) SSRIs and NRIs – also inhibits the reuptake of neurotransmitters
What type of brain abnormalities do people with MDD experience?
(1) decreased activity in left PFC and increased activity in right PFC
(2) increased blood flow and metabolism in amygdala
(3) smaller volume of sgACC (subgenual anterior cingulate cortex)
What areas of the brain are affected in those with bipolar disorder? What other disorders share these same brain implications?
(1) Overactivity in amygdala (same as with MDD)
(2) overactivity of sgACC (same as with MDD)
(3) enlarged lateral ventricles (same as those with Schizophrenia, as the DISC1 gene is dysfunction, leading to disruption in neurodevelopment)
What area of the brain serves the purpose of regulating long term, generalized emotional arousal? When does it get activated and what type of receptors does it have?
The BNST (Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis)
It gets activated when there is an impending, serious threat and contains receptors for 5HT and GABA (remember that GABA inhibits DA).
True or false: Depression and Anxiety Disorder can be comorbid, and commonly diagnosed together.
True.
Describe the 3 broad categories are different phobias.
(1) Agoraphobia – fear of public spaces or extreme embarrassment when leaving the house
(2) Social phobia – fear of socializing
(3) specific phobia – exaggerated fear of specific objects/situations not covered by the other two
Which areas of the brain are affected in those with anxiety disorder?
(1) increased activity of amygdala due to decreased activation of vmPFC while looking at angry faces
(2) high activation of amygdala, insular cortex, anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and BDST
