week 3

Question 1

What is the primary role of dopamine (DA)?

Answer 1

Motivation and coordination, emotions, pleasure, attention, voluntary judgment, and release of prolactin

Also involved in memory, mood, sleep, learning, concentration, and movement.

Question 2

What are signs of low dopamine levels?

Answer 2

Apathy, low energy and motivation, low libido, and inability to experience pleasure

Associated with depression and Parkinson’s.

Question 3

What can an increase in dopamine lead to?

Answer 3

Schizophrenia, mania, aggressive behavior, substance use disorder and addiction.

Question 4

What is the purpose of serotonin (5-HT)?

Answer 4

Responsible for sleep, arousal, libido, appetite, mood and aggression, pain perception, coordination and judgment

Also involved in platelet aggregation and increases gastric emptying.

Question 5

What happens when serotonin levels decrease?

Answer 5

Major depressive disorder, PTSD, OCD, and impacted sexual drive.

Question 6

What is serotonin syndrome?

Answer 6

A condition that occurs with increased serotonin levels, leading to symptoms of mania, schizophrenia, and anxiety.

Question 7

What is the role of norepinephrine (NE)?

Answer 7

Mood, cognition, perceptions, locomotion, cardiovascular functioning, forming memories, sleep and arousal.

Question 8

What is the ‘Fight or Flight’ response associated with?

Answer 8

Norepinephrine (NE)

Causes an increase in attention span.

Question 9

What are the effects of decreased norepinephrine?

Answer 9

Depression that can lead to ADHD.

Question 10

What can an increase in norepinephrine lead to?

Answer 10

Anxiety and mania.

Question 11

What is the primary function of Y-aminobutyric acid (GABA)?

Answer 11

A primary inhibitory neurotransmitter that slows down body activity.

Question 12

Fill in the blank: More GABA = _______.

Answer 12

Less anxiety.

Question 13

What are the consequences of decreased GABA levels?

Answer 13

Anxiety and mood disorders, panic attacks.

Question 14

What does an increase in GABA help with?

Answer 14

Reduces stress, relieves anxiety, and improves sleep.

Question 15

What is glutamate primarily associated with?

Answer 15

Memory, learning, cognition, and emotion.

Question 16

What happens with decreased glutamate levels?

Answer 16

Psychosis and schizophrenia.

Question 17

What are the effects of increased glutamate?

Answer 17

Memory and learning impairments.

Question 18

What is the role of acetylcholine (ACh)?

Answer 18

Cognition, learning, sleep, arousal, pain, perception, movement and memory.

Question 19

What condition is associated with decreased acetylcholine levels?

Answer 19

Alzheimer’s disease.

Question 20

In what population do we see an increased level of acetylcholine?

Answer 20

Those who are actively depressed

Question 21

mechanism of action for benzodiazepines

Answer 21

• bind GABA throughout the CNS
• given during an emergency due to fast acting nature

Question 22

What is the purpose of benzodiazepines?

Answer 22

Relieve stress and anxiety.

Question 23

What are the side effects of benzodiazepines?

Answer 23

Respiratory depression/arrest, drowsiness, do not take with alcohol.

Question 24

What is the action of buspirone?

Answer 24

• Mediated by 5-HT1A receptors
• inhibits serotonin (which increases it)
• slow acting

Question 25

purpose of buspirone

Answer 25

short term treatment of generalized anxiety disorder

Question 26

side effects of buspirone

Answer 26

nausea and headaches, not given during an acute anxiety attack

Question 27

action of SSRIs

Answer 27

inhibits the re-uptake of serotonin

Question 28

What is the purpose of SSRIs?

Answer 28

Treat major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.

Question 29

What are common side effects of SSRIs?

Answer 29

Agitation, sexual dysfunction, increased risk for suicidal ideation.

Question 30

What is the action of first-generation antipsychotics (FGA)?

Answer 30

Block dopamine (decreases dopamine).

Question 31

purpose of FGAs

Answer 31

suppress symptoms of schizophrenia (delusions, hallucinations, alterations in speech)

Question 32

What are the side effects of first-generation antipsychotics?

Answer 32

Anticholinergic effects: dry mouth, constipation, orthostatic hypotension.

Question 33

What distinguishes second-generation antipsychotics (SGA) from FGAs?

Answer 33

SGAs block dopamine receptors and some serotonin receptors.

Question 34

purpose of SGAs

Answer 34

treats schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and irritability in those with autism

Question 35

What are the side effects of second-generation antipsychotics?

Answer 35

Weight gain, exacerbations of diabetes, increased cholesterol.

Question 36

What is the action of cholinesterase inhibitors?

Answer 36

Increase levels and duration of acetylcholine action by inhibiting cholinesterase enzyme (breaks down aCh)

Question 37

purpose of cholinesterase inhibitors

Answer 37

treatment of Alzheimer's disease

Question 38

mechanism of action for stimulants

Answer 38

cause presynaptic neurons to release dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine and blocks the re-uptake of each

Question 39

What is the therapeutic use of stimulants?

Answer 39

ADHD and narcolepsy.

Question 40

What are the side effects of stimulants?

Answer 40

Growth suppression; adequate diet education required.

Question 41

What is the mechanism of action of mood stabilizers like lithium?

Answer 41

Affects regulating the reuptake of monoamine neurotransmitters.

Question 42

what do mood stabilizers (lithium) treat

Answer 42

bipolar disorder

Question 43

What are the side effects of lithium therapy?

Answer 43

Diarrhea, nausea, increased thirst, fine hand tremors, weight gain.