Week 3 Vocab Flashcards
Acetylcholinesterase
an enzyme that degrades acetylcholine within the synapse, enhancing the effects of the neurotransmitter
Action Potential
an electrical potential of a single cell (muscle or nerve) generated by the opening and closing of special ion channels on the cell’s membrane
Alzheimer’s Disease
most common dementia; characterized by loss of memory, confusion, disorientation, loss of judgement; hallucinations and elusions may also occur
Antidepressant
drugs used for the treatment of depression and a range of anxiety disorders, including panic, obsessive compulsion, social phobia, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Anxiolytics
drugs that relieve anxiety and agents for mood stabilization
Barbiturates
class of drugs derived from barbituric acid; they act as CNS depressants and are used for their sedative and antiseizure effects
Benzodiazepines
class of drugs used to treat anxiety and insomnia
Bipolar Disorder
a disorder characterized by extreme and opposite feelings, such as euphoria and depression or calmness and rage; also called manic depressive disorder
Black Box Warning
warning label surrounded by a black border and issued by the FDA to emphasize the important and serious life-threatening risks associated with use of the drug
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF)
A protein produced in the brain that helps sustain neuronal activity and growth; BDNF may be important in mediating the effects of antidepressants and other CNS drugs.
Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT)
An enzyme that degrades levodopa to an inactive metabolite in the bloodstream and other tissues. Drugs that inhibit this enzyme are known as COMT inhibitors, and these drugs can protect levodopa so that it is not degraded prematurely in patients with Parkinson disease.
Clinical Depression
a major depressive disorder comprising a depressed affect plus at least five of the common symptoms lasting for a minimum of 2 weeks
CNS Depressants
drugs that lower neuronal activity in the CNS
Convulsion
uncontrolled muscle contractions or spasms that occur in the face, torso, arms, and legs
Disruptive Mood Dysregulatin Disorder
characterized in children by severe and recurrent temper tantrums that exceed conditions warranted by the situation
Dopamine
A neurotransmitter located in the central nervous system (CNS) that is important in motor control and in certain aspects of behavior. The presence of endogenous or exogenous dopamine in the periphery also affects cardiovascular function.
Drug Holidays
Periods of several days to several weeks in which medications are withdrawn from the patient to allow recovery from drug tolerance or toxicity; sometimes used in patients with advanced cases of Parkinson disease.
Dystonia
muscle spasms characterized by rigidity and abnormal, occasionally painful, movements or postures
End-of-dose Akinesia
A phenomenon in Parkinson disease in which the effectiveness of the medication wears off toward the end of the dosing interval, resulting in a virtual lack of volitional movement from the patient
Epilepsy
condition characterized by two or more seizures that have not been provoked by specific events such as trauma, infection, fever or chemical change
Generalized Anxiety Disorders
difficult to control, excessive anxiety that lasts 6 months or more
Generalized Seizures
seizures that travel throughout the entire brain on both sides
Hypothalamus
region of the brain that triggers unconscious response to extreme stress, such as increased blood pressure, elevated breathing rate, and dilated pupils.
Insomnia
the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep
Limbic System
area of the brain responsible for emotion, learning, memory, motivation, and mood
Major Depressive Disorder
a disorder characterized by at least five symptoms of depression
Mood Stabilizers
drugs that level mood to treat bipolar disorder and mania
Multiple Sclerosis
autoimmune disorder of the CNS; a condition in which antibodies solely destroy tissues in the brain and spinal cord
Neuromuscular Blocking Drugs
anesthetics that cause paralysis without loss of consciousness
On-off Phenomenon
The fluctuation in response seen in certain patients with Parkinson disease, in which the effectiveness of medications may suddenly diminish at some point between dosages.
Panic Disorder
anxiety characterized by intense feelings of immediate apprehension, fearfulness, terror, or impending doom
Parkinsonism
degenerative disorder of the nervous system caused by a deficiency of the rain neurotransmitter dopamine; this deficiency results in disturbances of muscle movement
Partial (Focal) Seizure
seizures that start on one side of the brain and travel a short distance before stopping
Phobias
fearful feelings attached to situations or objects
Rebound Insomnia
increased sleeplessness that occurs when long term antianxiety or hypnotic medication is discontinued.
Reticular Activing System (RAS)
the brain structure that projects from the brainstem and thalamus to the cerebral cortex; responsible for sleeping and wakefulness and performs an alerting function.
Seasonal Affective Disorder
depression experienced during the winter months; associated with a reduced release of the brain neurohormone melatonin
Sedative Hypnotic
drugs that produce a calming effect when given in lower doses and produce sleep when given at higher doses
Sedatives
drugs that relax or clam the person
Seizure
symptoms of epilepsy characterized by abnormal neuronal discharges in the brain
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
drugs that selectively inhibit the reuptake of serotonin into nerve terminals
Seratonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)
drugs that selectively inhibit the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine into nerve terminals
Social Anxiety Disorder
social phobia, a type of anxiety disorder characterized by excessive and unreasonable fear of social situations
Spasticity
a disorder when certain muscle groups remain in a continuous contracted state.
Status Epilepticus
a condition characterized by repeated seizures
Tricyclic Antidepressants
drugs with a three-ring chemical structure that inhibit the reuptake of norepinephrine and serotonin into terminals
