Behavioural pharmacology

Question 1

What drives behaviour? How is it influenced and modified?

Answer 1

Emotional motivations
Influenced by prior experiences
Modified by cortical processing

Question 2

What is true abnormal behaviour?

Answer 2

Behaviour that is abnormal for that animal in that situation
Not justified emotion or behavioural response, not i normal limits/intensity

Question 3

How do behaviours relate to physical health?

Answer 3

Ill health causes abnormal behaviour and vice versa

Question 4

What should be obtained before medication?

Answer 4

Diagnosis - behaviour specialist or animal behaviour training council

Question 5

What is the locus coeruleus? What is it involved with?

Answer 5

Nucleus in pons

Involved with physiological response to stress and panic

Question 6

What is serotonin important in regulating?

Answer 6

Mood
Appetite
Arousal
(Possibly fear and aggression)

Question 7

What is dopamine involved with?

Answer 7

Reward and pleasure
Memory
Regulation of emotion

Question 8

How does noradrenaline play a key part in learning?

Answer 8

Facilitates other neurotransmitters

Question 9

What are the 5 categories of psychoactive drugs?

Answer 9

SSRIs
Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
Benzodiazepines
Beta blockers

Question 10

What are tricyclic antidepressants mainly used for? Give an example

Answer 10

Anxiety disorders

Clomipramine

Question 11

When is clomipramine licensed? Where is it metabolised and excreted?

Answer 11

Seperation anxiety
Metabolised in liver
Excreted in bile

Question 12

How do SSRIs and TCAs work?

Answer 12

inhibit serotonin uptake

Question 13

Are SSRIs licensed in dogs? Give an example. Where is this metabolised and excreted?

Answer 13

No
Fluoxetine
Metabolised - liver
Excreted - urine

Question 14

How do monoamine oxidase inhibitors work? Give an example

Answer 14

Inhibit monoamine oxidase - increases neurotransmitter half life
Selegine

Question 15

Give an example of an MAOI. When are they used?

Answer 15

Selegine

Canine cognitive dysfunction

Question 16

Are benzodiazepines licensed? Give an example of one

Answer 16

No

Alprazolam (xanax tradename)

Question 17

How do benzodiazepines work? What effects do they have?

Answer 17

Enhance GABA

Anxiolytic, sedative, amnesic

Question 18

Why are benzodiazepines avoided in cats?

Answer 18

Cause fatal hepatic necrosis

Question 19

Beta blockers are used as negative chronotropes. What behavioural changes does it cause?

Answer 19

Reduces physiological signs of pain and stress

Inhibits memory consolidation

Question 20

When are beta blockers used as anxiolytics? Give an example

Answer 20

Short term anxiety

Propanolol

Question 21

How can anti-epileptic drugs be used for behaviour?

Answer 21

Topiramate - useful for compulsive behaviours

Impeitoin - partial agonist of GABA receptors

Question 22

Alpha 2 agonists can be used for management of mild fears at low doses. Where do they work?

Answer 22

Locus coeruleus

Question 23

What is serotonin syndrome?

Answer 23

Serotonin toxicity = cognitive defects, autonomic effects, somatic effects

Question 24

What causes serotonin syndrome?

Answer 24

Using multiple psychoactive drugs together (most cause increased serotonin)
Using psychoactive drugs with herbal remedies (St John’s wart) or serotonin precursors (dairy products)

Question 25

Pheromones are effective and safe if used with lifestyle changes. How do they work?

Answer 25

Stimulate limbic system to alter emotional state