Chapter 1 & 2 - Intro

Question 1

Psychoneuroimmunology

Answer 1

The study of the effects of emotional factors on disease susceptibility and resistance.

Question 2

Kindling

Answer 2

If the disorder is not controlled, each episode further affects the nervous system; the threshold for recurring episodes then becomes progressively lower (e.g., bipolar - first episodes often reactions to environment, or exogenous, non-biological, but neurochemical and structural brain changes occur that increase risk for future episodes with or without external stressor).

Question 3

Stimulus-response specificity

Answer 3

Conditions where a very specific response can be predicted with high regularity when a stimulus is applied (e.g., CPR) - not the case for psychological/psychiatric problems and interventions.

Question 4

Pharmacokinetics

Answer 4

How the body (e.g., metabolic rates) affect drugs and their effects.

Question 5

Polydipsia

Answer 5

Then need to drink a lot of water.

Question 6

Polyuria

Answer 6

Frequent urination.

Question 7

What organic psychotic syndromes that were discovered in the 1800s fueled biopsychiatry?

Answer 7

Treponema pallidum (bacteria) associated with late stage syphillis and pellagra (niacin and protein deficiency).

Question 8

What 3 discoveries of the 1950s sparked new interest in biopsychiatry?

Answer 8

1. Psychotropic medications like chlorpromazine (Thorazine).
2. The synapse and neurochemical transmission.
3. Genetic studies identifying heritability of mental illnesses.

Question 9

How many nerve cells/synapses in the human brain?

Answer 9

100 billion/100 trillion

Question 10

Ligand

Answer 10

A molecule that can bind to and possibly activate a receptor. Neurotransmitters, hormones, and drugs can all be ligands.

Question 11

Conduction transmission

Answer 11

The passage of the nerve impulse (converted from electrical action potential) across the synaptic space.

Question 12

What neurotransmitter can be both excitatory and inhibitory?

Answer 12

Serotonin, depending on which serotonin receptor is activated by the molecule, which is more or less neutral.

Question 13

How many receptors can be on a single neuron cell?

Answer 13

2-3000 on cell body and de dendrites.

Question 14

How long is the lifespan of receptors?

Answer 14

Between 12-24 hours.

Question 15

Pharmacodynamics

Answer 15

Effects of drugs on the body

Question 16

Steady state

Answer 16

When concentrations of a medication in the bloodstream have reached plateau so that the amount administered is equal to the amount being eliminated. Generally takes 4 half life periods. Steady state does not necessarily imply onset of the medication’s desired action.

Question 17

5 types of medication effects

Answer 17

Pharmacological
Side
Idiosyncratic 
Allergic 
Discontinue syndrome

Question 18

Activation

Answer 18

Acute onset anxiety occurs after the first dose of an antidepressant that was prescribed for a person suffering from an anxiety disorder - sometimes leads to discontinuation.