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PSYC255 > Chapter 6 (MT2) > Flashcards

Chapter 6 (MT2) Flashcards

Drugs and Hormones (62 cards)

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1
Q

Psychopharmacology

A

The study of how drugs affect the nervous system and behaviour

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2
Q

What influences how drugs effect people?

A

Secondary or unintended actions of the drugs
Individual differences (genetic makeup, adverse childhood experiences, sex, age, height)

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3
Q

Drugs

A

Chemical compounds administered to produce a desired change

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4
Q

Psychoactive drugs

A

Substance that acts to alter mood, thought, or behaviour, used to manage a neuropsychological illness

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5
Q

Route of administration (definition and examples)

A

The way a drug enters and passes through the body to reach its target

  • injecting directly to brain
  • injected into muscles
  • injected into bloodstream
  • absorbed through skin
  • inhaled into lungs
  • rectally (suppository)
  • orally
  • weak acids pass from stomach to bloodstream
  • weak bases pass from intestines to bloodstream
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6
Q

Where are drugs broken down (catabolized)

A

Kidneys, liver, intestines

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7
Q

How are drugs excreted

A

Urine, feces, sweat, breast milk, exhaled air

Some cannot be removed and can build up/become toxic (eg. Hg)

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8
Q

What prevents most substances (including drugs) from entering the brain via the bloodstream?

A

The blood brain barrier, using tight junctions

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9
Q

Why do substances move into and out of the bloodstream more easily?

A

Endothelial cells in capillaries are not tightly joined

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10
Q

Which three brain regions lack a blood brain barrier?

A

Area postrema (allows toxic substances to enter to induce vomiting)
Pituitary gland (entry of chemicals that influence pituitary hormones)
Pineal gland (entry of chemicals that effect day/night cycles)

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11
Q

What else enters the brain despite the blood brain barrier?

A

Fuel (oxygen and glucose)
Amino acids to build proteins
Some drugs

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12
Q

What are the two ways that molecules of vital substances cross the blood brain barrier?

A

Small molecules pass through the endothelial membranes

Complex molecules carried across membrane by active transport systems or ion pumps

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13
Q

Agonists
Antagonists

A

Agonists increase neurotransmission, antagonists decrease it

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14
Q

How do drugs modify synaptic actions (how they work)

A

(1) Synthesis of neurotransmitter in cell body, axon, or terminal

(2) Packaging and storage of neurotransmitter in vesicles

(3) Release of transmitter from presynaptic terminal

(4) Receptor interaction in postsynaptic membrane

(5) Inactivation by reuptake into presynaptic terminal for reuse, or by enzymatic degradation of excess neurotransmitter

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15
Q

Tolerance

A

Decreased response to a drug with repeated exposure

A learned behavior results when a response to a stimulus
weakens with repeated presentations

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16
Q

Metabolic tolerance

A

Increase in number of enzymes in the liver, blood, or brain needed to break down a substance

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17
Q

Cellular tolerance

A

Activities of brain cells adjust to minimize effects of the substance

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18
Q

Learned tolerance

A

People learn to cope with being intoxicated

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19
Q

Sensitization

A

The increased responsiveness to successive doses of a substance

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20
Q

What may underly the development of beneficial effects of drugs?

A

Sensitization - drugs may need to be taken for several weeks

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21
Q

What must happen before someone becomes dependent on a drug?

A

One must be sensitized by numerous experiences with the drug away from the home environment

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22
Q

What can produce effects resembling sensitization that prime the nervous system for addiction?

A

Life experiences, especially stressful ones

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23
Q

Categorization of psychoactive drugs (based on their primary neurotransmitter system of action)

A
  • Adenosinergic antagonist
  • Cholinergic agonist
  • GABAergic agonists
  • Glutamatergic antagonists
  • Dopaminergic agonists
  • Dopaminergic antagonists
  • Serotonergic agonists
  • Opiodergic agonists
  • Cannabinergic agonsists
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24
Q

Zoopharmacognosy

A

Behaviour where nonhuman animals self-medicate

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25
Adenosinergic
Caffeine (mild dependence) - Binds to adenosine receptors without activating them (adenosine induces drowsiness) - Inhibits an enzyme that breaks down cAMP (increase in cAMP results in more energy) - promotes release of other neurotransmitters (like dopamine), leading to stimulant effects
26
Cholinergic
Cholinergic = mimic ACh Nicotine (dependence involves psychological and physical aspects) (tobacco, tomato, potato, eggplant) (stimulant in low doses, dampens neuronal activity at high doses) - nicotine stimulates ACh nicotinic receptors, indirectly causes the release of other neurotransmitters (dopamine gives reinforcement)
27
GABAergic
(lower dose) normal anxiety relief disinhibition sedation (median dose) sleep general anesthesia coma death (higher dose) Alcohol, benzodiazepines (valium, xanax)
28
Glutamergic
Receptors of glutamergic system: NMDA, AMPA, kainite Antagonists for the NMDA receptor can produce hallucinations and out-of-body experiences (PCP, ketamine) Both PCP and ketamine produce feelings of detachment/dissociation from the environment/self because they distort perceptions of sight/sound (dissociative anesthetics)
29
Dopamine agonists
Methamphetamine (synthetic) Amphetamine (adderall) and methylphenidate (ritalin) are prescribed for ADHD Cocaine, amphetamine, meth all used recreationally The use of dopamine antagonist drugs that preferentially bind to D2 receptors has improved the functioning of people with schizophrenia
30
Tardive dyskinesia
Movement disorder resulting from long term use of D2 antagonists characterized by involuntary, repetitive movements such as grimacing, lip smacking, rapid jerking or slow writhing movements
31
Serotonergic
Used recreationally (good and bad trips) Naturally occurring (plants and mushrooms): mescaline, DMT, psilocybin Synthetic: LSD, MDMA (ecstacy)
32
Major depression (and what is prescribed?)
Mood disorder characterized by prolonged feelings of worthlessness and guilt, disruption of normal eating habits, insomnia, a general slowing of behaviour, and frequent thoughts of suicide Serotonergic agonists prescribed
33
Opioid
Any endogenous or exogenous compound that binds to opioid receptors to produce morphine-like effects Sleep-inducing (narcotic) and pain-relieving (analgesic) properties
34
Three sources of opioids
– Isolated (morphine, codeine) – Altered (heroin, oxycodone) – Synthetic (fentanyl and methadone)
35
Five classes of opioid peptides
Dynorphins, enkephalins, endorphins, endomorphins, and nociceptin
36
Active ingredient of opium
Morphine (codeine and morphine isolated from opium in 1805)
37
Physiological changes of opioid ingestion
– Altered pain perception – Euphoria – Constipation – Respiratory depression – Decreased BP
37
Semi-synthetic and synthetic opioids
SS: Heroin and oxycodone S: Fentanyl
38
What is a competitive inhibitor of opioids?
Naloxone (narcan)
39
Cannabinergic
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is one of 84 cannabinoids and the main psychoactive constituent in cannabis - THC alters mood by binding to cannabidiol (CB1) receptor and with CB2 receptors on glial cells/other body tissue
40
What disorders is THC and CBD useful for?
– Relieves nausea & vomiting (chemo) – Stimulates appetite (anorexia) – Chronic pain - MS – Epilepsy – Glaucoma
41
Substance use disorder
A pattern of drug use in which people rely on a drug chronically and excessively, allowing it to occupy a central place in their life
42
Withdrawal symptom
Physical and psychological behaviour displayed by an addict when drug use ends
43
Addiction
A complex brain disorder characterized by escalation, compulsive drug taking, and relapse; called substance use disorder per the DSM-5
44
Psychomotor activation
Increased behavioural and cognitive activity so that at certain levels of consumption, the drug user feels energetic and in control
45
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)
Environmental factors associated with an increased risk of drug initiation and drug addiction including: – emotional, physical, and sexual abuse or neglect, mental illness/substance abuse/incarceration of/by a household member, parental separation/divorce, & witnessing violence against one’s mother
46
Are men or women more sensitive to drugs? Are men or women more likely to abuse drugs?
Women, women
47
The neural basis of addiction: wanting-and-liking theory
When a drug is associated with certain cues, the cues themselves elicit desire for the drug wanting = craving liking = pleasure With repeated use: – Tolerance for liking develops, and the expression of liking decreases – Wanting sensitizes, craving increases
48
Where is the decision to take a drug made?
Prefrontal cortex - drug activates opioid systems related to pleasurable experience - wanting drugs springs from dopaminergic activity
49
Why aren't we all addicted to drugs?
Genetics - no specific gene, but any explanation of drug use requires genetic and learning components Epigenetics - can account both for the enduring behaviours that support addiction and for the tendency of drug addiction to be inherited
50
How does chronic alcohol use cause brain damage?
Alcohol does not directly cause damage to thalamus/limbic system: Alcoholics typically obtain low amounts of thiamine (vitamin B1) in their diet, and alcohol interferes with intestinal absorption of thiamine
51
Where does the strongest evidence that drugs cause brain damage come from?
Strongest evidence comes from the study of the synthetic amphetaminelike drug MDMA (Ecstasy) – In animal studies, doses of MDMA (approximating those taken by human users) result in the degeneration of very fine serotonergic nerve terminals
52
Feedback system of hierarchical control of hormones
- Hypothalamus produces neurohormones - Neurohormones stimulate pituitary gland to secrete hormones into bloodstream - Hormones influence endocrine glands - Endocrine glands release hormones & send feedback to the brain
53
Functions of hormones
Treat/prevent disease, replacement therapy, counteract aging, increase strength & endurance
54
Classes of hormones
Peptide or steroid
55
Steroid hormone
Fat-soluble chemical messenger synthesized from cholesterol. E.g., gonadal (sex) hormones, thyroid
56
Peptide hormone
Chemical messenger synthesized by cellular DNA that acts to affect the target cell’s physiology. E.g., insulin, growth hormone
57
Functional groups of hormones
(1) Homeostatic hormones: Maintain internal metabolic balance and regulation of physiological systems (2) Gonadal (sex) hormones: Control reproductive functions, sexual development, and behaviour (3) Glucocorticoids: Secreted in times of stress; important in protein and carbohydrate metabolism
58
Anabolic-androgenic steroids
A class of synthetic hormones related to the male sex hormone testosterone that have both muscle-building (anabolic) and masculinizing (androgenic) effects
59
Stressor
A stimulus that challenges the body’s homeostasis and triggers arousal
60
Stress response
Physiological and behavioural arousal and attempts to reduce stress
61
Activating a stress response
Fast acting: primes body immediately for fight or flight (epinephrine) Slow acting: mobilizes the body's resources to confront a stressor and repairs stress related damage (cortisol)

PSYC255 (12 decks)

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