Drugs and Mental Health Flashcards
What are anxiety disorders?
An inappropriate sympathetic response
What is the most effective anxiolytic?
Benzodiazepines
What is the mechanism for benzodiazepines?
Enhances GABA response by selectively bind to GABAa receptors and facilitating opening of GABA activated chloride channels
What are unwanted effects of benzodiazepines?
Prolonged sleep Respiratory depression Impaired coordination High tolerance Withdrawal likely
What defines a major depressive episode?
Sad, depressed mood for 2 weeks Loss of pleasure Disruption of appetite and sleep Negative self concepts Recurrent thoughts of death
What is the biogenic amine hypothesis?
The theory used to explain depression - decreased noradrenaline, serotonin or dopamine
What are the three classes of antidepressants?
Tricyclic antidepressants
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
Why aren’t tricyclic antidepressents prescribed anymore?
They are cardiotoxic
Describe the mechanism of monoamine oxidase inhibitors
They inhibit the enzyme monoamine oxidase that breakdown noradrenaline, serotonin and dopamine at the synaptic cleft
Describe the mechanism of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
The SSRI blocks the reuptake of serotonin which increases the concentration of serotonin. This desensitises 5-HT1a autoreceptors so there is a lack of inhibition of impulses. This increases the serotonin from the axon terminal and the post synaptic receptors also desensitise
What is the effect of the mechanism of SSRIs on the therapeutic timeline?
It takes two weeks to have a therapeutic effect
Where are 5HT1a receptors located?
On the somata and dendrites in the raphe nuclei of the medulla and midbrain
Why are 5HT1a receptors classed as autoreceptors?
They are located on serotonergic neurones and bind to serotonin
What are unwanted effects of SSRIs?
Nausea, anorexia, insomnia, aggression, sexual dysfunction, loss of libido
What are positive symptoms of schizophrenia?
Delusions
Hallucinations
Disordered thinking
