Exam 4 Schizophrenia Flashcards
(140 cards)
The creation of which schizophrenia drug in the 1950’s lead to the emptying out of mental hospitals?
Phenothiazines (chlorpromazine)
What is the most debilitating psychotic disorder?
Schizophrenia
What is the onset age of schizophrenia?
15-20 years old
(onset late adolescence to early adulthood)
Men: late teens, early 20’s
Women: late 20’s, early 30’s
Why do women have a later onset of schizophrenia than men?
Estrogen is protective against schizophrenia onset
What are the 5 etiologies of schizophrenia?
Neurodevelopmental/anatomical
Genetics
Environmental
Gene-Environment Interaction
Neurodevelopment-Environment Interaction
What are the neurodevelopmental/anatomical differences seen with schizophrenia?
In utero/adolescence:
-Increased ventricle size
-Changes in gray and white matter
What are the environmental etiologies that can result in schizophrenia?
-Birth complications
-Infections
Mutations in what gene may cause schizophrenia with the use of marijuana?
COMT
What is the cause of schizophrenia?
UNKNOWN
-just know some risks
What are positive schizophrenia symptoms?
Hallucinations, Delusions, Bizarre Behavior, Thought Disorders
What are negative schizophrenia symptoms?
Blunted Emotion, Poor Self Care, Social Withdrawal, Poverty in Speech
What are cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia?
*Decrease in cognitive function
-Involves D1 receptors and glutamate receptors
*Newly acknowledged
(Decreased ability to use executive functioning, ex: planning)
What type of schizophrenia symptoms respond well to drug therapy?
Positive symptoms
*note: newer agents work better on negative symptoms
What are the 3 types of neurotransmitter hypotheses for schizophrenia?
-Dopamine
-Serotonin
-Glutamate
What two hallucinogens is the serotonin hypothesis based on?
LSD and Mescaline
What is the serotonin hypothesis?
-LSD and Mescaline are 5HT agonists which inspired a search for endogenous hallucinogens
-Studies identified the 5HT2A receptor as a mediator of hallucinations
*Antagonism and inverse agonism are linked to antipsychotic activity
-5HT2A receptors modulate dopamine release, glutamate release, and NMDA receptors
*5HT2C receptors may be beneficial in schizophrenia
What two drugs is the glutamate hypothesis based on?
Phencyclidine and Ketamine
**EXACERBATE PSYCHOSIS*
What is the glutamate hypothesis?
*Glutamate is a major excitatory neurotransmitter
-Phencyclidine and Ketamine are noncompetitive inhibitors of NMDA receptors. THEY EXACERBATE PSYCHOSIS AND COGNITIVE DEFECTS
What is the dopamine hypothesis?
D2 receptor antagonists have a strong correlation between binding affinity and effectiveness
**Dopaminergic agents (L-DOPA, amphetamine) EXACERBATE schizophrenia symptoms
Schizophrenia patients have increased D2 receptor density and increased dopamine release
What does Kd/Ki represent?
Estimated concentration at which 1/2 of the receptors are occupied
(used in binding affinity)
When determining a binding affinity, does a high or low number represent tight affinity (good)?
LOW
*we want low numbers for binding affinity
What are the dopamine receptors?
D1-like: D1 and D5
D2-like: D2, D3, D4
What is the serotonin receptor?
5HT
What are the 2 norepinephrine receptors and what effect does blocking them have?
a1: Hypotension, Sedation
a2: May be helpful in therapy
(adrenergic receptors)