Psychopharmacology: Drugs, Addiction, and Mental Health

Psychoactive Drugs

Chemicals altering cognition, mood, or behavior.

Psychopharmacology

Study of drugs affecting the nervous system.

Pharmacokinetics

How the body affects drugs' absorption and elimination.

Metabolism

Chemical process of breaking down drugs.

Distribution

How drugs spread through the bloodstream.

Elimination

Process of removing drugs from the body.

Pharmacodynamics

How drugs affect the body after binding.

Affinity

Drug's ability to bind to receptors.

Efficacy

Effectiveness of a drug after binding.

Oral Administration

Swallowed pills or liquids; low bioavailability.

Injection

Direct drug delivery via needle; high bioavailability.

Inhalation

Rapid drug absorption through lungs.

Insufflation

Snorting drugs for quick effects.

Agonist

Enhances neurotransmitter action at receptors.

Direct Agonist

Mimics neurotransmitter by binding to receptors.

Indirect Agonist

Increases neurotransmitter action without receptor binding.

Antagonist

Blocks or hinders neurotransmitter action.

Substance Use Disorder

Addiction harming health and relationships.

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)

Uncontrollable alcohol use affecting health.

Korsakoff Syndrome

Neurodegenerative disease from thiamine deficiency.

Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome

Severe symptoms after stopping alcohol use.

Delirium Tremens (DTs)

Severe alcohol withdrawal with hallucinations.

GABA

Inhibitory neurotransmitter, reduces neuronal excitability.

GABAA receptors

Binding sites for GABA and alcohol.

Alcohol

GABA agonist, increases dopamine levels.

Nicotine

Acetylcholine agonist, highly addictive.

Dopamine

Neurotransmitter linked to reward and pleasure.

Carcinogenic

Substances that can cause cancer.

Teratogens

Drugs causing birth defects.

Cocaine

Psychostimulant causing euphoria and increased arousal.

Crack cocaine

Crystallized cocaine, more addictive form.

Amphetamine

Psychostimulant, highly addictive, increases dopamine.

Methamphetamine

Crystallized form of amphetamine, smoked.

Dopamine reuptake inhibitors

Block transporters, increasing dopamine levels.

Opioids

Analgesics, reduce pain, increase dopamine.

Endogenous Opioid System

Body's natural pain relief system.

Opioid receptors

Mu, delta, kappa; involved in analgesia.

Hallucinogens

Affect consciousness, produce hallucinations.

Psychedelics

Hallucinogens like LSD and psilocybin.

Dissociative hallucinogens

PCP and ketamine, alter perception.

5-HT2A receptors

Serotonin receptors affected by hallucinogens.

Drug tolerance

Reduced response to a drug over time.

Metabolic tolerance

Body increases enzymes to counteract drugs.

Psychological tolerance

Conditioned response to drug-related stimuli.

Overdose

Occurs more often in unfamiliar environments.

Drug Sensitization

Increased response to drug intake over time.

Behavioral Sensitization

Greater response after initial drug exposure.

Addiction

Compulsive behaviors causing harm to self and others.

Social Stigma

Negative societal perception of addiction.

Risk Factors

Adolescents, trauma, and mental health disorders.

Negative Reinforcement Theory

Drugs taken to alleviate withdrawal symptoms.

Positive Reinforcement Theory

Drugs taken for euphoric pleasure.

Mesotelencephalic Dopamine System (MTDS)

Dopamine pathway activated by drugs and rewards.

Ventral Tegmentum

Sends signals to the nucleus accumbens.

Nucleus Accumbens

Brain region involved in reward and addiction.

CREB

Gene activator that increases with drug use.

Dynorphin

Reduces pleasurable feelings from drugs.

ΔFosB

Protein linked to craving behavior and sensitization.

BDNF

Promotes dendritic branching and learning.

Incentive-Sensitization Theory

MTDS sensitized to drugs and associated stimuli.

Classical Conditioning

Learning through association with drug stimuli.

Instrumental Conditioning

Increased craving due to drug-related stimuli.

Dorsal Striatum

Brain region crucial for learning and cravings.

Long-lasting Sensitization

Sensitization persists beyond withdrawal symptoms.

Relapse

Return to drug use after abstinence.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Condition affecting social interaction and communication.

Hypersensitivity to stimuli

Overreaction to sensory input in individuals.

Repetitive behavior

Engaging in the same actions repeatedly.

Need for routines

Preference for predictable and consistent schedules.

Diagnosis rate

1 in 59 children diagnosed with ASD.

Genetic factors

Inherited traits contributing to developmental disorders.

Environmental exposure

Contact with heavy metals and pesticides linked to ASD.

Associated disorders

Conditions like Down syndrome and fragile X syndrome.

Vaccine myth

No evidence linking vaccines to autism.

Nucleus accumbens

Brain region reacting differently to rewards in autism.

Amygdala overactivation

Increased activity leading to overwhelming stimuli.

Prefrontal cortex overactivation

Excessive activation affecting decision-making and behavior.

Applied behavioral analysis

Therapy using learning methods to improve behavior.

Vasopressin research

Investigating hormone's role in autism treatment.

Oxytocin research

Studying hormone's potential effects on social behavior.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Disorder characterized by inattention and hyperactivity.

Executive functioning issues

Difficulties in planning and executing tasks.

Gender diagnosis disparity

ADHD diagnosed more in boys than girls.

Comorbid conditions

ADHD often occurs with anxiety and epilepsy.

Dopamine neurons

Neurons involved in attention and reward pathways.

Psychostimulants

Medications like Ritalin that stimulate dopamine activity.

Major Depressive Disorder

Condition marked by persistent sadness and anhedonia.

Anhedonia

Inability to feel pleasure in activities.

Gender prevalence in depression

Twice as likely in women compared to men.

Monoamine hypothesis

Theory linking depression to low monoamine levels.

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)

Medications that increase monoamine activity in synapses.

Cheese reaction

High blood pressure from certain food interactions.

Tricyclic antidepressants

Older class of antidepressants with potential side effects.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

Common antidepressants that affect serotonin levels.

Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)

Medications that enhance norepinephrine in the brain.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Therapy focusing on changing negative thought patterns.

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

Anesthesia and muscle relaxants used during procedure.

ECT Electricity Level

Electricity runs through brain at 800 milliamps.

ECT Memory Effect

Patients typically do not remember the procedure.

ECT Effectiveness

Provides fast relief from depression symptoms.