Psychobiology Patho Exam 4 (exemplars)

Psychobiology

Study of biologic and neurologic factors influencing cognition, mood, psychosis, anxiety, and behavior

Anxiety

Sense of dread without an apparent stimulus

Avoidance

Maladaptive coping behavior in which a person avoids feared situations/interactions

Somatic Anxiety Response

Physical manifestations of anxiety such as palpitations, sweating, and rapid breathing

GABA

Gamma-aminobutyric acid; inhibitory neurotransmitter often decreased in anxiety disorders

Serotonin

Neurotransmitter involved in mood regulation; often decreased in anxiety and depression

Norepinephrine (NE)

Neurotransmitter involved in stress/fight

Glutamate

Excitatory neurotransmitter; increased in panic disorder and implicated in bipolar excitotoxicity

CRF (Corticotropin

Stress hormone elevated with HPA axis activation

HPA Axis

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal stress response system involved in anxiety and depression

Consolidation

Process of storing fear memories in the amygdala

Reconsolidation

Reactivation and reinforcement of old memories when recalled, strengthening fear memories

Amygdala

Brain structure involved in fear, emotional memory, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and PTSD

Hippocampus

Brain structure involved in memory formation; implicated in PTSD flashbacks and panic disorder

Caudate Nucleus

Brain region that helps drive behavior based on recall of past successful outcomes

Limbic System

Emotional processing network including hypothalamus, amygdala, and hippocampus

Prefrontal Cortex

Brain region involved in attention, impulse control, emotional regulation, and executive functioning

Basal Ganglia

Brain structures involved in emotion/memory processing; abnormalities seen in OCD and schizophrenia

Obsessive

Disorder characterized by obsessions and compulsions

Obsessions

Recurring unwanted thoughts, ideas, or sensations

Compulsions

Repetitive behaviors performed to reduce distress from obsessions

Rumination

Repetitive negative thinking often seen in OCD

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Excessive persistent worrying that interferes with daily function

Free-Floating Anxiety

Widespread nonspecific anxiety not tied to one trigger

Post PTSD

Disorder after traumatic event causing intrusive memories, hypervigilance, and avoidance

Flashbacks

vivid re-experiencing of traumatic memories

Hypervigilance

State of increased alertness and scanning for threats

Panic Disorder

Disorder characterized by sudden episodes of intense fear/panic

Paresthesias

Abnormal numbness or tingling sensations often occurring during panic attacks

Fear centefed anxiety

Anxiety disorder characterized by acute episodes of fear rather than chronic worry

Phobia

Intense irrational fear of specific object/situation often developing after panic episodes

Depression

Mood disorder characterized by persistent sadness and loss of interest

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Depressive symptoms lasting 2 weeks or longer

Anhedonia

Loss of pleasure or interest in usual activities

Psychomotor Changes

Increased or decreased physical activity associated with mood disorder

Hypersomnia

Excessive sleeping

Insomnia

Difficulty falling or staying asleep

Libido Disturbance

Change in sexual desire/function related to depression

Negative Information Bias

Tendency to process information with focus on negative interpretation

Cortisol

Stress hormone elevated in chronic stress and depression

Dopamine

Neurotransmitter involved in reward, pleasure, motivation, and psychosis

Bipolar Disorder

Mood disorder involving episodes of depression and mania/hypomania

Bipolar I Disorder

At least one manic episode with major depressive episodes

Bipolar II Disorder

Major depressive episodes with at least one hypomanic episode

Cyclothymic Disorder

Alternating hypomanic and depressive symptoms not meeting full criteria

Mania

Persistently elevated/irritable mood with increased energy and activity

Hypomania

Less severe form of mania

Rapid Cycling

Four or more mood episodes in 12 months

Flight of Ideas

Rapid shifting from one idea/topic to another during mania

Kindling

Process where repeated mood episodes increase likelihood/severity of future episodes

Glutamate Excitotoxicity

Neuron injury/death caused by excessive glutamate stimulation

Apoptosis

Programmed cell death increased in bipolar disorder

Schizophrenia

Psychotic disorder causing impaired thought, emotion, and behavior with disconnect from reality

Delusions

Fixed false beliefs not based in reality

Hallucinations

Sensory perceptions without external stimulus

Psychosis

Loss of contact with reality involving delusions/hallucinations

Premorbid Phase

Early stage before schizophrenia symptoms emerge

Prodromal Phase

Phase with subtle early schizophrenia symptoms before acute psychosis

Acute Onset Phase

Phase where psychotic symptoms become obvious

Progressive Phase

Worsening functional decline over time

Chronic Phase

Long-term persistent schizophrenia symptoms

Two-Hit Hypothesis

Theory that developmental brain abnormalities plus later stress trigger schizophrenia

First Hit

Early neurodevelopmental defect sensitizing brain to later injury

Second Hit

Stress/adolescent trigger causing onset of psychosis

Ventricles

Cerebral fluid spaces enlarged in schizophrenia

Sulci

Folds/grooves of brain widened in schizophrenia due to volume loss

Temporal Lobes

Brain lobes associated with auditory processing/memory often reduced in schizophrenia

Frontal Lobes

Brain lobes associated with executive function often reduced in schizophrenia

Occipital Lobe

Visual processing area; abnormalities may contribute to visual hallucinations

Thalamus

Brain relay center; volume may be reduced in schizophrenia

Addiction

Compulsive substance use despite desire to stop

Substance Use Disorder

Recurrent substance use causing clinical/functional impairment

Tolerance

Reduced response to drug requiring higher doses

Withdrawal

Physical/psychological symptoms when substance is stopped

Physical Dependence

Physiologic adaptation causing withdrawal when drug removed

Reward Pathway

Dopaminergic brain pathway producing pleasure/reward sensations

Nucleus Accumbens

Brain reward center altered in addiction

Alcohol Use Disorder

Problematic alcohol use causing impairment/distress

REM Sleep

Rapid eye movement sleep disrupted by alcohol

Alcohol Withdrawal

Tremors, hallucinations, seizures after stopping heavy alcohol use

Tobacco Use Disorder

Harmful persistent tobacco/nicotine use with dependence

Nicotine

Addictive stimulant in tobacco products

Nicotinic Cholinergic Receptors

Receptors nicotine binds to in brain/reward pathway

Secondhandsmoke

Smoke exposure from others' tobacco use causing health risks

Opioid Use Disorder

Problematic opioid use with dependence and abuse

Opioid Receptors

Receptors opioids bind to produce analgesia/euphoria

Respiratory Depression

Decreased respiratory drive seen in opioid overdose

CT (Computed Tomography)

Imaging used to assess brain structure/pathology

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

Advanced imaging used to evaluate brain abnormalities

SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography)

Imaging assessing cerebral blood flow/activity

PET (Positron Emission Tomography)

Imaging assessing metabolic brain activity

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Psychotherapy focused on changing maladaptive thoughts/behaviors