Pharmacology of Mood Disorders

Flashcards covering the key vocabulary and definitions related to the pharmacology of mood disorders, including types of disorders, neurotransmitters, and medications.

Mood Disorder

A persistent disturbance in emotion that impairs the ability to effectively deal with activities of daily living (ADLs).

Major Depressive Disorder

Clinical depression as defined by DSM-V.

Dysthymic Disorder

Mild, chronic depression for two or more years.

Bipolar Disorder

Alternating between manic and major depression phases.

Cyclothymic Disorder

Mild form of bipolar disorder, alternating between hypomanic and mild depression phases.

Depression

Sad or despondent mood out of proportion to actual life events, lasting a minimum of 2 weeks with at least five symptoms.

Neurotransmitters Implicated in Depression

Serotonin (5HT), dopamine (DA), and norepinephrine (NE) in the limbic system.

TCAs Mechanism of Action

Reuptake Inhibition: TCAs inhibit the reuptake of neurotransmitters (serotonin and norepinephrine).

SSRIs

Medications commonly used to treat various mental health conditions, primarily depression and anxiety disorders by selectively inhibits the reuptake of serotonin, increasing the availability of serotonin in the synapses.

MAOIs Mechanism of Action

By inhibiting MAO, more NE, DA, or 5HT is available for release by the neuron.

Monoamine Oxidase (MAO)

Enzyme that breaks down NE, DA, and 5HT within the nerve terminal.

Tyramine

A NE-like substance found in bananas, raisins, some cheeses, beer, red wine, fava beans, soy sauce, etc.

Bipolar Disorder

Patients alternate between extreme feelings of sadness and extreme mania.

Mania

Associated with too much NE and glutamate or too little inhibitory NTs such as GABA.

Lithium

Mood stabilizer with a narrow therapeutic range (0.6-1.2 mEq/L).

Lithium Toxicity

Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, lethargy, tremor, fatigue, confusion, agitation, delirium, tachycardia, seizures, coma.

Classes of Antidepressants

TCAs, SSRIs, MAOIs, and atypical antidepressants.

Examples of TCAs

Amitriptyline, nortriptyline, imipramine, desipramine, clomipramine, and doxepin. (end in -triptyline or -ipramine)

Examples of SSRIs

Fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline, citalopram, escitalopram, fluvoxamine. (end in -opram or -etine)

Examples of MAOIs

Isocarboxazid, phenelzine, tranylcypromine, and selegiline

Examples of Atypical Antidepressants

Venlafaxine, duloxetine, bupropion, mirtazapine, trazodone.