AB PSYCH 2 MIDTERMS

Neurocognitive Disorders

disorders that develop later on in life and have predominant features that include the impairment of memory, attention, perception, and thinking

delirium

• A disturbance in attention (i.e., reduced ability to direct, focus, sustain, and shift attention) and awareness (reduced orientation to the environment).

• confused, disoriented, or out of touch with the surroundings

delirium trements

delirium caused by alcohol

Fluctuating

Course of Delirium

Rapid

Onset of Delirium

hours to weeks

Duration of delirium

fluctuates

attention in delirium

impaired recent and immediate memory

memory in delirium

Incoherent (slow or rapid)

speech in delirium

frequent disruption

sleep-wake cycle in delirium

disorganized

thoughts in delirium

reduced

awareness in delirium

hypervigilant or reduced vigilance

alertness in delirium

Mild NCD

describe early stages of cognitive decline

• evidence of modest cognitive decline from a previous level of performance in one or more cognitive domains

Major NCD

previously labeled as dementia

• A gradual deterioration of brain functioning that affects memory, judgement, language, and other advanced cognitive processes

• evidence of significant cognitive decline from a previous level of performance in one or more cognitive domains.

Facial agnosia

• the inability to recognize even familiar faces, can be extremely distressing to family members

Insidious or slow

onset of dementia

months to years

duration of dementia

preserved

attention in dementia

impaired remote memory

memory in dementia

word-finding difficulty

speech in dementia

fragmented sleep

sleep-wake cycle in dementia

impoverished

thoughts in dementia

unchanged

awareness in dementia

usually normal

alertness in dementia

dementia pugulistica

neurocognitive disorder among athletes who receive repeated blows to the head

chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)

caused by repetitive head trauma that can provoke distinctive neurodegeneration

Alzheimer’s

progressive memory impairment and other behavioral and cognitive problems, including suspiciousness

Amnesia

impaired memory

aphasia

language impairment

apraxia

impaired motor functioning

agnosia

failure to recognize objects

sundowner syndrome

symptoms become more pronounced late in the day, perhaps as a result of fatigue or a disturbance in the brain's biological clock, or change in cues

cognitive reserve hypothesis

• if you are more mentally stimulated growing up, you are more likely to delay, the more neural connections you make

  • suggests that the more synapses a person develops throughout life, the more neuronal death must take place before the signs of dementia are obvious

beta amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles

biomarkers of alzheimer’s

neurofibrillary tangles

large numbers of tangled, strandlike filaments within the brain cells of patients with alzheimers

apo E4

responsible for late onset alzheimers also known as susceptibility gene

Vascular Dementia (NCD due to stroke)

• brain infarcts

• declines in speed of information processing and executive functioning (planning, thinking ahead, inhibition)

Frontotemporal NCD

used to categorize a variety of brain disorders that damage the frontal or temporal regions of the brain—areas that affect personality, language, and behavior

Frontal

declines in appropriate behavior

Temporal

declines in language

Pick’s disease

abnormal build up of tau proteins/pick’s cells and bodies

behavioral variant in frontotemporal NCD

• loss of interest in socialization 

• decline in self-care and personal responsibilities

• display socially inappropriate behaviors

• impaired insight

• changes in social style, religious, and political beliefs 

• Cognitive decline is less prominent but may be seen in lack of planning, organization, distractibility, or poor judgment

• Deficits in executive functioning such as poor performance on tests of mental flexibility, abstract reasoning, or poor judgment

semantic primary progressive aphasia (PPA)

• slowly losing ability to understand single words and sometimes to recognize familiar people and common objects

Aggramatic PPA

• more trouble speaking and may omit words that link nouns and verbs.

  • broken sentences 

lopogenic PPA

 trouble finding the right words during a conversation but can understand words and sentences

• person does not have problems with grammar

NCD due to traumatic brain injury

symptoms last atleast a week following the trauma including executive dysfunction and problems with learning and memory

NCD due to Lewy body disease

1.  Fluctuating cognition with pronounced variations is inattention and alertness

2. Recurrent visual hallucinations that are well formed and detailed

3. Spontaneous features of parkinsonism, with onset subsequent to the development of cognitive decline

lewy bodies

microscopic deposits of a protein that damage brain cells over time

Parkinson’s disease

a degenerative brain disorder that affects about 100 to 300 people in every 100,000 people worldwide, though estimates vary widely due to challenges in diagnosing the disorder

Motor problems

• are characteristic among people with Parkinson’s disease, who tend to have stooped posture, slow body movements (bradykinesia), tremors, and jerkiness in walking.

human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)

causes aids

• Cognitive slowness

• Impaired attention

• Forgetfulness

early symptoms of NCD due to HIV-1

Subcortical dementia

referred to NCDs that affects primarily the inner areas of the brain, below the outer layer called the cortex

Huntington’s disease

a genetic disorder that initially affects motor movements, typically in the form of chorea, involuntary limb movements

Prion’s disease

a rare progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by “prions”

prions

proteins that can reproduce themselves and cause damage to brain cells leading to neurocognitive decline

Substance-related and addictive disorders

• Associated with the abuse of drugs and other substances people take to alter the way they think, feel, and behave.

Substance use

ingestion of psychoactive substances in moderate amounts that does not signicantly interfere with social, educational, or occupational functioning.

Substance intoxication

Our psychological reaction to substances we ingest

Substance Abuse

If continuous ingestion of substances reach levels which impair aspects of your life and put you in physically dangerous situations

Substance dependence

Happens when your body responds negatively to the absence of the drug.

Drug

• Any substance other than food which affects our bodies and minds.

• These substances may cause temporary changes in behavior, emotion, or thought.

Opiates

Sought out for their relief from physical distress, warmth and relaxed detachment, a sense of euphoria and well-being

Depressants

• These drugs result in a state of calm, relaxation, sleepiness, an enhancement of the “high experienced as induced by other drugs or as a relief of unwelcome side effects 

• decreases central nervous system activity

Cannabis

A sense of well-being, euphoric sensations, and sharper sensory perceptions are common sought after effects

Hallucinogens

• Sought after for its alteration of a person’s mood, sensory perception, experience of vivid images and increase in empathy and sociability 

Stimulants

• Sought after for its effects of increased alertness, heightened energy, improved task performance and elevation in mood

Oral

• Swallowed when taken by mouth

Rectally

• Drug passes through the rectum

Parenterally

• Liquid form w/ a needle and syringe

Inhaled

• Passed through the lungs as vapor or smoke

Skin Absorption

drug is administered through patches

Mucous Membranes

• Through snorting or sniffing

Substance use disorder

• A cluster of cognitive, behavioral, and physiological symptoms w/ continued use despite substance-related problems

Impaired control

• Take substances in larger amounts over time, unsuccessful efforts to discontinue, great deal of time obtaining, using or recovering from substance, daily activities revolve around substance, intense craving

Social impairment

• Failure to fulfill major obligations due to substance, persistent or exacerbated interpersonal problems, activities given up due to use, withdrawal from family and hobbies due to use

Risky Use

• Recurrent substance use even though physically hazardous continuing despite knowledge of persistent or recurrent problems, difficulty to abstain despite problems caused by substance

tolerance

requiring a markedly increased dose of the substance to achieve the desired effect

withdrawal

occurs when person stops using causing blood and tissue concentrations of a substance to decline especially after prolonges, heavy use

Alcohol

• most common depressant

GABA

inhibitory neurotransmitter that blocks other neurons from sending information

• affected by alcohol

binge drinking

consuming 5 or more drinks in a single occassion

ethyl alcohol

• contained in all alcoholic beverages

• When metabolized in the body, this binds to GABA receptors which helps shut down neurons, thus inducing relaxation.

increased activity in CNS

• increases blood pressure, heart rate, alertness, and speed-up behavior and thinking.

cocaine

a type of stimulant that brings on a euphoric rush of well being and confidence

opioids

have a narcotic effect (reduces pain and induces sleep)

• Also induces euphoria, drowsiness, and slowed breathing

cannabis

• A separate category is given for this substance because it gives out hallucinogenic, depressant, and stimulant effects

• Tetrahydrocannibinol (TCH) appears to be the reason for its effects

marijuana

• At low doses, the drug induces feelings of joy and relaxation

• At high doses, there are odd visual experiences, changes in body image and hallucinations.

LSD

• One of the most famous and most powerful hallucinogens derived from naturally occuring drugs called ergot alkaloids

Gambler’s Fallacy

• A pattern of “chasing one’s losses” may develop, with an urgent need to continue gambling (often with placing larger bets or taking greater risks) to undo a loss or series of losses

Gambling disorders

Persistent and recurrent problematic gambling behavior leading to clinically significant impairment of distress

Internet gaming disorder

Persistent and recurrent use of the internet to engage in games, often with other players, leading to clinically significant impairment of distress

Barbituates

prescribed to help people sleep and replaced such drugs as alcohol and opium

Benzodiazepines

• Used to reduce anxiety

• Used to calm an individual and induce sleep

• Prescribed as muscle relaxants and anticonvulsants

Amphetamines

• can induce feelings of elation and vigor and can reduce fatigue.

• used as a treatment for asthma and as a nasal decongestant

• People also take them to lose weight

MDMA / ecstasy

• makes you “feel happy” and “love everyone and everything”; “music feels better” and “it’s more fun to dance”; “You can say what is on your mind without worrying what others will think”

• used as an appetite suppressant

Opioids

have a narcotic effects (reduces pain and induces sleep)

• Also induces euphoria, drowsiness, and slowed breathing

Cannabis

it gives out hallucinogenic, depressant, and stimulant effects

Marijuana 

• At low doses, the drug induces feelings of joy and relaxation

  • Perceptions are sharpened and time seems to slow down

  • There is reddening of the eyes, faster heartbeat, increased blood pressure, and dizziness.