Psych Nursing 3rd Year 2nd Sem

Dopamine

• Major neurotransmitter

• Excitatory

• controls complex movements, motivation, cognition; regulates emotional response

Norepinephrine

• major neurotransmitter

• Excitatory

• causes changes in attention, learning and memory, sleep and wakefulness, mood

Epinephrine

• major neurotransmitter

• excitatory

• controls flight-or-fight response

Serotonin

• major neurotransmitter

• inhibitory

• controls food intake, sleep and wakefulness, temperature regulation, pain control, sexual behaviors, regulations of emotion

Histamine

• major neurotransmitter

• neuromodulator

• controls alertness, gastric secretions, cardiac stimulation, peripheral allergic response

Acetylcholine

• major neurotransmitter

• excitatory or inhibitory

• controls sleep and wakefulness cycle; signals muscles to become alert

Glutamate

• major neurotransmitter

• excitatory

• results in neurotoxicity if levels are too high

Gamma aminobutyric acid

• GABA

• Major neurotransmitter

• inhibitory

• modulates other neurotransmitter

Computed Tomography

• serial x-rays of brain

• structural images

• used to diagnose primary tumors, metastases, and effusions and to determine the size of the ventricles of the brain

Magnetic Resonance imaging

• radio waves from brain detected from magnet

• structural images

• can show blood flow pattern and tissue changes such as edema

Psychoimmunology

A relatively new field of study, examines the effect of psychosocial stressors on the body’s immune system.

Efficacy

Refers to the maximal therapeutic effect that a drug can achieve

efficacy

potency

half-life

Potency

Refers to the amount of the drug needed to achieve that maximum effect; low-potency drugs require higher dosages to achieve the desired effect, while high-potency drugs achieve efficacy at lower-dosages

efficacy

potency

half-life

Half-life

This is the time it takes for half of the drug to be removed from the body

efficacy

potency

half-life

Off-label use

Refers to when a drug will prove effective for a disease that differs from the one involved in original testing and FDA approval. E.g. Anti-histamine

Black box warning

refers to when a drug is found to have serious or life-threatening side effects. The package inserts must have a highlighted box, separate from the text, which contains a warning about the serious or life-threatening side effects.

Tapering

This is the process of gradually decreasing medication use that abruptly stopping

Rebound syndrome

This refers to the temporary return of symptoms after abruptly stopping use of medication

Withdrawal syndrome

This refers to the new symptoms resulting from discontinuation of the drug.

Antipsychotic drugs

• also known as neuroleptics

• These are drugs used to treat symptoms of psychosis, such as delusions, and hallucinations seen in schizophrenia

• They work by blocking receptors of the neurotransmitter dopamine

Depot Injection

• A time-release form of IM medication for maintenance therapy

• Contains six antipsychotic drugs

• Given after oral prolixin and haldol and is required every 2-4 weeks to maintain the therapeutic effect.

Extrapyramidal side effects

These refers to the serious neurologic symptoms, that are the major side effects of antipsychotic drugs.

Acute dystonia

• EPS

• acute muscle rigidity and cramping, a stiff or thick tongue with difficulty swallowing, and in severe cases, laryngospasm.

• Most often occurs in middle-aged clients

Akathisia

• EPS

• pt having an intense need to move about. Client appears restless or anxious and agitated.