Untitled Flashcards Set

Schizophrenia

A severe mental illness characterized by negative symptoms (emotional withdrawal, flat affect) and positive symptoms (hallucinations, delusions).

Positive symptoms

Abnormal behavioral states that have been gained, such as hallucinations and delusions.

Negative symptoms

Reductions in typical functioning, such as emotional withdrawal.

Heritability of schizophrenia

Genes account for about 50% of schizophrenia risk in identical twins, indicating environmental factors also play a significant role.

Hypofrontality

Condition where the frontal lobes are underactive in people with schizophrenia.

Lobotomy

A surgical separation of part of the frontal lobes formerly used to treat schizophrenia.

Dopamine hypothesis

A theory suggesting that schizophrenia may be caused by an excess of dopamine release or dopamine receptors.

Typical neuroleptics

First-generation D2 receptor antagonists that alleviate schizophrenia by blocking dopamine receptors.

Atypical neuroleptics

Second-generation D2 receptor antagonists that also affect other neurotransmitter systems, such as serotonin.

PCP

Phencyclidine, a drug that mimics both positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia, classified as a psychotomimetic.

Ketamine

A glutamate receptor agonist being studied for rapid effects in treating depression.

Glutamate hypothesis

Theory suggesting that too little glutamate may contribute to schizophrenia symptoms, especially in the prefrontal cortex.

Depression

Psychiatric condition marked by an unhappy mood, lack of interest, reduced energy, changes in appetite and sleep, and loss of pleasure.

Neural activity in depression

Increased amygdala activation and decreased temporal cortex and habenula activity, even after depression symptoms have resolved.

Electroconvulsive shock therapy

A last-resort treatment for depression involving intentional seizure induction.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)

Noninvasive treatment using magnetic energy pulses to stimulate the cortex.

MAO inhibitors

Medications that inhibit the enzyme MAO, increasing monoamine neurotransmitter levels as treatment for depression.

Tricyclics

Antidepressants that inhibit the reuptake of monoamines to boost their synaptic activity.

SSRIs

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors that block serotonin reuptake, increasing its synaptic availability.

Bipolar disorder

A psychiatric disorder characterized by alternating episodes of depression and excessive, expansive moods.

Lithium

A primary treatment for bipolar disorder.

Anxiety disorders

Psychological disorders including recurrent panic episodes and generalized persistent anxiety.

Benzodiazepines

Anxiety treatments that act as GABA agonists.