Psychopharmacology and Other Biologic Treatments - Flashcards

Flashcards covering key terms and concepts from Chapter 13 on Psychopharmacology. These flashcards are designed for review and study purposes in preparation for exams.

Pharmacodynamics

What a drug does to the body, involving receptor binding and chemical interactions.

Pharmacokinetics

The study of how a drug moves through the body, including absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion.

Efficacy

The ability of a drug to produce a desired therapeutic response.

Potency

The amount of drug required to produce a specific desired effect.

Iproniazid

The first monoamine oxidase inhibitor introduced into medicine; used as an antidepressant before it was found to cause liver damage.

Extrapyramidal Symptoms (EPS)

Drug-induced movement disorders, including symptoms such as tremors and rigidity associated with antipsychotic medications.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

A class of antidepressants that increase serotonin levels in the brain by inhibiting its reuptake.

Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS)

A life-threatening reaction to antipsychotic medication characterized by fever, muscle rigidity, and altered mental status.

Tardive Dyskinesia

A late-onset extrapyramidal symptom involving involuntary movements, often a complication of long-term antipsychotic use.

Antipsychotic Medications

Drugs used to manage psychosis, classified into typical (first-generation) and atypical (second-generation) categories.

Bioavailability

The proportion of a drug that reaches systemic circulation unchanged after administration.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter involved in mood regulation and targeted by antipsychotic medications.

Agonist

A substance that activates a receptor to produce a biologic response.

Antagonist

A substance that binds to a receptor but does not activate it, blocking the receptor's action.

Movement Disorders

Conditions characterized by abnormal voluntary or involuntary movements, often induced by medications.

Light Therapy

A treatment that uses exposure to a specific wavelength of light to reset circadian rhythms and treat disorders such as seasonal affective disorder.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

A noninvasive treatment method that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain to improve symptoms of depression.

Tolerance

A phenomenon wherein the body's response to a drug decreases over time, requiring higher doses to achieve the same effect.