Unit 2 - Specific Classes of Drugs: Actions and Applications in Behavioral Pharmacology

These flashcards cover Unit 2 of BEHP 5021, focusing on the vocabulary, classifications, fate, neuropharmacology, and behavioral functions of methylxanthines, antipsychotics, anxiolytics, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and stimulants, as well as drug evaluation methodologies.

Methylxanthines

A class of drugs that includes caffeine, theobromine, and theophylline.

Caffeine

A methylxanthine primarily sourced from coffee and coffee beans; it acts by facilitating the release of epinephrine and blocking adenosine receptor sites.

Theobromine

A methylxanthine primarily sourced from chocolate.

Theophylline

A methylxanthine primarily sourced from tea.

Vasoconstrictor

A drug that produces an effect on the vasculature making it smaller or tighter; caffeine acts this way in the brain to serve as a headache remedy.

Caffeinism

A condition caused by drinking $1000\,mg$ to $1500\,mg$ of caffeine a day, characterized by low-grade fever, agitation, and heart arrhythmias.

Metabolic Tolerance

A type of tolerance where a drug may stimulate the production of enzymes that break the drug itself down.

Behavioral Tolerance

A type of tolerance where an individual learns to function in the presence of or under the influence of a drug.

Cell Tolerance

A type of tolerance where receptor sites (such as adenosine receptors) are being blocked by drug receptors (such as caffeine receptors).

Compensatory Reaction Tolerance

A tolerance mechanism where the body attempts to maintain homeostasis by producing more receptor sites for a neurotransmitter that is being blocked.

Typical Antipsychotics (First Generation)

Older antipsychotics used for psychosis or problem behavior, typically having more side effects; examples include Chlorpromazine (Thorazine) and Haloperidol (Haldol).

Atypical Antipsychotics (Second Generation)

Antipsychotics that typically have fewer or less prevalent side effects than first-generation drugs; examples include Olanzapine (Zyprexa) and Risperidione (Risperdal).

Third Generation Antipsychotic

A classification for drugs like Aripiprazole (Abilify), which acts as a dopamine partial agonist and is atypical with respect to side effects.

Positive Symptoms (Schizophrenia)

Symptoms that include delusions of grandeur and hallucinations.

Negative Symptoms (Schizophrenia)

Symptoms involving a loss of normal functioning, such as flat affect (lack of emotion), anhedonia (loss of pleasure), and avolition (lack of goal-directed behavior).

Depot Binding

The affinity a drug has for fat cells, causing the medication to be released slowly over time.

Tardive Dyskinesia

An extrapyramidal side effect (EPS) common with typical antipsychotics characterized by mouth movements like lip smacking and tongue thrusting; it can be permanent.

Akathisia

An extrapyramidal side effect (EPS) characterized by extreme restlessness, difficulty sitting still, and movement of the arms and legs.

Dystonia

An extrapyramidal side effect (EPS) involving involuntary clenching or sustained contractions of the muscles.

Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS)

A potentially fatal idiosyncratic reaction to antipsychotics where the body becomes very rigid, the person runs a fever, and becomes virtually paralyzed.

Antiemetics

A use for antipsychotics aimed at reducing the frequency of vomiting.

Neuroleptic

A term often used to refer to antipsychotics, especially first-generation typical drugs like Thorazine and Haldol.

Phenothiazines

A name for a specific chemical structure that includes most typical antipsychotics such as Thorazine, Mellaril, and Stelazine.

Anticholinergic Side Effects

A cluster of side effects common to both typical and atypical antipsychotics, including dry mouth, blurry vision, sedation, memory problems, and constipation.

Polydipsia

Excessive thirst often resulting from anticholinergic drug effects, leading to high water intake.

Anxiolytics

Longer-acting drugs within the antianxiety/sedative-hypnotic group used to treat anxiety.

Sedative-Hypnotics

Shorter-acting drugs within the antianxiety/sedative-hypnotic group used as sleep aids.

Geller-Seifter Procedure

A screening procedure for anxiolytics demonstrating that benzodiazepines reduce the value of punishment (functioning as an AO for punishment).

MAOI (Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors)

First-generation antidepressants that block monoamine oxidase activity so that norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin are more active; e.g., Marplan.

Tricyclic Antidepressants

First-generation antidepressants that block the reuptake of serotonin and epinephrine; e.g., Elavil.

SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors)

Second-generation antidepressants that prevent the reuptake of serotonin; e.g., Prozac, Zoloft.

SNRIs (Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors)

Third-generation antidepressants that block the reuptake of both serotonin and norepinephrine; e.g., Wellbutrin, Effexor.

Serotonin Syndrome

A life-threatening condition caused by excess serotonin, resulting in agitation, delirium, disorientation, and anxiety.

Generalized Seizures

Seizures involving both brain hemispheres and a loss of consciousness.

Tonic-Clonic Seizures

A type of generalized seizure involving body stiffening and muscle contractions that can last $5$ or more minutes; formerly called 'grand mal.'

Atonic Seizures

A type of generalized seizure where muscle control is lost, causing the head to drop or the person to fall over.

Absence Seizures

A type of generalized seizure where the person zones out or spaces out before returning to consciousness.

Simple Partial Seizures

Seizures involving only one part of the brain where consciousness is not affected, but sensory phenomena may occur.

Complex Partial Seizures

Seizures involving one part of the brain where consciousness is impaired and the individual may exhibit automatisms (robot-like movements).

Teratogens

Drugs, such as many anticonvulsants, that cross the placental barrier and can harm a developing fetus or cause birth defects.

Automatisms

Robot-like responses or movements following a seizure that may be mistaken for a behavior problem.

Amphetamines

A kind of stimulant drug used for ADHD that improves academic performance; examples include Adderall and Dexedrine.

Correlational Study

A group design study where participants are assigned to groups based on the independent variable rather than random assignment, potentially introducing bias.

True Experiment (Gold Standard)

A study design using random assignment of participants to conditions to control for systematic bias.

Placebo

A condition that replaces baseline in drug evaluation where the active ingredient is removed but all other administration variables remain identical.

Placebo Effect

An improvement in a person's condition that is a function of the administration process (expectations, doctor's suggestions) rather than the drug's active ingredients.

Nocebo Effect

The reporting of negative side effects by a patient who has received a placebo rather than an active drug.