Psychopharm & PhsyioPsych

parts of the brain, neurotransmitters, SSRI's

Medulla

Regulates involuntary functions such as respiration and heart rate. involuntary mouth movements (coughing, sneezing, swallowing), respiration, heart rate, blood pressure

Pons

Involved in movements on both sides of the body and plays a role in sleep. Serves as a communication bridge.

Cerebellum

Coordinates balance and fine motor skills.

Reticular Formation

Controls muscle tone, eye movement, and sleep-wake cycles.

Substantia Nigra

Produces dopamine; low levels associated with Parkinson's disease.

Hypothalamus

Regulates hormones, hunger, thirst, temperature, and circadian rhythms.

Thalamus

Acts as a sensory relay station for motor signals (except smell).

Amygdala

Processes emotions and attaches them to memories.

Basal Ganglia

Involved in motor control, habit formation, and procedural learning.

Pituitary Gland

Regulates hormones related to growth, stress, and reproduction.

Cingulate Cortex

Involved in emotional reactions to pain and motivation.

Hippocampus

Essential for memory formation and spatial navigation.

Temporal Lobe

Responsible for auditory processing and language comprehension.

Parietal Lobe

Processes sensory information and spatial awareness.

Occipital Lobe

Responsible for visual processing.

Frontal Lobe

Involved in higher-order thinking, decision-making, and motor control.

Broca’s Area

Responsible for speech production and grammar.

Prefrontal Cortex

Involves executive functions like working memory and social judgment.

Dorsolateral PFC

Associated with executive functions and working memory.

Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex

Handles decision-making and emotion regulation.

Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

Medications for depression that increase serotonin availability.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter involved in movement, mood, and reward.

Acetylcholine

Involved in movement, attention, and early memory.

Glutamate

An excitatory neurotransmitter; excessive levels can cause excitotoxicity.

Norepinephrine

Involved in arousal, attention, and mood regulation.

Serotonin

Regulates mood, sleep, and appetite.

GABA

An inhibitory neurotransmitter that regulates anxiety and arousal.

Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs)

Medications that inhibit serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake.

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)

Medications that prevent the breakdown of neurotransmitters due to oxidization for depression.

First Generation anti-psychotics

Medications primarily used to treat schizophrenia and other severe mental disorders by blocking dopamine receptors.

Second generation anti psychotics treatment purposes

Medications used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, often with fewer side effects than first generation drugs, and they also affect serotonin receptors.

anticholinergic side effects

are unintended effects caused by medications that block the action of acetylcholine, leading to symptoms such as dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, and urinary retention.

Low potency first generation anti-psychotics side effects

anticholinergic side effects: urinary retention, constipation, blurred vision, dry mouth

Types of low potency first generation anti-psychotics

Chlopromazine (throazine) and Thioridazine (mellari)

Types of high potency first generation anti-psychotics

Haloperidol (Haldol) and Fluphenazine (Prolixin).

side effects for first generation high potency side effects

extrapyramidal symptoms, akathisia, tardive dyskinesia, and neuroleptic malignant syndrome.

extrapyramidal symptoms

movement disorders such as tremors, rigidity, and bradykinesia caused by antipsychotic medication. These symptoms result from dopamine receptor blockade in the basal ganglia.

Second generation anti-psychotics

medications that primarily target serotonin receptors and are used to treat schizophrenia and other mental disorders.

side effects of second generation anti-psychotics

weight gain, metabolic syndrome, sedation, and increased risk of diabetes.

which generation of anti-psychotics has the least side effects?

Second generation anti-psychotics

Disorder that affects the medulla

characterized by respiratory issues and cardiovascular disturbances.

Drugs that affect the medulla

Opioids disrupt functioning and can lead to death.

Drugs that affect the pons

Benzodiaziapians and barbiturates to improve sleep

Disorders that affect the pons

Sleep disorders

Disorders that affect the cerebellum

Ataxia, symptoms of Parkinsonism

Ataxia

A neurological sign consisting of lack of voluntary coordination of muscle movements, which can affect walking, hand movements, speech, and eye movements.

Drugs that affect the cerebellum

Benzodiazaiapins and anti convulsants

Disorders that affect the Reticular Formation

Coma or sleep disturbances

Drugs that affect the reticular formation

stimulants can enhance arousal and attention by increasing activity in this area, while depressants may inhibit activity, leading to drowsiness or coma

Drugs that affect the Substantia Nigra

Ledova (increases dopamine), antipsychotics, stimulants (increase of dopamine in reward pathways)

Disorders that affect the Substantia Nigra

Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders.

Disorders that affect the Hypothalamus

Disorders related to abnormal hormone regulation, eating disorders, sleep disorders, and temperature regulation issues.

Medications that affect the hypothalamus

Hormone therapies

Disorders that affect the thalamus

sensory processing issues, movement disorders, and alterations in consciousness

Disorders that affect the Amygdala

PTSD, anxiety disorders, depression and Kluver-Bucy syndrome

Kluver-Bucy syndrome

characterized by symptoms such as excessive eating, hypersexuality, and changes in emotional responses

Kluver-Bucy syndrome is caused by

damage to the amygdala

Disorders that affect the basal ganglia

Conditions such as Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and Wilson's disease that impact motor control, movement regulation, and other neurological functions.

Drugs that affect the basal ganglia

Medications such as antipsychotics and dopaminergic agents that influence motor control and neurological functions.

Disorders that affect the Pituitary Gland

Conditions that can involve hormonal imbalances such as pituitary tumors, acromegaly, Cushing's disease, and diabetes insipidus.

Drugs that influence the pituitary gland

Hormone therapies that address hormonal imbalances and conditions related to the pituitary gland, such as growth hormone deficiencies and disorders affecting hormone regulation.

Drugs that are associated with the cingulate cortex

CBT increases the volume of the cingulate cortex

Disorders associated with the Cingulate Cortex

Conditions such as depression, anxiety, and chronic pain that affect emotional regulation.

Disorders that affect the hippocampus

Alzheimer's, amnesia, PTSD (reduction in hippocampal volume

Drugs that affect the hippocampus

NMDA receptor antagonists

Diseases that impact the temporal lobe

Epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, auditory processing disorder, Wernicke's aphasia

Wernicke's Aphasia

Fluent speech: Speech is smooth and grammatically correct but often nonsensical or meaningless ("word salad").

Poor comprehension: Difficulty understanding spoken or written language.

Paraphasias: Use of incorrect or made-up words (e.g., calling a pen a "flim").

Unawareness: Individuals are often unaware of their language difficulties.

Broca’s Aphasia

Non-fluent speech, intact comphrension, difficulty repeating

Causes of Wernike’s aphasia

Stroke (most common), Traumatic brain injury, Brain tumor or infection affecting the left temporal lobe

What is the primary difference between Wernicke's Aphasia and Broca's Aphasia?

Wernicke’s aphasia = speech is fluent

Broca’s aphasia = speech is non fluent, intact comprehension

Causes of Broca’s aphasia

Stroke (most common), Traumatic brain injury, Brain tumor or infection affecting the left frontal lobe

Pariatal Lobe disorders

Stroke, sensory processing disorder, spatial neglect, somatosensory agnosias, Gerstmann’s syndrome

Gerstmann’s syndrome cause

caused by damage to the left parietal lobe

Gerstmann’s syndrome symptoms

Agraphia/Dysgraphia: Difficulty writing, Acalculia: Difficulty performing simple math calculations, Finger Agnosia: Inability to identify or distinguish fingers on oneself or others, and Left-Right Disorientation

Occipital Lobe Disorders

visual agnosia, visual hallucinations, achromatopsia (loss of color vision), cortical blindness, prosopagnosia

Occipital Lobe Drugs

Hallucinogens (e.g., LSD), anti-migraine drugs (e.g., triptans)

Frontal lobe disorders

ADHD, schizophrenia, traumatic brain injury (TBI), stroke

Drugs that affect the frontal lobe

Stimulants (e.g., Adderall), antipsychotics (e.g., Haloperidol)

Dorsolateral PFC disorders

MDD, GAD, OCD

Ventrolateral PFC disorders

Social anxiety disorder and GAD

Ventromedial prefrontal cortex disorders

MDD, OCD, GAD, PTSD & schizophrenia

Orbital Cortex Disorders

MDD, bipolar, OCD, PTSD, schizophrenia, substance disorders

Primary motor cortex deficits

range from weakness to paralysis in one or more muscles in the opposite side of the body

Orbital cortex deficits

Impulsivity, social inappropriateness, aggressive behaviors

Ventromedial prefrontal cortex deficits

impaired decision-making, moral judgment, confabulation, social cognition, blunted emotions

Ventrolateral PFC deficits

impairments in decision-making, behavioral and emotional self-control

Dorsolateral PFC deficits

deficits in working memory, judgment, perseverative responses, and apathy.

Low amounts of dopamine

Parkinsons and ADHD

High amounts of dopamine

Tourette’s and Schizophrenia

Low amounts of acetylcholine

Early memory loss in Alzheimer's

High amounts of Glutamate

glutamate excitotoxicity (cell damage and death)

stroke, seizures, Huntington’s, Parkinson’s

Low amounts of norephrine

catecholamine hypothesis and depression

High amounts of norephrine

mania

Low amounts of serotonin

Depression, bulimia, OCD, migraines

High amounts of serotonin

ASD and Schizophrenia

Low amounts of GABA

anxiety and insomnia

High amounts of GABA

memory impairment and daytime drowsiness

SSRI use

First line treatment for MDD & PDD

SSRI side effects

fewer side effects that other antidepressants, less cardiotoxic, and safer in overdose

Discontinuation syndrome

flu like symptoms, sleep disturbances, lack of concentration, mood liability