Psych 255 Unit 6

psychopharmacology

the study of the effects of drugs on the nervous system and on behavior

substance use disorder

A diagnostic term for a pattern of drug use in which people rely on a drug chronically and excessively, allowing it to occupy a central place in their life.

psycoactive drugs

Substances that act to alter mood, thought, or behavior, are used to manage neuropsychological illness, and may be taken recreationally

Agonist

substance that enhances neurotransmitter function

Antagonist

substance that blocks neurotransmitter function

Tolerance

decreased response to a drug with repeated exposure

Sensitization

learned behavior in which the response to a stimulus strengthens with repeated presentations

Barbiturates

mimics the effects of GABA

Benzodiazepines

enhance effects of GABA by increasing GABA's binding to its receptor site (enhances Cl- influx indirectly)

Antidepressants

drugs that combat depression by affecting the levels or activity of neurotransmitters in the brain.

- monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors
- tricyclic antidepressants
- second generation / selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)

Elevate norepinephrine and serotonin in brain by blocking an enzyme (i.e., monoamine oxidase) that deactivates these neurotransmitters

tricyclic antidepressants

Boost norepinephrine and serotonin in brain by preventing normal reuptake of these substances

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

(eg, Prozac) work same way as tricyclic antidepressants but targets serotonin

Narcotic Analgesics (Opioids)

- natural or synthetic drugs derived from opium poppy
- eg, opium, codeine, morphine, heroin
- sleep inducing (narcotic)
- pain-relieving (analgesic)
- act on endorphin (endogenous morphine-like substance) receptors in the brain

Behavioural stimulants

- affect motor activity and mood
- increases motor behaviour, mood, and alertness
- block DA reuptake
- amphetamine also increases DA release

General Stimulants

- nicotine, tobacco, and caffeine
- increase alertness and motor behaviour
- drug actions
- Caffeine blocks adenosine receptors (an inhibitory NT), in addition to having other actions

psychedelic drugs

A category of psychoactive drugs that create sensory and perceptual distortions, alter mood, and affect thinking.

- E.g., LSD, psilocybin, mescaline
- alter sensory perception and cognitive processes
- Serotonin agonists, but also alter the functioning of other transmitter systems