Week 9: Mental Health Patho

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering neurotransmitters, major psychiatric disorders, and their genetic associations based on the Mental Health Power Hour transcript.

Serotonin

A neurotransmitter associated with mood and behavior where lower levels are linked to depression.

Norepinephrine

A neurotransmitter associated with mood where low levels are linked to depression.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter involved in behavior, addiction, and movement; excessive levels are associated with schizophrenia.

GABA

An inhibitory neurotransmitter.

Bipolar Disorder

A psychiatric condition involving cyclical episodes of depression and mania, affecting $2.6\%$ of adults.

Mania

A presentation of bipolar disorder marked by euphoria, speaking in rhymes, colorful clothing, hypersexuality, and impulsive behavior.

Bipolar II (hypomania)

A form of bipolar disorder similar to Bipolar I but characterized by a lack of psychotic features.

DGKA

An enzyme linked to the genomic connection of bipolar disorder and part of the lithium-sensitive pathway.

Lithium

The front-line drug identified for the treatment of bipolar disorder.

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

The psychiatric disorder with the highest lifetime prevalence, occurring more frequently in women and individuals without close personal relationships.

SSRIs

A class of medications that have demonstrated efficacy in treating depression and are widely used for OCD.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

A sense of dread related to an unspecified danger that arises from neurons in the amygdala.

GAD-7

A 7-question scale used to assess Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

Schizophrenia

A neurobiological psychosis where individuals lose touch with reality, often experiencing delusions and hallucinations.

Delusions

Thoughts that are not grounded in reality, common in patients with schizophrenia.

Vulnerability-Liability Theory

A theory suggesting that genetics creates a vulnerability for schizophrenia, but the environment also exerts influence.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

A chronic illness with a waxing and waning course involving persistent, intrusive, and inappropriate thoughts or images.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

A specific anxiety disorder developing from a highly stressful event, characterized by hyperarousal, flashbacks, and insomnia.

Endogenous Opioids

Compounds involved in PTSD that cause psychic numbing followed by withdrawal symptoms.

Amygdala

The brain structure associated with memories that provoke fear and anger.

Concordance Rate

The probability of both twins having a disorder; for schizophrenia, this rate is $50\%$.