WEEK 17: Psychological Disorders

Substance Abuse and Addiction

Psychological disorders involving chronic substance use despite negative consequences, underpinned by biological, genetic, and environmental factors

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter associated with pleasure, reward, and reinforcement

Nucleus Accumbens

The core structure in the brain's reward pathway where addictive drugs increase dopamine release

Sensitization

Process where the brain grows increasingly responsive to drug cues, triggering strong cravings

Addiction Neuroplasticity

Structural brain changes caused by long-term drug use that reinforce addictive behaviors

Alcoholism

Chronic disorder involving compulsive alcohol consumption despite harmful effects

Type I (Late-onset) Alcoholism

Alcoholism that develops later in life, is less genetically influenced, and usually associated with social drinking patterns

Type II (Early-onset) Alcoholism

Alcoholism starting in adolescence/early adulthood with a stronger genetic link, primarily in men, and linked to antisocial behavior and impulsivity

Antabuse (Disulfiram)

Aversive conditioning treatment that interferes with alcohol metabolism to cause nausea if alcohol is consumed

Methadone

A synthetic opioid used to treat heroin addiction by reducing withdrawal symptoms without producing a high

Mood Disorders

Conditions characterized by disturbances in emotional regulation, affecting mood, thoughts, and behavior

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Serious mood disorder marked by persistent sadness, low energy, and loss of interest in activities

Anhedonia

The loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities

Left Prefrontal Cortex Depression Role

Area associated with positive emotions and approach behavior; often shows lower activity in individuals with MDD

Right Prefrontal Cortex Depression Role

Area linked to negative emotions and withdrawal; often shows higher activity in individuals with MDD

Cortisol

A stress hormone that is often elevated in people with MDD due to chronic stress

REM Sleep in Depression

Depressed individuals frequently experience early REM onset and fragmented sleep patterns

Tricyclics

Antidepressants that block the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine; side effects include dry mouth and cardiovascular problems

SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors)

Antidepressants that specifically target serotonin reuptake, such as Prozac and Zoloft

MAOIs (Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors)

Drugs that block the enzyme breaking down serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine; requires avoiding tyramine-rich foods

Atypical Antidepressants

Diverse antidepressants like Wellbutrin that often affect dopamine or other neurotransmitter systems

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

Treatment for severe depression involving a controlled electric current to induce a seizure for rapid symptom relief

Bipolar Disorder

Disorder characterized by extreme mood swings between mania and depression

Mania

Elevated mood characterized by impulsivity, racing thoughts, and decreased need for sleep

Lithium Salts

Treatment used to stabilize mood and prevent manic and depressive episodes in bipolar disorder

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Form of depression occurring during seasons with less natural sunlight, usually winter

Bright Light Therapy

Exposure to artificial light in the morning to reset the circadian rhythm in SAD patients

Schizophrenia

Severe chronic disorder affecting thought processes, emotional regulation, and social behavior

Positive Symptoms

Added experiences in schizophrenia, including hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thought/speech

Hallucinations

False sensory perceptions, most commonly auditory (hearing voices)

Delusions

False beliefs involving persecution or grandiosity

Word Salad

Incoherent or illogical speech resulting from disorganized thought

Negative Symptoms

Deficits of normal functioning in schizophrenia, including flattened affect, avolition, and alogia

Flattened Affect

Reduced emotional expression in facial expressions, voice tone, and gestures

Avolition

Lack of motivation and difficulty starting or sustaining activities

Alogia

Poverty of speech or limited speech output

Neurodevelopmental Hypothesis

Theory that schizophrenia results from prenatal or early-life disruptions, such as infections or malnutrition, affecting brain maturation

Schizophrenia Brain Abnormalities

Includes mild damage in frontal/temporal lobes, slower prefrontal cortex maturation, and larger ventricles

Dopamine Hypothesis

Theory that overactive dopamine transmission in the mesolimbic pathway contributes to positive symptoms like hallucinations

Glutamate Hypothesis

Theory that schizophrenia involves deficient NMDA glutamate receptor activity, supported by the effects of the drug PCP

First-generation Antipsychotics

Drugs that primarily block dopamine D2 receptors to reduce positive symptoms; can cause tardive dyskinesia

Tardive Dyskinesia

Involuntary motor movements caused as a side effect of typical antipsychotic drugs

Second-generation (Atypical) Antipsychotics

Drugs like Clozapine and Risperidone that block both dopamine and serotonin receptors to manage positive and negative symptoms