Psychopathology Biological Factors

Central Nervous System

brain and spinal cord

Peripheral Nervous System

everywhere that’s not the brain/spinal cord ; carries messages from the rest of the body to/from the CNS

Enteric Nervous System

“quasi-autonomous” nervous system in the intestine/gut; many neurons and neurotransmitters in the gut; some are influenced by the CNS, some act independently of the CNS

Sympathetic Nervous System

places body in a “fight or flight” state of arousal to prepare for survival when stressed or injured

Parasympathetic Nervous System

places body in a “rest and digest” state of relaxation when calm and healthy

Neurons

cells in the nervous system that transmit information; aka “nerve cells”; do not directly touch each other; communicate by releasing neurotransmitters

Synapse

the gap between nerve cells

Neurotransmitters

small molecules that allow neurons to communicate with each other in a process called “neurotransmission”

Dopamine

neurotransmitter that plays a key role in “wanting”; modulates neural activity when a rewarding event has occurred; increases in this neurotransmitter reinforce the behaviors that elicited the reward and lead people to seek out and learn from new experiences in anticipation of a positive outcome

Brain Regions and Structures: Amygdala

part of the temporal lobe; involved in processing emotion and is associated with anxiety, depression, and PTSD

Brain Circuits

networks of particular brain structures that work together, triggering each other into action to produce a distinct behavioral, cognitive, or emotional reaction; neurons and brain structures are grouped into these based on their function in the body and in the brain

Endocrine System

messenger system comprising feedback loops of the hormones released by internal glands of an organism directly into the circulatory system, regulating distant target organs

Hypothalamus

neuronal center for all endocrine systems

Hormones

long-range chemical messengers in the body

Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Axis

major neuroendocrine system that controls reactions to stress and regulates many body processes; turns on in response to threats (acute threats or mental stressors); when activated, it prepares you for survival; dysfunction of this system is associated with mental illness (ex. depression, anxiety, PTSD)

How Messages Travel Between Neurons

a message in the form of an electrical impulse travels down the sending neuron’s axon to its nerve ending, where neurotransmitters are released and carry the message across the synaptic space to the dendrites of a receiving neuron

Psychoneuroimmunology

mental health and the immune system are connected bi-directionally

Neuroinflammation

activation of the brain’s immune system in response to an inflammatory challenge; characterized by cellular and molecular changes within the brain; helpful temporarily but harmful when chronic

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Stress → HPA axis activated → immune system activated → inflammation → neuroinflammation → changes in neuron, neurotransmitter functioning → depression/anxiety/other Mental Illness

•Illness → inflammation → neuroinflammation → mental illness → depression/anxiety/other mental illness

•Mental illness → poor health behaviors → illness

Gut-Brain-Axis

allows changes in the gut to be detected by the brain; changes in the gut microbiome are linked to various mental illnesses (ex. altered microbiome linked to depression, Alzheimer’s, substance use disorder, high stress sensitivity, etc.)

Epigenetics

study of how your behaviors and environment can cause changes that affect the way your genes work

Genetics and Mental Illness

\-Some mental illnesses and neurological disorders show evidence of inheritability, meaning if a relative has the disorder, you may be more likely to have the disorder as well (even if you didn’t grow up in the same environment)

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\-Gene X environment interactions: sometimes our genetics determines whether something in the environment will impact us; sometimes the environment changes epigenetic expression (the ways genes are read) 

Genetics and Mental Illness: Stress-Diathesis Model

In some situations, inherited genes may place you at higher vulnerability or risk for a disorder, but there needs to be an additional factor to cause the disorder to develop

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vulnerability + triggering event = mental illness

Bio-Behavioral Factors

intersection between health behaviors and biological processes

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\*health behaviors include: nutrition, exercise, substance use, smoking, drinking, stress reduction (or lack thereof), sleep

Neural Plasticity

the ability of the nervous system to change its activity in response to intrinsic or extrinsic stimuli by reorganizing its structure, functions, or connections; brain is more plastic during development/childhood

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\*brain plasticity or neuroplasticity

Development/Aging: Sensitive Periods

special time-windows in early development where experience has a profound effect on the brain

Development/Aging: Critical Periods

fixed developmental periods where experience is absolutely required for developing normal functioning; marked by high levels of plasticity in the brain before neural connections become more solidified and stable