PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY (Exam 2)

What is a drug?

An exogenous chemical that alters cell function in small doses

What is a psychoactive drug?

A drug that affects the nervous system and behavior

What is a drug of abuse?

A drug with addiction potential

What is the blood-brain barrier (BBB)?

A barrier that drugs must cross to affect the brain

What is ingestion?

Taking a drug by mouth

What is inhalation?

Taking a drug through the lungs or nose

What is intravenous injection?

Direct injection into the bloodstream

What is a ligand?

A substance that binds to a receptor

What is an agonist?

A drug that mimics or increases neurotransmitter effects

What is an antagonist?

A drug that blocks neurotransmitter effects

Is nicotine an agonist or antagonist?

Agonist

Is Xanax an agonist or antagonist?

Agonist

Is fentanyl an agonist or antagonist?

Agonist

Are antipsychotics agonists or antagonists?

Antagonists

Is Narcan an agonist or antagonist?

Antagonist

What is a dose-response curve?

A graph showing drug dose and drug effect

What is binding affinity?

How strongly a drug binds to its target

What is efficacy?

A drug's ability to activate a receptor

What is the therapeutic index?

The difference between effective and toxic doses

What does ED50 mean?

Effective dose for 50% of people

What does LD50 mean?

Lethal dose for 50% of people

Which is safer, a wide or narrow therapeutic index?

Wide therapeutic index

What is tolerance?

Reduced response after repeated drug use

What happens to the dose-response curve during tolerance?

It shifts right

What is sensitization?

Increased response after repeated drug use

What is cross-tolerance?

Tolerance to similar drugs acting on the same receptors

Example of cross-tolerance?

Alcohol and benzodiazepines

What is metabolic tolerance?

The body removes the drug more efficiently

What is functional tolerance?

Changes at the receptor or brain level reduce drug effects

What is conditioned tolerance?

Tolerance associated with a specific environment

What is substance use disorder?

Addiction that interferes with daily functioning

What is the moral model of addiction?

Addiction is caused by poor self-control

What is the disease model of addiction?

Addiction requires medical treatment

What is the physical dependence model?

Drug use continues to avoid withdrawal

What is the positive reward model?

Drug use continues because drugs are rewarding

What brain pathway is involved in addiction?

Mesolimbic dopamine pathway

What brain region releases dopamine in the reward pathway?

VTA

What brain region receives dopamine in the reward pathway?

Nucleus accumbens

What is conditioned place preference?

Preference for a place associated with drug use

What is self-administration?

Animals voluntarily take a drug

What are hallucinogens?

Drugs that alter perception and sensory experiences

What neurotransmitter does LSD mainly affect?

Serotonin

What receptor does LSD strongly activate?

5-HT2A receptor

What does MDMA increase?

Dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin

Why is MDMA called the love drug?

It increases oxytocin release

What are cannabinoids?

Drugs that affect the cannabinoid system

What are the main cannabinoids?

THC and CBD

Which cannabinoid causes the high?

THC

Which cannabinoid reduces anxiety?

CBD

What receptors does THC bind to?

CB1 receptors