chap 2 psychology - drugs and human behavior

maggots

medicinal drugs in EU, japan and canada since 2005, treats antibiotiv resistant bacterial infections

maggot secretions suppress the immune system, reduce inflammation, promote cell growth and increase oxygen concentration in wounds

pharmacology

the scientific study of the actions of drugs and their effects on a living organism

neuro-pharmacology

drug-induced changes in the functioning of cels in the nervous system

psychopharmacology

drug-induced changes in mood, thinking and behavior

neuropsychopharmacology

combined, identifies chemical substances that act on the nervous system to alter behavior from injury, disease or environmental factors

also, interested in using chemical agents as probes to gain understanding of neurobiology of behavior

drug action

molecular changes produced by a drug when it binds to a particular target site or receptor

drug effect

asprin inhibiting enzyme COX

these changes lead to physiological or psychological functions which are drug effects

ex. asprin relieving a headache

is the site of drug action the same as the site of drug effect

no. ex, asprin doesnt bind to pain in the head, but binds to receptors

also, drugs have a variety of target sites

therapeutic effect

drug receptor interaction produces desired physical or behavioral changes

side effects

other effects produced and they vary in severity from mildly annoying to dangerous

are there good and bad drugs?

no theyre just chemicals

society thinks good drugs are from a pharmacy and appropriate dosage for medicinal purposes, bad drugs illicit and for a desired psyche state

unclear bc alcohol can be considered bad but is legal

specific drug effect

those based on the physical and biochemical interactions of a drug w a target site in living tissue

nonspecific drug effects

based not on chemical activity of a drug receptor interaction but unique characteristics of the individual (mood, expectations, perceptions, ect.)

why? effects of a drug can be impacted by neurochemical states at different times

states interact w specific effects of the drug = neurochemical conditions play a role in how drug affects them

placebo

ex. of nonspecific drug effect

changes in behavior due to the beleif of taking a drug

uses - avoid partcipant or researcher biases

pharmokinetic factors

1. Routes of administration.
2. Absorption and distribution.
3. Binding.
4. Inactivation.
5. Excretion

routes of administration

method and location of the drug administration impacts the speed and extent of drug absorption into the bloodstream

ex. orally is absorbed through gastrointestinal tract before bloodstream.

absorption and distribution

drugs once administered, must traverse cell membranes and enter the blood plasma for the distribution to various cells throughout the body as they rarely act at the site of the initial contact

binding

blood plasma drug molecules may bind to active target sites (receptors) undergo depot binding to plasma proteins, or be temporarily stored in bone or fat influencing activity

inactivation or biotransformation

primarily in liver, influences balance between absorption and inactivation. This dynamic Eq affects intensity and duration of drug effects

excretion

drug is metabolized formed through inactivation processes, eliminated from the body via urine or feces, some drugs may be excrfeted unchanged by kidneys

know this chart

routes of drug administration first pass effect

speed of absoprtion of drig molecules from administration sites depend on the amount of blood circulating