Neurons & Neurotransmitters
A neuron is a _____ cell
nerve cell
Schizophrenia is linked to increased levels of _____
Dopamine
Psychotropic drugs aim to
treat mental illness by altering the brain's neurochemistry
How does a nurse evaluate a patient to see if a medication has been effective?
Assess patient's symptoms and side effects & Observe how patient is acting, ask how they are feeling, ask yourself "What was the reason patient took this med?", Then "Did the med help?"
Neurons are responsible for ________
receiving, organizing, and transmitting information
Decreased levels of ______ & _______ are linked to depression.
Serotonin & Norepinephrine
What do antipsychotic medications do?
Block the level of Dopamine in the body
Some reasons for nonadherence include
Side effects, Stigma, Substance abuse, and Confusion about dosage or timing
What does Glutamate do to neurons?
activate
Decreased levels of Glutamate are linked with
Psychosis
What do antianxiety medications do?
Increase the level of GABA in the body
What is Circadian Rhythm?
The internal biological clock
What does GABA do to neurons?
inhibit
Heroin acts as an _______
agonist
Long-acting medications are used when
a patient cannot remember to take medication regularly & a patient refused to take medication and is court committed to treatment
_____ can help improve medication adherence.
psychoeducation
What is the difference between an agonist and an antagonist?
An agonist = A substance that initiates the same response as the chemical normally present in the body
An antagonist = A substance that blocks the response of a given receptor
Ethanol acts as an _____
agonist
What are the five major classes of psychotropic medications?
Antipsychotics, Antidepressants, Anti-anxiety and sedative–hypnotics, Stimulants, and Mood Stabilizers
Side effects of antipsychotic medications
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome & Extrapyramidal Symptoms