Fundamentals of Clinical Psychopharmacology doc

[...]...research, produces clinical guidelines, publishes the Journal of Psychopharmacology and provides guidance and information to the public on matters relevant to psychopharmacology The publication of the second edition of Fundamentals of Clinical Psychopharmacology continues its educational tradition Membership of the BAP is open to anyone with a relevant degree related to neuroscience including clinical, medical,... the arrival of an action potential and influx of calcium (Ca2+); ■ the subsequent activation of a receptor on the membrane of the postsynaptic neurone Activation of the postsynaptic receptor may result either in: ■ excitation—membrane depolarisation; or ■ inhibition—membrane hyperpolarisation Fundamentals of clinical psychopharmacology 2 Figure 1.1 Synaptic transmission involves the release of a neurotransmitter... example of disinhibition Fundamentals of clinical psychopharmacology 4 Figure 1.3 An example of disinhibition DA neurones in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) project to the mesolimbic areas GABA neurones in the VTA inhibit DA neuronal firing Opioids (e.g metencephalin) released in the VTA stimulate opioid µ receptors causing inhibition of the GABA neurones resulting in disinhibition (activation) of the... (Table 1.3) ■ With regard to antipsychotic drug action: - The D2 family are the important group of DA receptors Fundamentals of clinical psychopharmacology 16 Figure 1.8 Schematic model of a central dopaminergic neurone indicating possible sites of drug action γ-Hydroxybutyrate effectively blocks the release of DA by blocking impulse flow in dopaminergic neurones Tyrosine hydroxylase activity is blocked... important site of action for antipsychotic drugs (D2 and D4 antagonists) - They are also strongly associated with motivation, reward behaviour and dependence produced by amfetamines (which release DA), cocaine (which blocks DA reuptake) and opioids, cannabinoids and nicotine, all of which indirectly increase the firing of DA release in the terminal regions Fundamentals of clinical psychopharmacology. .. Association for Psychopharmacology 36 Cambridge Place Hills Road Cambridge CB2 1NS UK Ian M Anderson Ian C Reid Acknowledgements We would like to thank the following colleagues who have been involved in the development of the course material: Dr Clive Adams Dr David Baldwin Dr David Balfour Prof Thomas Barnes Dr Geoff Bennett Prof Philip Cowen Dr Mark Daglish Prof Bill Deakin Dr Colin Dourish Prof Barry Everitt... inhibitor of COMT (7) - The D2 receptor is found both presynaptically (autoreceptor) and at postsynaptic sites so D2 antagonists not only inhibit postsynaptic responses but also increase DA release by antagonism of the autoreceptor - The importance of the D4 receptor needs clarification but it shows marked polymorphism; clozapine has a high affinity for this receptor Fundamentals of clinical psychopharmacology. .. then hydrolysis of the bound GTP to GDP and the α subunit links again to the βγ subunit The G-protein mechanism can be either inhibitory (Gi) or excitatory (Gs) In summary, the G-proteins provide the link between the ligand Fundamentals of clinical psychopharmacology 10 recognition site and the effector system - Phospholipase C/inositol trisphosphate (IP3)/diacylglycerol (DAG) Activation of this system... in the normal development of the brain but they also act to maintain synaptic function, and in some cases regulation of transmitter release, in the adult brain An example is brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), the expression of which is increased by chronic antidepressant treatment in animals and so may be involved in the mechanism of action of these drugs Organisation of transmitter pathways The... difficult therefore to explain a particular behaviour as being the result of the action of a single neurotransmitter Co-existence of neurotransmitters ■ The original concept of chemical neurotransmission stated that only one active substance (neurotransmitter) was released presynaptically ■ This has been modified to incorporate the idea of coexistence when two or more biologically active substances are released . Fundamentals of Clinical Psychopharmacology Fundamentals of Clinical Psychopharmacology Second edition Edited by Ian M Anderson MD FRCPsych Senior Lecturer in Psychiatry University of. analysis of clinical trials. It is not a comprehensive textbook of psychopharmacology but provides what we believe to be the core of clinically relevant information about drugs in the context of. psychopharmacology. The publication of the second edition of Fundamentals of Clinical Psychopharmacology continues its educational tradition. Membership of the BAP is open to anyone with a