This document discusses the biological basis of psychotropic drugs by reviewing brain anatomy and neurotransmitter functions. It explains that drugs target specific neurotransmitters to treat disorders like depression (targeting serotonin), bipolar disorder (targeting dopamine and norepinephrine), schizophrenia (targeting dopamine), and anxiety (targeting GABA). It provides examples of common drug classes and medications used to treat each condition, along with their mechanisms of action and side effect profiles. The goal of psychotropic drugs is to relieve mental disturbances without inducing untoward side effects.

1. Biological Basis for
Understanding
Psychotropic drugs

2. Functions of the Brain
Monitor
Regulate
Initiate and Maintain basic drives
Mediate
Store/Retrieve
Think
Language
Process

3. Brain 101 Review
• Neurons
▫ Neurotransmitters:
 Dopamine: fine muscle movement, integration of
emotion & thoughts, decision making
 Norepinephrine: affects mood, fight/ flight response
 Serotonin: sleep regulation, pain perception, sexual
behavior & agression
 Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA): plays role in
inhibition, muscle relaxing properties
 Acetylcholine: role in learning, memory, regulates
mood, sexual drive

4. Anatomy of the brain
• Major areas
▫ Brainstem
▫ Cerebellum
▫ Cerebrum
▫ Limbic System: This is the area that is located
right above the brainstem which is responsible for
controlling emotions

5. Cheat sheet
• Serotonin: Depression or anxiety related
• Norepinephrine: Bipolar (deals with flight or
fight response), mania, anxiety
• Dopamine: Schizophrenic disorders and ADHD
• Acetylcholine: Alzheimers related
• GABA: Anxiety disorders, Schizophrenia

6. Psychotropic Drugs
• Basic Side Effects for Consideration:
▫ Changes in basic drives
▫ Sleep patterns
▫ Body movement
▫ Autonomic functions
The ideal drug would relieve mental
disturbance without inducing
untoward mental or physical side
effects!

7. On your own:
• You may want to review the Brain Imaging
Techniques (PET/ MRI/ CT) that are normally
used for diagnostics.
• Similarly your book describes the visual images
that you can expect from the disorders we will be
discussing.

8. Anti-Anxiety
Benzodiazepine: binds GABA
GABA: Primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain that
suppresses the ability of the neurons to fire. This results in CNS
depression and reduction in anxiety, skeletal muscle spasms, alcohol
withdrawal symptoms and seizures.
-KLONOPIN
-TRANXENE
-VALIUM (diazepam)
-ATIVAN (lorazepam)
-XANAX (alprazolam)
* NOT TO BE TAKEN WITH ALCOHOL & OTHER CNS
DEPRESSANTS
Side effects: sedation, drowsiness, dizziness, coordination problems
BUSPAR (not a CNS depressant) ; has less sedative properties,
much better tolerated than most benzos, no addictive potential

9. Bipolar Disorder
Manic Phase Drugs:
Lithium-action is not fully understood but alters
multiple neurotransmitters to normalize transmission of
norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin, acetylcholine
*Lithium monitor for toxicity >2.5 can lead to death.
ANTIEPILEPTIC DRUGS:
Depakote (Divalproex)-alters GABA mediated
neurotransmission
Tegretol-anticonvulsant

10. Bipolar (con’t)
Other Agents
Valproate (Depakene)-antiepileptic
Lamictal- antiepileptic
Neurontin -antiepileptic
Topamax- antiepileptic
Klonopin (Clonazepam): a benzodiazepine used for anxiety,
strong sedating properties; calms rapidly, used w/ Lithium
..however, clients can develop a tolerance and dependence

11. Typical Antipsychotic Drugs
• Blocks attachment of Dopamine (typical)
• Typical: phenothiazines becoming obsolete because of
side effects and they only target Positive symptoms of
Schizophrenia
• Thorazine (most sedative)/ Haldol (least sedative)
• Two Main Concerns:
• The blockage of Dopamine can lead to extrapyramidal side effects
such as; parkinsonism, dyskinesia, akathisia, muscle stiffness.
• These agents cause severe anticholinergic effects

12. Atypical Antipsychotics
• Binds to Dopamine receptors in the limbic
system
• Decrease motor side effects
• Target positive and negative symptoms of
Schizophrenia
• Less side effects!!!
- Clozapine (can cause agranulocytosis)
- Risperidone
- Olanzapine and Geodon

13. Antidepressant Drugs
• Typical antidepressants:
-Tricyclic (TCA’s)
- Elavil
- Nortriptyline
Work by blocking reuptake of norepinephrine
and serotonin
Side Effects: Anticholinergic in nature, this really
affects compliance

14. Antidepressant Drugs
• Selective Serotonin • Monoamine Oxidase
Reuptake Inhibitors Inhibitors (MAOIs)
(SSRIs) • -Marplan
• -Prozac • -Nardil
• -Zoloft • -Parnate
• -Paxil
* Effective yet: How this works: Monoamine
*Less anticholinergic effects neurotransmitters are destroyed
than TCA’s by the enzyme Monoamine
oxidase; MAOI drugs inhibit the
* Less sedative than TCA’s enzyme, so that the transmitters
can get where they need to be.

15. Heterocyclic (Novel) Antidepressants
• These differ structurally from the TCA’s, SSRI’s,
and MAOI’s
▫ Wellbutrin (also used for smoking cessation by inhibiting the
nicotinic acetylcholine receptors which cause the addiction)
▫ Effexor
▫ Cymbalta
The novel antidepressants act differently because each acts
on a different neurotransmitter or group of neurotransmitters