Lesson 3 Neurobiologic Theories

Neurobiologic Theories
&
Psychopharmacology
Augie Janena Estacion-Vigonte

The cause of mental illnesses remains to be unknown
For the past 30 years, Science played a big role in analyzing how the brain works
and explaining the possible causes and how every individual’s brain function
differently
What does this imply?

These neurobiologic advances created a big impact on the clinical practice.
Psychiatric nurses must be knowledgeable on the basic understanding on the

bran functions and on the current theories regarding mental illness
THE NERVOUS SYSTEM AND HOW IT
WORKS
Cerebrum
- divided in 2 hemispheres. The left controls the right side of the body and is the center
for logical reasoning and analytic functions (e.g. Reading, writing, and mathematical
tasks)
- right hemisphere controls the left side of the body and is the center for creative
thinking, intuition, and artistic abilities.
- The frontal lobes control the organization of thought, body movement, memories,
emotions, and moral behavior. The integration of all this information regulates arousal,
focuses attention, and enables problem-solving and decision-making.
- Abnormalities in the frontal lobes are associated with schizophrenia, attention-
deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and dementia
-The parietal lobes interpret sensations of taste and touch and assist in spatial
orientation. The temporal lobes are centers for the senses of smell and hearing and for
memory and emotional expression.
-The occipital lobes assist in coordinating language generation and visual interpretation,
such as depth perception.
CEREBELLUM
the center for coordination of
movements and
postural adjustments
Research has shown that inhibited

transmission of dopamine, a
neurotransmitter, in this area is
associated with the lack of smooth
coordinated movements in diseases such
as Parkinson
disease and dementia.
medulla, contains vital centers for respiration and
cardiovascular functions
the pons bridges the gap both structurally
and functionally, serving as a primary motor
pathway
midbrain connects the pons and cerebellum with the
cerebrum
The reticular activating system influences

motor activity, sleep, consciousness, and
awareness
Extrapyramidal system relays information
about movement and coordination from the
brain to the spinal nerves.
locus coeruleus, a small group of norepinephrine producing neurons in the

brain stem, is associated with stress, anxiety, and impulsive behavior.
thalamus regulates activity, sensation, and
emotion
The hypothalamus is involved in temperature
regulation, appetite control, endocrine function,
sexual drive, and impulsive behavior associated
with feelings of anger, rage,or excitement.
hippocampus and amygdala are involved in

emotional
arousal and memory.
Disturbances are linked to

variety of mental illnesses, such as the memory loss that accompanies
dementia and the poorly controlled emotions and impulses seen with
psychotic or manic behavior.
Neurotransmitter
s
chemical substances manufactured in the
neuron that aid in the transmission of
information throughout the body. They either
excite or stimulate an action in the cells
(excitatory) or inhibit or stop an action
(inhibitory).
necessary in just the right proportions to
relay messages across the synapses.
Major neurotransmitters have been found to play a role in
psychiatric
illnesses as well as in the actions and side effects of psychotropic
drugs
Dopamine is implicated in schizophrenia
and other psychoses as well as in
movement disorders such as Parkinson
disease. Antipsychotic medications work
by blocking dopamine receptors and
reducing dopamine activity.
Excess norepinephrine has been

implicated in several anxiety disorders;
deficits may contribute to memory
loss, social withdrawal, and
depression. Some antidepressants
block the reuptake of norepinephrine,
while others inhibit MAO from
metabolizing it.
❑ plays an important role in anxiety, mood disorders, and schizophrenia.
It has been found to contribute to the delusions, hallucinations, and
Serotonin withdrawn behavior seen in schizophrenia. Some antidepressants
block serotonin reuptake, thus leaving it available longer in the
synapse, which results in improved mood
Histamine ❑ Some psychotropic drugs block histamine, resulting in weight

gain, sedation, and hypotension
❑ Studies have shown that people with Alzheimer disease have

decreased acetylcholine secreting neurons, and people with
Acetylcholine myasthenia gravis (a muscular disorder in which impulses fail
to pass the myoneural junction, which causes muscle
weakness) have reduced acetylcholine receptors.
Glutamate implicated in the brain damage caused by stroke,
hypoglycemia, sustained hypoxia or ischemia, and some
degenerative diseases
such as Huntington or Alzheimer.
Gamma-aminobutyric found to modulate other neurotransmitter systems

rather than to provide a direct stimulus. Drugs that
Acid (GABA) increase GABA function, such as benzodiazepines, are
used to treat anxiety and to induce sleep.
Brain Imaging Befor the brain could be studied
Techniques e only
through surgery or autopsy
Now several brain imaging techniques
have been developed that now
allow visualization of the brain’s
structure and function.
These techniques are useful for

diagnosing some disorders of the brain
and have helped correlate certain areas
of the brain with specific functions.
Brain imaging techniques are also useful in research to find the

causes of mental disorders.
Limitations of Brain Imaging Techniques
❑ The use of radioactive substances in PET and SPECT limits the number of times a person
can undergo these tests.
❑ risk that the client will have an allergic reaction to the substances. Some clients may
find receiving IV doses of radioactive material frightening or unacceptable.
❑ Imaging equipment is expensive to purchase and maintain, so
can be limited. availability
❑ Some persons cannot tolerate these procedures because of fear claustrophobia.
❑ Researchers are finding that many of the changes in disorders such as schizophrenia are
at the molecular and chemical levels and cannot be detected with current imaging
techniques (Gur & Gur, 2017).
NEUROBIOLOGIC CAUSES OF MENTAL ILLNESS
Genetics and heredity
Current theories and studies indicate that several mental disorders may be linked to
a specific gene or combination of genes but that the source is not solely genetic;
nongenetic factors also play important roles.
3 types of studies are commonly conducted to investigate the genetic basis of mental
illness:
Twin Studies
Adoption Studies
Family Studies
1. Twin studies- Fraternal twins have the same genetic similarities and
differences as nontwin siblings.
2. Adoption studies- used to determine a trait among biologic versus adoptive
family members.
3. Family studies -used to compare whether a trait is more common among
first-degree relatives (parents, siblings, and children) than among more distant
relatives or the general population.
Investigation continues about the influence of inherited traits versus the influence of the
environment—the “nature versus nurture” debate.
Stress and the Immune System (Psychoimmunology)
Psychoimmunology, a relatively new field of study, examines the effect of psychosocial

stressors on the body’s immune system. A compromised immune system could contribute
to the development of a variety of illnesses, particularly in populations already genetically at
risk.
So far, efforts to link a specific stressor with a specific disease have been unsuccessful
However, immune system and the brain can influence neurotransmitters. When the
inflammatory response is critically involved in illnesses such as multiple sclerosis or lupus
erythematosus, mood dysregulation and even depression are common(Raison & Miller,
2017).
Infection as a Possible Cause
Most studies involving viral theories have focused on schizophrenia, but so far, none has
provided specific or conclusive evidence.
Theories that are being developed and tested include the existence of a virus that has an
affinity for tissues of the CNS, the possibility that a virus may actually alter human genes,
and maternal exposure to a virus during critical fetal development of the nervous
system.
Prenatal infections may impact the developing brain of the fetus, giving rise to a
proposed theory that inflammation may causally contribute to the pathology of
schizophrenia (DeBost et al., 2017).
What is your role in research and
education?
Nurse must ensure that clients and families are well informed
about progress in these areas and must also help them to
distinguish between facts and hypotheses
Explain if or how new research may affect a client’s treatment

or prognosis.
You should be a good resource for providing information and

answering questions.

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Neurobiologic Theories

Augie Janena Estacion-Vigonte

What does this imply?

Psychiatric nurses must be knowledgeable on the basic understanding on the

Research has shown that inhibited

The reticular activating system influences

locus coeruleus, a small group of norepinephrine producing neurons in the

hippocampus and amygdala are involved in

Disturbances are linked to

Excess norepinephrine has been

Histamine ❑ Some psychotropic drugs block histamine, resulting in weight

❑ Studies have shown that people with Alzheimer disease have

Gamma-aminobutyric found to modulate other neurotransmitter systems

These techniques are useful for

Brain imaging techniques are also useful in research to find the

Genetics and heredity

Psychoimmunology, a relatively new field of study, examines the effect of psychosocial

Explain if or how new research may affect a client’s treatment

You should be a good resource for providing information and

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