PSY100H1 Chapter Notes - Chapter 16.3: Monoamine Oxidase, Tricyclic Antidepressant, Psychoactive Drug

• School: UTSG
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSY100H1
• Professor: Ashley Waggoner Denton

Document Summary

Psychopharmacotherapy - the use of drugs to attempts to manage/reduce clients" symptoms and is the most frequently used biomedical option, in conjunction with some form of therapy. Psychotropic drugs - medications designed to alter psychological functioning. Psychotropic drugs are designed to cross this barrier and then affect one ore more specific neurotransmitters. Antidepressant drugs - medications designed to elevate mood and reduce other symptoms of depression. They target areas of the brain that are rich in monoamine neurotransmitters serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (maois) - work by deactivating monoamine oxidase (mao), an enzyme that breaks down serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine at the synaptic clefts of nerve cells. When mao is inhibited, fewer dopamine, serotonin, and noreoinephrine neurotransmitters are metabolized, which in turn leaves more of them available at the synapses. They can have dangerous interactions with fermented foods, and other medications, causing severely high blood pressure if mixed with the wrong foods or meds.