Psychopharmacology

George Hsiao

2008

*Most antidepressants exert important actions on the metabolism of monoamine neurotransmitters, particularly norepinephrine and serotonin.

*Mania is treated with antipsychotic drugs or lithium salts (sedative properties: mood-stabilizing properties) or carbamazepine.

Mercy killing*嚴重性憂鬱症患者可能有妄想或幻覺 ,認為生不如死 ,又不忍心自己留下親人繼續受苦 ,因此設法殺害親人後再自行了斷 .

*Mania is characterized by excessive elation (激昂 ), severe insomnia (失眠 ), hyperactivity, typically tinged with dysphoria (煩躁不安 ) or marked by irritability, uncontrollable speech and activity, and impaired judgment.

Need Drugs?

Normal State

Monoamine theory

(iproniazid, 1950-irreversible MAO I)

[NE]lowDepressive State

Biosynthesis of Neurotransmitters

(acetylcholine and monoamines)

Projections of Norepinephrine Containing Neurons in the Locus Coeruleus

[NE]Treatment State (I)

[NE]Treatment State (II)

*Increase [NE],

[5-HT] or [DA]

Monoamine transporter

NE

Serotonin (5-HT) Transporter

Polymorphism

Missense mutation

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

(Molecular Psychiatry 2003: 8, 933-936)

Autoreceptor Desensitization

3 5

4

12

RS RN RD