Definitions:
Psychopharmacology – The study of the use of
psychotropic medications in the treatment of psych
disorders
PharmacoKINETICS – The study of what the body
does to a drug
PharmacoDYNAMICS – The study of what drugs do
to the body. 4 mechanisms of action
o Enzyme activity
o Chemical and physical interactions
o Acting as antimetabolites
o Binding to cell receptors
Enzyme Inhibition – increase in serum levels of
other drugs that are substrates of that enzume
because the substance has been inhibited by another
drug or substance. This causes HIGHER
CONCENTRATION IN THE BLOOD because of reduced
metabolism of the drug
o cytochrome P450 (CYP450) – (located in the
liver) – is the most well known enzyme involved
in drug metabolism
Tolerance – The process of becoming desensitited
and less responsive to a particular med and needing
more over time
Drug half life – The time needed for 50% of a drugs
plasma to clear
Therapeutic Index (TI) or Therapeutic Window –
the ratio describing toxic dose to effective dose
Agonist – A chemical that binds to a receptor to
produce a biologic response
This study source was downloaded by 100000899984848 from CourseHero.com on 07-15-2025 22:36:15 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/226974882/M1-exam-notesdocx/
, Partial Agonist – A chemical that binds to a
receptor but does not FULLY activate the receptor
ANTagonist – A chemical that binds to a receptor to
INHIBIT a biologic response
Adverse effect or side effect – Usually undesired
but foreseeable effect that occurs regardless of dose
and often resolves after continued therapy
Paradoxical reactions – S/SX opposite of what it
was meant to treat
S.T.E.P. – Safety, Tolerability, Efficacy, Practicality
Downregulation – Prolonged exposure to med leads
to reduced sensitivity of receptor to drug /Tolerance
o Can cause WD symptoms
o Taper to DC
Upregulation- resistance due to increased number
of sensitivities
o may need to increase med (cancer, microbial
infections) for it to continue to work
Pharmacogenomics – helps providers learn a pts
genetic profile to improve med outcomes
BIZARRE DELUSIONS – no plausible
NON BIZARRE DELUSIONS – extraordinarily unlikely but
possible
Parts of the Brain:
Limbic System – regulates powerful emotions fear,
rage, sexual desires
This study source was downloaded by 100000899984848 from CourseHero.com on 07-15-2025 22:36:15 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/226974882/M1-exam-notesdocx/
Psychopharmacology – The study of the use of
psychotropic medications in the treatment of psych
disorders
PharmacoKINETICS – The study of what the body
does to a drug
PharmacoDYNAMICS – The study of what drugs do
to the body. 4 mechanisms of action
o Enzyme activity
o Chemical and physical interactions
o Acting as antimetabolites
o Binding to cell receptors
Enzyme Inhibition – increase in serum levels of
other drugs that are substrates of that enzume
because the substance has been inhibited by another
drug or substance. This causes HIGHER
CONCENTRATION IN THE BLOOD because of reduced
metabolism of the drug
o cytochrome P450 (CYP450) – (located in the
liver) – is the most well known enzyme involved
in drug metabolism
Tolerance – The process of becoming desensitited
and less responsive to a particular med and needing
more over time
Drug half life – The time needed for 50% of a drugs
plasma to clear
Therapeutic Index (TI) or Therapeutic Window –
the ratio describing toxic dose to effective dose
Agonist – A chemical that binds to a receptor to
produce a biologic response
This study source was downloaded by 100000899984848 from CourseHero.com on 07-15-2025 22:36:15 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/226974882/M1-exam-notesdocx/
, Partial Agonist – A chemical that binds to a
receptor but does not FULLY activate the receptor
ANTagonist – A chemical that binds to a receptor to
INHIBIT a biologic response
Adverse effect or side effect – Usually undesired
but foreseeable effect that occurs regardless of dose
and often resolves after continued therapy
Paradoxical reactions – S/SX opposite of what it
was meant to treat
S.T.E.P. – Safety, Tolerability, Efficacy, Practicality
Downregulation – Prolonged exposure to med leads
to reduced sensitivity of receptor to drug /Tolerance
o Can cause WD symptoms
o Taper to DC
Upregulation- resistance due to increased number
of sensitivities
o may need to increase med (cancer, microbial
infections) for it to continue to work
Pharmacogenomics – helps providers learn a pts
genetic profile to improve med outcomes
BIZARRE DELUSIONS – no plausible
NON BIZARRE DELUSIONS – extraordinarily unlikely but
possible
Parts of the Brain:
Limbic System – regulates powerful emotions fear,
rage, sexual desires
This study source was downloaded by 100000899984848 from CourseHero.com on 07-15-2025 22:36:15 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/226974882/M1-exam-notesdocx/
