Time cover

Relationship between the Brain and Behavior

From Phrenology…
…to functional anatomy…
Functional anatomy…
Imaging the brain and neural networks
 Mental Health: A Report of
the Surgeon General

-- mental disorders are real health conditions

(overcome the stigma)
-- a range of effective treatments exist for most
mental disorders
-- get help if you have a mental health problem or
think you have symptoms
 Who are the professionals?

Psychology—psychologist
the systematic investigation of the human mind,
including behavior and cognition
www.apa.org

Psychiatry—psychiatrist
medical specialty officially devoted to study and
treatment of mental disorders.
www.psych.org
 Neuroscience
• Brain development
• Sensation and perception
• Learning and memory
• Movement
• Sleep
• Stress
• Aging
• Neurological and psychiatric disorders
• Molecules, cells and genes responsible for nervous system
functioning
http://web.sfn.org/
Neuron– nerve cell,
communicates with
other neurons, organs,
muscles

via
Neurotransmitters—
Chemical messengers

Dendrites, body, axon,

neurotransmitter,
synapse, receptors
reabsorption (reuptake)
Enzymes degrade
Neurotransmitter in synapse
Psychological disorders
 Mood disorders
 Anxiety disorders
 Personality Disorders
 Eating Disorders
 Mood Disorders
• Depression–
– Both genders, but
– Genetic component
• Symptoms:
 Major depression vs Dysthymia

Dysthymia: chronic, but less

Major: often no
deeper depression i.e.

danger of
 Treatment
Mild depression/dysthymia

Major depression

• Mood related to levels of neurotransmitters serotonin,

dopamine, norepinephrine
• Lower than normal
 Healthy Depressed

PET scan of lower serotonin function in a patient with major depression (right),
compared to a healthy volunteer (left).
Medication increases levels of
neurotransmitters available
• 1) Interfere with
• 2) Block action of
Medication increases levels of neurotransmitters
available
1) Interfere with reabsorption
2) Block action of enzyme that degrades

neurotransmitter in the synapse

1) Reabsorption
• Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors-SSRI’s– slow
reabsorption of serotonin
– Prozac
– Paxil
– Zoloft
1) Interfere with Reabsorption
• Selective Serotonin Reuptake
Inhibitors-SSRI’s–
– Prozac
– Paxil
– Zoloft
Other medications do same for
• serotonin and norepinephrine(NE)
– Effexor
– Remeron
• NE and dopamine
– Wellbutrin
• All three: NE, serotonin, dopamine
(Tricyclic compounds)
– Elavil
– Tofranil
 2) Reduce breakdown
• Serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine

– Monoamine Oxidase degrades these

– Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors
(MAOI’s) work by blocking the enzyme that
destroys these. End result is similar:

• Nardil
• Marplan
Bipolar Disorder– manic depression
• Severe

Utter despair
Euphoria
Medications required to control/even out mood swings

Electroshock Therapy sometimes used

 Electroshock Therapy (ECT)
• Electrical charge administered to brain via
electrodes placed on head

• Most commonly used when

• Real threat of depression:
• Despair
– Biggest threat is when

– Symptoms:
• Talking
• Increased

– DON’T IGNORE THESE SIGNS

 Anxiety Disorders
• Anxiety– Fear: when

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder

• Panic Attacks/Disorder
• Phobias
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Generalized Anxiety Disorder

• Regular worry
• Anxiety

• No
• Some
 Panic Attack

• Sudden unexplained
• Intense feeling
• Doesn’t
• Physical symptoms—

• If it happens repeatedly,
 Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
• Obsession–
• Compulsion–

• Strong
• Brain scans show ↑activity in one part of
brain
 Phobias

• Most

• Irrational
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

• Reaction to
• Can occur
– Anxiety
– Depression
– Nightmares
– Flashbacks
Treatment for Anxiety Disorders
• Medications for
• Some drugs used
• Mood stabilizers:
• Anti-anxiety drugs:
– Valium, Librium, Restoril, Xanax, Ativan
• Some antidepressants
• Often combination

• Phobias– usually try to

 Personality
Disorder: Schizophrenia
• Symptoms
– Disorganized
– Inappropriate
– Delusions
– Auditory hallucinations
– Deteriorating functioning

Not all symptoms present all the time

Treatment: regular medication to

 Getting Help
• Self help

• Peer counseling, support groups

• Professional Help
– Counseling Center 4-2575
– Psychologist, psychiatrist, social worker,
clergy with pastoral counseling training
 Eating Disorders

Anorexia nervosa, Bulimia nervosa,

Binge eating

Psychological problems with

Most common in
 Anorexia

Fear of

•Self-induced
•Eat
•Often
•May use

•Distorted
 Anorexia symptoms
• avoids
• “plays”
• Often likes
• Obsessed
• Obsessed

• Women—absence of at least
The Female Triad
• Triple threat
Elite gymnasts and other female athletes face an
increased risk of injury and disability because of the
“female athlete triad.” Here’s what happens:
• Old before her years
In 2003, doctors told Marie Fjordholm she had the
spine of a 60-year-old woman. She was 19 at the
time. Fjordholm began gymnastics at age 3 and
reached the elite level at 13. A year later, she made
the U.S. national team. Doctors and Fjordholm
believe she fractured her back that same year. Seven
years later, Fjordholm said the injury causes her
constant pain.
 Bulimia
• Cycles of

• More common that

• Maybe as much as
• Weight appears

Deprivation binge guilt

(Rigid diet)

reduced anxiety purge

 Bulimia-- symptoms

• Frequent bathroom

• Secretive

• Evidence

• Broken

• Ties self
 Health Complications
• erosion of tooth enamel
• dehydration
• anemia
• loss of bone mineral
• fatigue
• depression
• irregular heart beat
• cardiac arrest
• death
 Binge Eating

Uncontrolled.

• Eat
• Eat until
• Eat when
• Use food

Individuals are usually

 Who is at greatest risk?
Characteristics common to all eating disorders
•

Anorexics
• need to
• have difficulties

• often
Often difficult to recognize eating disorders;
on surface, individuals appear in control.

Underlying feeling of inadequacies and anxiety

easily overlooked.
Eating disorders do not go away on
their own.

Successful treatment requires

medical evaluation, psychological
counseling and support.

Most important factor is person’s

willingness to change.
Get help for yourself, friend with the problem

Counseling Center 404-894-2575