• DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCES AND ETHICS

• TOPIC: PHARMACOLOGY OF BEHAVIOUR AND

ELECTROCONVULSIVE THERAPY• PRESENTERS: ALLY ALLY• VINCENT ASSEY• EPHRAIM MATHIAS• DEOGRATIUS CHINYALA• CHRISTINA MSACKY• FACILITATOR: PROF. MASALAKULANGWA

• • CONTENTS• -INTRODUCTION• -OBJECTIVES• -DEFINITION OF TERMS• -MAIN PRESENTATION• -SUMMARY• -CONCLUSION• -RECOMMENDATIONS• -REFFERENCES•

• INTRODUCTION• Pharmacology of behavior is the study of

therapeutic values such as effects of drugs on behavior; the research include the topics such as effect of psycho active drugs on the phenomena of learning, memory, wakefulness, sleep and drug addiction and the behavioural consequences, experimental intervention in enzyme activity and brain neural transmitter levels and brain mechanism.

• OBJECTIVES• At the end of this presentation we should all be able to• -To know what is pharmacology of behavior and methods

employed • -To know what is ECT • -To understand how is ECT performed• -To understand the benefits of ECT• -To know the side effects and the risks involved when

performing ECT• -To understand the treatments (dosage and courses)

involved in ECT

• ECT is the medical procedure which small carefully controlled amount of electric current is passed through the brain to treat symptoms associated with certain mental disorders.

• DEFINITION OF TERMS• .Pharmacology-it is the study of therapeutic

value and, or potential toxicity of chemical agents on biological system

• .Behaviour-Is the range of actions and mannerisms made by individuals, organisms, systems or artificial entities in conjunction with themselves or their environment

• .Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)-It is a standard psychiatric treatment in which seizures are electrically induced in patients to provide relief from psychiatric illness

• .Anaesthesia-It is a loss of sensation• .Psychoactive drugs(substances)-It is any

chemical substance that changes brain function and results in alteration in perception, mood or consciousness

• MAIN PRESENTATION• Pharmacology refers to the therapeutic value and, or

potential toxicity of chemical agents on biological system. It targets every aspect of mechanism for the chemical actions of both traditions and novel therapeutic agents.

• Behavioural pharmacology studies the effects of drugs on behavior. The research include the topics such as effects of psychoactive drugs on the phenomenon of learning, memory, wakefulness, sleep and drug addiction and the behavioural consequences, experimental intervention in enzyme activity and brain neurotransmitter levels and brain mechanism.

• Pharmacology of behavior provides learners(students) with an introduction to human hormonal and neurochemical processes as they relate to human behavior and substance use and abuse. Learners(students) learn about the organization and functioning of the central nervous system, it’s relationship to motivation and behavior and the effects of various drugs.

• It focuses upon “fundamental concepts” associated with the study of addictive behavior and mental health and relates this to personal and societal biases regarding psychoactive drugs and drug use.

• Pharmacology of behaviour can be further subdivided;

• Neuropharmacology- is the study of drugs of the components of the nervous systems including brain, spinal cord and the nerves; that communicates with all parts of the body.

• Cardiovascular pharmacology-concerns the effects of drugs on the heart, vascular system and those parts of the nervous and endocrine systems the participate in regulating cardiovascular functioning.

• Molecular pharmacology-deals with the biochemical and biophysical characteristics of interactions between drug molecules and those of the cells.

• Biochemical pharmacology- uses the methods of biochemistry, cell biology and cell physiology to determine how drugs interact with and the influence, in the chemical of organisms.

• Clinical pharmacology-is the application of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics to patients with diseases and now has significant pharmacogenitic component.

• PSYCHOACTIVE DRUGS• The role of psychoactive drugs, also called

psychotherapeutic agents or psychotropic drugs, in the treatment of mental illness is dependent on the disorder for which they are prescribed. In cases where mental illness is considered biological in nature, such as with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, pharamaceutical therapy with psychotherapeutic drugs is recommended as a primary method of treatment.

• In other disorder psychoactive medications are usually considered a secondary, companion treatment(or adjunct) to a type of psychotherapy such as cognitive behavioural therapy. In these situations medication is used to provide temporary symptom relief while the patient works on the issues leading to his illness with a therapist or other mental health professionals.

• Psychoactive drugs can be classified into seven major categories. These include:

• .Antianxiety agents- drugs used to treat anxiety disorders and symptoms. These include benzodiazepines such as alprazolam(xanax), lorazepam(Ativan), diazepam(valium), and chlordiazepoxide(Librium), and other medications.

• .Antidepresants-prescribed to treat major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder and bipolar disorder.

• .Antidepresants -prescribed to treat major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder and bipolar disorder.

• .Antimanic agents - this category includes medications used to treat mania associated with bipolar disorder or manic depressive disorder.

• .Antipanic agents -prescribed to treat the panic symptoms that are a defining feature of many anxiety disorder.

• .Antipsychotic agents-also known as neuroleptic agents, these medications are used to manage psychosis related to schizophrenia, delusional disorder and brief psychotic disorder.

• .Obsessive compulsive disorder medications• .Psycho stimulants also known as central

nervous system stimulants-these medications are used to treat attention deficit disorders(ADD and ADHD) and narcolepsy.

• SIDE EFFECTS OF PSYCHOACTIVE DRUGS.• There are a number of side effects associated

with psychotherapeutic agents. These can include and are not limited to, dry mouth, drowsiness, disorientation, delirium, agitation, tremor, irregular heartbeat, headache, insomnia, gastrointestinal distress, nausea, menstrual irregularity, weight gain, weight loss, loss of sex drive, skin rashes and sweating.

• SIDE EFFECTS OF PSYCHOACTIVE DRUGS.• There are a number of side effects associated

with psychotherapeutic agents. These can include and are not limited to, dry mouth, drowsiness, disorientation, delirium, agitation, tremor, irregular heartbeat, headache, insomnia, gastrointestinal distress, nausea, menstrual irregularity, weight gain, weight loss, loss of sex drive, skin rashes and sweating.

• PURPOSE OF PERFORMING ECT.• The ECT which refers also to electroconvulsive

shock therapy or electroshock therapy is used together with anaesthesia , muscles relaxants and oxygen to produce mild generalized seizure or convulsion.

• HOW IS ELECTROCONVULSIVE PERFORMED.• A patient is given a muscle relaxant and is put

to sleep with a general anesthesia, the electrodes are placed one the patients scalp and finally controlled electric current is applied. This current causes brief seizures in the brain.

• The patient awakens minutes later and he or she does not remember the treatment or the event surrounding it and is often confused. The confusion typically lasts for only a short period of time.

• ECT is usually given up to three times a week for a total of two to four weeks.

• IMPORTANCE OF ECT.• According to the American Psychiatry Association,

ECT can be beneficial in the following situations.• When a need exists for a rapid treatment

response for example during pregnancy.• When a person refuses food and that leads to

nutritional deficiencies.• When a patient’s depression is resistant to anti-

depression therapy.

• When other medical ailment prevents the use of antidepressant medication.

• When a person is in catatonic stupor.• When the depression is accompanied by

psychotic features.• When treating a patient who has severe risk of

suicide.• When treating patients who have had a

previously response to ECT.

• TREATMENT INVOLVED DURING ECT.• It is not known exactly how this brain

stimulation helps to treat depression. Electroconvulsive therapy probably works by altering brain chemicals( similarly to medicines) including neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, nora epinephrine and GABA(Gamma Amino Butyric Acid).

• RISKS AFTER PERFORMING ECT.• Recent advances in medical technology have

substantially reduce the complications associated with ECT; these include

• -Memory loss and confusion• -Recent heart attack

• -Persons have high risk of having complications of ECT including those who had brain tumuors, previous spinal injuries and uncontrolled high blood pressure.

• NB : One of the most common side effects of ECT is memory loss.

• SUMMARY• The knowledge of pharmacology and behavior

focuses upon the fundamental concepts associated with the study of addictive behavior and mental health and relates these to personal and societal biases regarding psychoactive drugs and drug use.

• Electroconvulsive therapy is a medical procedure in which small carefully controlled amount of electric current is passed through the brain to treat symptoms associated with certain mental disorder. It is a standard psychiatric treatment in which seizures are electrically induced in patients to provide relief from psychiatric illnesses.

• CONCLUSION• Psychoactive drugs mainly affects the mind

and behavior of a person thus; pharmacology of behavior and electroconvulsive therapy helps in retaining the normal functioning of the mind(treats mental illness).

• RECOMMENDATIONS• Knowledge about psychoactive drugs and it’s

effects should be provided in all levels of education( from primary level to higher learning level). Also the government should build more health centers with professional medical personnel who will provide mental health services and care.

• REFFERENCES

• American Psychiatric Association Practice Guidelines for The treatment of Psychiatric Disorders. Fourth Edition, text revised. Washington DC American Psychiatric Association, 2000

• Mondi more, Francis Mark, Depression, The Mood Diseases, Baltimore MD; The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1995.

• Nathan, Peter; E and Jack .M . Gorman, e d s, A Guide to treatments that work .New York, Oxford University Press 1998.

• www.m.webmd.com>depression>guide• www.rcpsych.ac.uk>treatmentswellbeing• www.mind.org.uk>drugs-and-treatments• en.m.wikipedia.org>wiki>Electroconvulsive therapy

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