Psychobiology, Behavior and Mental Disorder

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Psychobiology, Behavior and Mental Disorder

• West Coast University
• NURS 204

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Psychobiology

• The study of the brain structures, biochemical
  foundations, molecular and genetic influences on
  cognition, mood, emotion, affect, and behavior
  and the interactions among them

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Psychobiology Considerations

• Developmental influences
• Genetics
• The endocrine and immune systems
• Temperament
• Resiliency to stress
• Impact of the environment

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The brain comprises four major lobes frontal,
parietal, occipital, and temporal. Brocas area
(found on the left frontal lobe) is the area
responsible for the ability to speak but not the
compre- hension of speech. Wernickes area in the
left temporal lobe relays speech comprehension
information to the frontal lobe. Source Smock,
T. K. (1999). Physiological psychology A
neuroscience approach. Upper Saddle River, NJ
Prentice Hall.
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Cerebum

• Cerebral hemispheres
• Conscious thought process, intellectual functions
• Memory storage and processing
• Conscious and subconscious regulation of skeletal
  muscle contractions

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Limbic System

• Functions
• Components
• Cerebral Component Amygdala Hippocampus
• Reticular Activating System Network of Nuclei
• Extrapyramidal System Complex relays in the
  cortex, cerebellum, brain stem and thalamus
• Diencephalic System Thalamus Hypothalamus

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Pituitary Gland

• Primary link between the nervous and endocrine
  systems
• Secretes hormones that is carried through the
  bloodstream and trigger the activities of the
  other endocrine glands

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Basal Ganglia

• Starting and stopping movements, planning motor
  activities, mediating hallucinations and
  delusions, and processing emotions and memories
• High concentration of dopamine receptors,
  acetylcholine, GABA and peptides
• Deficit of dopamine in this area is associated
  with Parkinsons disease

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Cerebellum

• Main function is movement, posture, balance, and
  sensory-motor coordination
• Coordinates complex somatic motor patterns and
  adjusts the output of other somatic motor center
  in the brain and spinal cord

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Brain Stem

• Medulla Oblongata
• Pons
• Midbrain
• Autonomic Nervous System

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Neuromessenger Alterations

• Schizophrenia
• DA
• Bipolar disorder
• DA, 5-HT, NE, Ach, GABA and peptides
• Major depression
• 5-HT and NE

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Neuromessenger Alterations -continued

• Alzheimers Disease
• Ach, NE, 5-HT, DA and peptides
• Anxiety Disorders
• NE, 5-HT, GABA, and peptides

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Genetic Connections

• Schizophrenia
• Bipolar I
• Schizoaffective Disorder

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Genetic Considerations

• Multiple gene theory
• Environmental influences

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Psychoendocrinology

• The interaction of the brain with the endocrine
  system

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Psychoneuroimmunology

• The study of the links between thoughts,
  emotions, the nervous system, and the immune
  system

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Biologic Contribution and Nursing Practice

• Integration of psychobiology
• Psychotropic medications
• Enhancing the nursing process

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Partnering with Families

• Removing stigma
• Teaching
• Increasing motivation