Biopsychology of Psychiatric Disorders

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Biopsychology of Psychiatric Disorders

• Tourettes Disorder

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• Numerous psychiatric disorders once thought to
  have a psychogenic origin only are now recognized
  to be neuropsychiatric.
• Does this mean environment does not play a role?
• It certainly does play a critical rolethe
  interaction between ones inherited
  characteristics and the environment are
  inseparable, BUT, the expression of some
  disorders are inevitable (i.e. the phenotype will
  be expressed). Ones functional adaptation to
  the disorder is then strongly influenced by the
  environment (i.e., How well the individual will
  be able to cope with the demands of living).

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Tourettes Disorder

• In order to understand Tourettes Disorder, a
  neurologically based disorder with complex motor
  and vocal tics, the involvement of several brain
  systems (i.e. motor, emotional and executive
  systems) need to be understood.

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What is meant by a brain system?

• Regions of the brain that have a primary
  responsibility in controlling certain aspects of
  our behavior.
• Example Motor System
• Example Emotional System

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A ReviewHow does the Motor System work for the
expression of behavior?
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Motor System for Purposeful Behavior
BEHAVIORAL OUTPUT Motor Cortex to Muscles
BEHAVIORAL REGULATOR Frontal Lobe
Behavior
Preparatory Motor Area
MOTOR PROGRAM CENTER Striatum
 
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A ReviewHow do emotions affect our behavior?
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Emotions Color Normal Behavior
BEHAVIORAL REGULATOR Frontal Lobe
BEHAVIORAL OUTPUT Motor Cortex to Muscles
Behavior
Emotional Expression
Preparatory Motor Area
MOTOR PROGRAM CENTER Striatum
Emotions happiness, anger, sadness,
frustration (Limbic System)
 
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Rule of thumb For normal or purposeful
behavior to occur, the brain must quiet all other
movements.

• What if the brain cannot quiet these other
  movements?

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Non-Purposeful Motor Behaviors can Spill over
into Purposeful Behaviors
BEHAVIORAL REGULATOR Frontal Lobe
BEHAVIORAL OUTPUT Motor Cortex to Muscles
Behavior
Tics Vocalizations
Preparatory Motor Area
MOTOR PROGRAM CENTER Striatum
 
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Have you noticed that when people get upset,
extraneous movements increase?
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Emotions can Increase Tics
BEHAVIORAL REGULATOR Frontal Lobe
BEHAVIORAL OUTPUT Motor Cortex to Muscles
Behavior
Tics Vocalizations
Preparatory Motor Area
Emotions
MOTOR PROGRAM CENTER Striatum
Emotions
 
Emotions
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People with compromised or immature frontal lobes
(e.g., children) cannot regulate behavior.

• When emotions erupt they cannot be easily
  containedhence uncontrollable or disruptive
  behaviors occur

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Leaky Frontal Lobe Cannot Keep Emotions from
Spilling Over into Behavioral Expression
BEHAVIORAL REGULATOR Frontal Lobe
Disruptive or Disordered Behavior
BEHAVIORAL OUTPUT Motor Cortex to Muscles
Emotions
Preparatory Motor Area
Emotions
MOTOR PROGRAM CENTER Striatum
Emotions
 
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Can these systems be expressed discretely or is
there always a release, activation or expression
of all related systems?Take a look at
co-morbiditythe flavor of the disorder
reflects the dysfunction of the various brain
systems.
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Discrete Disorders Co-morbid Disorders

• ADHD Anxiety
• ADHD Tics
• ADHD Tourettes
• ADHD Tourettes OCD
• ADHD and PDD
• Tourettes Anxiety
• ADHD ODD
• ADHD Conduct Disorder

• ADHD combined type
• ADHD impulsive type
• ADHD inattentive type
• OCD
• Tics
• Tourettes Syndrome
• ODD
• Conduct Disorder
• Autism
• PDD

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Overlapping Psychiatric Diagnoses Reflect
Geller et al., 1998
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Overlapping Brain Systems
Brain Subsystems
Specific Sub-Systems Combined
Behavior
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What can affect the wiring of the brain systems
after birth?

• Environmental stimulation
• Learning opportunities
• Experience and Feedback
• Nutrition and Physical Health

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What does all this mean for the developing child
and his/her future?

• Development
• Of the brain
• Continues
• Through the
• Age of 21

Age
Age
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What does this mean for understanding behavior
from a biopsychological perspective?

• Think about it
• Determine what cannot be changed because of hard
  wiring from genes and what can be modified
  because of learning.
• Remember Neuroplasticity