12. Psychiatric Disorders (Part 2)

​Tourette syndrome:
Symptoms of Tourette syndrome are uncontrollable movement (aka. Tics), blinking repeatedly, shrugging solders, or saying offensive language.  The symptoms appear around 4 years of age.  The symptoms of Tourette syndrome can either lessen in older age or it can persist across the person’s lifetime.  Problems associated are learning difficulties, obsessive thought such as that in OCD and compulsive disorders such as OCD.  Causes of Tourette syndrome have been linked to the cortex, basal ganglia, thalamus, and cerebellum.  Environmental factors such as anxiety and stress have been proven to be linked to Tourette syndrome.  Also, gene defects in the SLITRK1 gene (a gene linked to neuronal development) have been linked to Tourette syndrome.  There are many treatments to Tourette syndrome.  Some medications can be used such as Antipsychotics and SSRI (these drugs are also used to control nausea, high blood pressure, seizures or anxiety, OCD and depression). Methylphenidate and Dextroamphetamine (these drugs are used to cure ADHD and overall attention loss) are also used to cure Tourette syndrome. However, these drugs have side effects such as weight gain, muscular rigidity fatigue, motor, restlessness so some people chose to use behavioral therapy to cure the syndrome.
 
Major Depression:
Symptoms of Major Depression are feeling hopeless and a loss of interest in life, as well as reduced emotion, well being. Other symptoms of major depression are a disturbance in sleep, low energy as well as an elevated risk of suicide. Genes, as well as environmental factors, can create a depressive episode.  There are 2 ways parts of the brain are affected in depression it can either be hypoactive or hyperactive.  Hypoactive means that there is low neuronal activity while hyperactive means high neuronal activity.  The anterior cingulate cortex is a hyperactive part of the brain. While the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, thalamus, hypothalamus among other areas are hypoactive.  There are 5 types of ways to cure major depression.   Deep Brain stimulation is one way. In deep brain stimulation electrodes send stimulation to specific parts of the brain.  Antidepressants are used to increases serotonin in the brain also an increase of norepinephrine is also used.  Another drug named ketamine is used this drug blocks NMDA receptors.  Psychotherapy is also used. And in severe cases, Electoconclusive therapy is used.