BCS 246: Biological Basis of Mental Disorders

Professor Carol Kellogg Professor Peter Como

Office: Meliora 186 Office: Meliora 171

Telephone: 5-4801 Telephone: 5-8726

Office Hours: 4:00-4:30, M &W or Office Hours: 4:15-4:45, M & W

by appointment or by appointment

e-mail:kellogg@bcs.rochester.edu e-mail: pcomo@ mct.rochester.edu

Course Intent: The objective of this course is to present current understanding of the etiology and pathology of various neurobiolohic disorders, including those generally classified as "mental disorders." Basic concepts of neurobiology will be presented coincidentally with discussion of the clinical presentation and management of the various disorders.

Texts:

Andreasen, Nancy C. Brave New Brain: Conquering Mental Illness in the Era of the Geneome, Oxford University Press, 2001. This book provides clear descriptions of mental illnesses and also places these illnesses in the context of biologic disorders.

Charney, Dennis S., Nestler, Eric J., Bunney, Benjamin S., Neurobiology of Mental Illness, Oxford University Press, 1999. We are using the softcover edition of this text. This is an edited text providing current information on the understanding of neurobiological mechanisms cotnributing to mental disorders. Chapters from this book will be placed on electronic reserve on a rotating basis.

Additional readings that are assigned will be placed on reserve in Carlson Library. These readings are marked by an * in the class schedule.

Course Evaluation: Five exams accounting for 100% of the final grade will be given. Both take-home and in-class exams are scheduled. The in-class exams may include discussion questions for which study questions will be handed out prior to the in-class exams. The following ranges provide a general guideline for estimating final grades:

Jan. 16 Introduction

Defining Mental Illness: P. Como

Andreasen, Ch. 1-3 & 7

Jan. 21 Neurochemical Systems: C. Kellogg

Charney, Ch.2; Andreasen, pp. 75-86 and review pp. 41-75

Jan. 23 Electrophysiology and Signal Transduction: C. Kellogg

Charney, Ch.3, 4

Jan. 28 Mechanisms of Neural Plasticity: C. Kellogg

Charney, Ch. 5, 6; Andreasen, Ch. 5

Jan. 30 Hormonal and neural interactions. C. Kellogg

*Reading: McEwen, B. (1999) Endocrine effects on the brain and their relationship to behavior. In: Siegel, G.J. et al., Basic Neurochemistry, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, pp.1007-1026.

Take-Home Problem Set: Due in Feb. 4

Feb. 4 The major psychoses: P. Como

Andreasen, Ch. 8, pp. 186-197

Feb. 6 Neurobiology of Psychoses: C. Kellogg

Charney, Chs. 18, 19, 20; Andreasen, pp. 197-210

Feb. 11 Clinical management of psychoses: P. Como

Andreasen, pp. 210-214; Charney, Ch. 22

Feb. 14 Classification of Mood Disorders: P. Como

Charney, Ch. 23

Feb. 18 Neurobiology of Mood Disorders: C. Kellogg

Charney, Ch. 25,26,27

Feb. 20 Clinical management of Mood Disorders: P. Como

Charney, Ch. 31

Take-Home Exam over UNITS 2 and 3: Due in Feb. 25

Feb. 25 Classification of anxiety disorders : P. Como

Andreasen, Ch. 11

Feb. 27 Neurobiology of Anxiety Disorders C. Kellogg

Charney, Chs. 34, 35, 36

March 4 Description and Neurobiology of Obsessive-Compulsive P. Como

Disorder; Charney, Ch. 37

March 6 Clinical Management of Anxiety Disorders P. Como

Charney, Ch. 39; Andreasen, pp. 311-314

March 11, 13 Spring Break

March 18 Neural Consequences of addiction: C. Kellogg

Charney, Chs. 40, 41, 43

March 20 The Hijacked Brain: Video C. Kellogg

March 25 In-Class Exam over UNITS 4 and 5

March 27 Neural Mechanisms of Cell Death C. Kellogg

*Leist, M. and Nicotera, P. (1998) Apoptosis, excitotoxicity, and neuropathology. Exp. Cell Res. 239:183-201.

April 1 Clinical Description of Basal Ganglia Disorders P. Como

*Chapter 10, Parkinson’s Disease. In: P.G. Strange, Brain Biochemistry and Brain Disorders, Oxford Press (1994), pp. 161-186.

*Chapter 11, Huntington’s Disease. In: P.G. Strange, Brain Biochemistry and Brain Disorders, Oxford Press (1994), pp. 187-200.

April 3 Neuropathology of Basal Ganglia Disorders C. Kellogg

*Cattaneo, E., Rigamonti, D., Goffredo, D., Zuccato, C. Squitieri, F., Sipione, S., (2001) Loss of normal huntingtin function: new developments in Huntington’s disease research, Trends in Neurosci., 24: 182-188.

*Lozano, A., Lang, A., Hutchison, W.D., Dostrovsky, J.O. (1998) New developments in understanding the etiology of Parkinson’s disease and in its treatment. Current Opinion in Neurobiol., 8: 783-790

April 8 Clinical Description of Cortical Degenerative Disorders Dr. Mark Mapstone

Charney, Ch. 46

April 10 Clinical Management of Degenerative Disorders P. Como

* Mayeux R, Sano M. Treatment of Alzheimer's disease. NEJM, 1999;

341:1670-1679.

* Werber EA, Rabey JM. The beneficial effect of cholinesterase inhibitors

on patients suffering from Parkinson's disease and dementia. J. Neural

Transm, 2001; 108:1319-1325.

* Felician O, Sandson TA. The neurobiology and pharmacotherapy of

Alzheimer's disease. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci, 1999; 11:19-31.

April 15 Issues of Genetic Risk P. Como

*Hayden MR. Predictive testing for Huntington's disease: the calm after

the storm. Lancet, 2000; 356:1944-1945.

* Hall MA, Rich SS. Laws restricting health insurer's use of genetic

information: impact on genetic discrimination. Am J Hum Genet., 2000;

66:293-307.

April 17 In Class Exam over Unit 6

April 22 Neurobiology of sex-specific disorders C. Kellogg

*Breedlove, S.M., Cooke, B.M., Jordan, C.L. (1999) The orthodox view of brain sexual differentiation. Brain Behav Evol, 54: 8-14.

*Pilgrim, C. & Hutchison, J.B. (1994) Developmental regulation of sex differences in the brain: Can the role of gonadal steroids be redefined. Neuroscience, 60: 843-855.

April 24 Eating Disorders

Charney, Ch. 68

April 29 Attention Deficit Disorders : P. Como

Charney, Chs. 60

May 1 Sleep and Mood Disorders; Ch. 70 K. Plotkin

TAKE-HOME FINAL HANDED OUT

May 8 TAKE-HOME FINAL EXAM DUE BY 5:00 pm