Neuroscience for Psychologists and Other Mental Health Professionals: Promoting Well-Being and Treating Mental Illness

446 Pages·2015·2.65 MB·English

by  Jill Littrell

NEUROSCIENCE for PSYCHOLOGISTS and L
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OTHER MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS NEUROSCIENCE
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Promoting Well-Being and Treating Mental Illness
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JILL LITTRELL, PhD, LCSW L and
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This book presents the latest neuroscience and physiological explanations behind
the major diagnostic categories of mental illness—including schizophrenia, depres-
sion, anxiety, and addiction—and explains the physiological bases that underlie ON MENTAL HEALTH
traditional pharmaceutical treatment interventions. Crucially, it integrates current
information about brain function with new research on immunology, offering a re- TE
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search-based rationale for viewing the mind and the body as an integrated system. PROFESSIONALS
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The new information on the physiological bases for behavior explains how lifestyle
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interventions related to diet, exercise, and interpersonal relationships can have dra-

matic therapeutic effects on mental health. MS
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Of particular note in this book is cutting-edge information on fast-spiking GABA NIE
interneurons and the role of NMDA receptors in psychosis, the role of inflammatory
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processes in mood disorders, and gut microbiota’s influence on inflammation. Be-
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yond the physiology undergirding distress, the book also explores the physiological
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bases for health and resilience. Students and mental health professionals in social E
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work, counseling, and psychology will learn how the same mechanisms available for f
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overcoming mental anguish can be utilized for achieving life satisfaction. r
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KEY FEATURES: TY
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n Discusses attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, depression, pediatric
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bipolar disorder, issues for children in the child welfare system, and R
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advocacy efforts O
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n Presents the latest information on the efficacy and side effects of anti- FO
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depressants, antipsychotics, anxiolytics, mood stabilizers, and stimulants
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n Explains the mechanisms through which diet and exercise can influence SI
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mood disorders and psychosis OT
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n Prepares mental health professionals to provide services in primary care
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settings in the role of the behavioral health professional A
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ISBN 978-0-8261-2278-0
JILL LITTRELL
11 W. 42nd Street
New York, NY 10036-8002
www.springerpub.com 9 780826 122780
Neuroscience for Psychologists
and Other Mental Health
Professionals
Jill Littrell, PhD, LCSW, is an associate professor at Georgia State University,
where she teaches psychopathology, drug and alcohol addictions, and research
methods to social work students. After 8 years as a social worker, she obtained a
doctorate in clinical psychology from Arizona State University. Following a U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs internship in alcohol and drug abuse, she worked
as a psychologist in the Alcohol and Drug Dependency Department at Cigna.
During her time at Cigna, she completed a two-volume work on alcoholism.
This endeavor further acquainted her with the neuroscience literature and the
proliferating research on how stress influences the immune system and mood.
Having been intrigued by the connections between mind and body, she pursued
a master's degree in biology (molecular genetics and biochemistry) while on
faculty at Georgia State. Much of her class work and laboratory experience was
focused on immunology and neuroscience. She continues to work in the immu-
nology lab of Dr. Yuan Liu. In recent years, she has published various papers on
the links among behavior, disease, and immune system function, as well as on
the efficacy of antidepressants.
Neuroscience for Psychologists
and Other Mental Health
Professionals
Promoting Well-Being and Treating
Mental Illness
Jill Littrell, PhD, LCSW
Copyright © 2015 Springer Publishing Company, LLC
All rights reserved.
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Springer Publishing Company, LLC
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Composition: Newgen KnowledgeWorks
ISBN: 978-0-8261-2278-0
e-book ISBN: 978-0-8261-2279-7
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Littrell, Jill, author.
Neuroscience for psychologists and other mental health professionals : promoting well-
being and treating mental illness / Jill Littrell.
p. ; cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-8261-2278-0 — ISBN 978-0-8261-2279-7 (e-book)
I. Title.
[DNLM: 1. Mental Disorders—physiopathology. 2. Mental Disorders—therapy. 3. Brain—
physiopathology. 4. Brain Chemistry—immunology. 5. Mental Disorders—etiology.
6. Psychophysiology. WM 140]
RC454.4
616.89—dc23 2015000573
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This work is dedicated to my husband, Gus Levine,
who makes everything I do better.

Contents
Preface xv
Share Neuroscience for Psychologists and Other Mental Health Professionals:
Promoting Well-Being and Treating Mental Illness
1. Ways of Thinking About Behavioral Syndromes 1
The Current Paradigm and How We Got There 1
History of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manuals of the
American Psychiatric Association 2
Major Depression and Anxiety Used to Be Neurosis 6
The DSM-IV Continues the Tradition of Medicalizing
More of Us 6
Controversy Over the DSM-5 7
The Limitations of Current Diagnostic Categories 9
Abandonment of the DSM-5 11
Extensive Nature of the Mind–Body Connection 11
Are Diagnoses Needed? 13
What Should Be the Criteria for Disorder? 17
Has Labeling Ordinary Behavior as Mental Illness
Resulted in Better Outcomes? 17
The Approach in This Book 18
2. Physiology 25
Section 1: Genes and Epigenetics 26
The Two-Step Process of Making a Protein 26
How the Cell Decides Whether to Make a Protein 28
Epigenetics 29
Telomeres 31
Section 2: Neurons and Neurotransmitters 32
The Life Cycle of a Neurotransmitter 34
vii
viii contents
How Are the Functions of Neurotransmitters
Investigated? 34
Specific Neurotransmitters 35
Section 3: The Immune System 48
Two Major Divisions: Innate and Adaptive Immunity 49
The Glial Cells 51
Section 4: Circuits 52
Appetitive Signaling 52
Creating Learned Helplessness 54
Regulation of Impulses, Motor Activity,
and Emotions 58
Putting It All Together: BAS and BIS 62
Section 5: Emotions 64
Emotions in General 64
Autonomic Nervous System 66
Hormonal Activity 70
Specific Emotions 74
Section 6: The Human Brain Is Social 77
Exercises to Rehearse the Vocabulary Used
in Subsequent Chapters 93
3. Psychopharmacology 97
Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics 98
Ways to Ingest Drugs 98
Ways in Which Drugs Are Eliminated
From the Body 99
Drug Dependence 101
General Concepts 102
Major Classes of Psychotropic Drugs 102
Stimulants 103
Antipsychotics 103
Antidepressants 105
Sedative-Hypnotic Agents 106
Mood Stabilizers 107
Major Classes of Drugs of Abuse 107
Marijuana 108
Opioids 108
contents ix
Nicotine 110
Alcohol 111
Marketing of Drugs in the United States 115
Concerns About Threats to Health 117
Concerns Over Cost 119
Where Does the Pharmaceutical Industry Spend
Its Money? 121
Mechanisms for Controlling Medical Practice 122
Psychiatric Medications 125
The Role of Behavioral Health Clinicians
With Regard to Pharmaceuticals 127
Obligations in Assuming Responsibilities
for Monitoring Side Effects 128
Clinicians Functioning Independently 129
Informed-Consent Duties of Clinicians
in Clear Mental Health Professional Roles 130
What Can Nonmedical Clinicians Say About
Medications? 131
Websites for Information Regarding Drugs 132
4. Depression 143
The Syndrome of Depressive Behaviors 143
Prevalence Over Time and Cultures 143
Findings in Those With Major Depression 144
Brain Imaging and EEG Findings 144
Hormonal Findings 146
Thinking Styles 146
Emotional Control or Regulation 147
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor 148
Theories 148
Learned Helplessness 148
Inflammation 149
Heritability 153
Drug Treatment 154
Efficacy 154
Withdrawal 156
Side Effects 158