Key Neuropsychiatric Disorders and Their Underlying Causes
Neuropsychiatry is the branch of science that deals with the study of the behavioural disorders associated with neural disorders. The neuropsychiatrist meaning can be described as healthcare professionals that deal with such complications in humans. They are commonly called neuropsychiatric doctors. Neuropsychiatry is often considered a broad subject that uses the concept of both neural biology and psychology. Behavioural neurology is also closely related expertise in this field, behavioral neurology rather deals with the neurological basis of behaviour, neurodegenerative diseases, and neurobehavioral syndromes. Pyschatrity on its own is an independent branch of the science that deals with the study of psychology or behaviour and disorders of behaviour. It generally does not cover an extensive study of neural conditions and complications. This article covers the origin and basis of neuropsychiatry, neuropsychiatric doctors, disorders associated with neuropsychiatry, and the institute for neuropsychiatry.
History of Neuropsychiatry
Neuropsychiatry is the branch of medicine that treats mental disorders attributable to diseases of the nervous system. In a broader sense, it can be defined as the science that studies and treats disorders of the brain including attentional, motivational, cognitive, emotional, behavioural, and social dysfunctions.
Neuropsychiatry as the name suggests is made up of two branches neurology and psychology. The term neurology was first coined by Thomas Willis in 1664 in his book called Cerebri anatome. Thomas Willis was a neuroanatomist and physician. The term psychology was first described by Johann Christian Reil in 1808. He was a German physician, physiologist, and neuroanatomist. It was Thomas Willis who proposed that psychiatry was a separate branch of science in medicine that could be studied as specialization. He was among the first to hypothesize the behavioural disorders to be a result of neural complications. But it was several years later that neuropsychiatry was systematized.
Emil Kraepelin (1856–1926) was among the prominent health care professionals to systemize neuropsychiatry. He documented the onset, course, and prognosis of manic-depressive. This is currently known as bipolar disorder. He also documented illness and dementia praecox, which is currently known as schizophrenia. Freud, a neurologist performed a comprehensive study of mental life and illness. It was based on the psychic structures of id, ego, and superego. He thus leads the foundation of the new field of psychoanalysis and the psychodynamic approach towards mental disorders.
It was in the 20th century neuropsychiatrist meaning was clearly defined. Neuropsychiatry gained huge pace in research and treatment of the disorders as a result of the rapid development of psychopharmacology, genetics, functional brain imaging and, cognitive neuropsychiatry. A rapid increase in research and published books are seen, Lishman organic psychiatry is a well-known example of a neuropsychiatry book. Several neuropsychiatric care centres were built to help treat such conditions.
Tools used in Neuropsychiatry
A clinical neuropsychiatrist or commonly known as neuropsychiatric doctors uses various tools to diagnose the symptoms of neuropsychiatric disorder. The common tools used in a neuropsychiatric care centre include the following, neuropsychopharmacology, electroencephalography, clinical neurogenetics, and neural imagining technique.
Neuropsychopharmacology is the study of the effects of the drugs used to treat mental illness. It comprises the study of drugs on the central nervous system.
Electroencephalography is the method of measuring brain waves. These brain waves are associated with the activity of the brain, any change in the waves is associated with the change in the activity of the brain. It is thus a useful tool to measure the activity pattern of the brain suffering from any kind of mental illness.
Clinical neurogenetics is the branch of science that studies the heritable disorders of the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system. It is used to study the correlation between psychological illness, cognitive neuropsychiatry, and genetic history. It is a rather new approach to develop a connection between the genetic pattern with a psychological illness.
Neural imaging techniques used in neuropsychiatry centre use the technique such as single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), magnetic resonance angiography, diffusion tensor imaging, and positron emission tomography (PET) for obtaining the image of different sections on the brain.
Neuropsychiatric Disorders
There are the following neuropsychiatric disorders that are studied and treated in a neuropsychiatry centre, these include
Anxiety and hyperactivity disorder
Dementia
Delirium
Chronic fatigue syndrome
cognitive impairments
Schizophrenia
Tourette syndrome
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
BPD (borderline personality disorders)
Parkinsons disease
Huntington syndrome
Progeria.
Causes of Neuropsychiatric Disorder
According to clinical neuropsychiatrists, there is the following reason that can attribute to the neuropsychiatric disorder, but it is important to note that every disorder has a specific reason and the example included here covers broad and generic causes that might lead to such disorders. They are as follows,
The defective dopamine transporter is usually the cause of anxiety and hyperactivity disorder.
Childhood trauma or adverse early experiences can cause borderline personality disorder
The damaged myelin sheath is also a cause of disorders.
Toxin oxidation in the body can also lead to the development of Parkinson’s disease.
Genetic mutation like point mutation is responsible for causing progeria.
Alzheimer’s a common disorder is caused by the formation of amyloid plaques in the brain.
Institute for Neuropsychiatry
There are various reputed neuropsychiatry centre institutes that focus on the research and development of the treatment of neuropsychiatry. Some of the examples of such institutes include the American centre for neuropsychiatry, which under the guidelines of the American Neuropsychiatric Association (ANPA). Another example of such association includes International Neuropsychiatric Association which was founded in 1996. List of the centre for neuropsychiatry study in India includes AIIMS, JNU, The Center for Neural and Cognitive Sciences, University of Hyderabad and, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore.
FAQs on Neuropsychiatry: Understanding Brain and Behavior Disorders
1. What is the definition of neuropsychiatry as a field of study in biology?
Neuropsychiatry is an interdisciplinary branch of medicine and biology that focuses on mental disorders attributable to diseases of the nervous system. It bridges the gap between psychiatry and neurology, exploring how neurological damage or dysfunction can lead to cognitive, emotional, and behavioural symptoms.
2. What are some common examples of neuropsychiatric disorders?
Neuropsychiatric disorders encompass a wide range of conditions where brain function and behaviour are intertwined. Common examples include:
- Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Bipolar Disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Major Depressive Disorder
- Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Tourette's Syndrome
3. How is a neuropsychiatric disorder different from a purely neurological or a psychiatric one?
The difference lies in the primary focus. A neurological disorder primarily concerns diseases of the nervous system itself (e.g., epilepsy, stroke, Parkinson's disease). A psychiatric disorder focuses on disturbances in thought, mood, and behaviour without a clearly identified brain lesion. Neuropsychiatry specifically addresses the behavioural and psychological symptoms that arise from known or suspected brain dysfunction, directly linking brain biology to behaviour.
4. What are the key types of symptoms and behaviours associated with neuropsychiatric conditions?
Neuropsychiatric symptoms are diverse and can be grouped into several categories:
- Cognitive Symptoms: Issues with memory, attention, executive function (planning and decision-making), and processing speed.
- Behavioural Symptoms: Apathy, disinhibition, agitation, aggression, or compulsive actions.
- Mood Symptoms: Depression, anxiety, mania (extreme highs), or emotional lability (rapid mood swings).
- Psychotic Symptoms: Hallucinations (sensing things that aren't there) and delusions (firmly held false beliefs).
5. From a biological perspective, why do neuropsychiatric disorders often impact cognitive functions like memory?
These disorders often affect brain structures critical for cognition. For example, conditions impacting the hippocampus can directly impair memory formation. Similarly, dysfunction in the frontal lobes, which govern executive functions, can lead to problems with planning, attention, and impulse control. The disruption of neural circuits and neurotransmitter systems in these areas is the biological reason for the cognitive symptoms observed.
6. What are the primary risk factors that can trigger or contribute to the development of a neuropsychiatric disorder?
The development of neuropsychiatric disorders is often multifactorial, involving a combination of genetic and environmental influences. Key risk factors include having a first-degree relative with the disorder (genetic predisposition), periods of intense or chronic stress, traumatic brain injury, substance abuse, and exposure to certain toxins or infections during critical brain development stages.
7. How does the biology of neurotransmitters relate to neuropsychiatric conditions?
Neurotransmitters are essential for communication between brain cells. Imbalances in these chemicals are central to many neuropsychiatric disorders. For instance, dysregulation of dopamine is linked to schizophrenia and ADHD, while imbalances in serotonin are closely associated with depression and anxiety. Treatment often involves medications that help restore the normal balance of these critical neurotransmitters at the synapse.
8. What is the general approach for treating disorders that affect both the brain and behaviour?
Treatment is typically comprehensive and tailored to the individual. It often includes:
- Pharmacotherapy: Medications to manage symptoms by targeting specific neurotransmitter systems.
- Psychotherapy: Talk therapies like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to help manage thoughts and behaviours.
- Lifestyle Modifications: Strategies involving diet, exercise, and sleep hygiene to support overall brain health.
- Neurostimulation: In some cases, techniques like Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) may be used.
9. Can neuropsychiatric disorders worsen over time if they are not treated?
Yes, if left untreated, many neuropsychiatric disorders can worsen. This can happen for several reasons, including progressive changes in brain structure and function, the negative impact of chronic stress on the brain, and the reinforcement of maladaptive behavioural patterns. Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial for managing symptoms and improving long-term outcomes.
10. Why is understanding the link between brain function and behaviour important for a biology student?
Understanding this link is fundamental to modern biology because it demonstrates how complex behaviours and consciousness emerge from biological processes. It provides a basis for developing targeted medical treatments for mental illnesses, helps reduce social stigma by framing these conditions as biological, and deepens our overall comprehension of human health and disease as outlined in the CBSE/NCERT curriculum.
