WHOLE PSYCHIATRY

Brain Nuclei: Clinical Relevance

NUCLEUS

NEUROTRANSMITTER

MEDICATION

LOCATION

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Locus coeruleus NE Tofranil, Nardil, Xanax, Inderal, Depakote Brain stem Panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (full activation), arousal, anxiety, learning (moderate activation)

Amygdala DA ACH Anticonvulsants, antipsychotics Limbic system Involved in control of emotional tone. Implicated in inappropriate rage, fear, sexuality, seizures

Suprachiasmatic
nucleus 5-HT EAA GABA SSRIs Hypothalamus Internal pacemaker. Possibly involved in seasonal and nonseasonal affective disorders.

Solitary nucleus NE 5-HT (?) Tofranil, Nardil, Inderal, SSRIs Brain stem Involved in suffocation alarm theory of panic disorder.

Dorsal raphe 5-HT BuSpar, Klonopin, SSRIs Brain stem Involved in decreasing anxiety. Site of action of Buspar

Corpus striatum (basal ganglia) DA Antipsychotics, L-DOPA Cerebral hemispheres Mediates involuntary muscle movement, tone. Site of Parkinson's disease, medication side effects. Involved in affective disorders and OCD.

Hypothalamus NE DA 5-HT EAA Almost all psychotropics Immediately above the brain stem Directs homeostasis, mind-body link, interface of nerve, hormone, and immune systems. Regulates autonomic nervous system.

Accumbens DA Antipsychotics Limbic system Mediates the reinforcing properties of drugs of abuse. Involved in deficit schizophrenia.

NUCLEUS	NEUROTRANSMITTER	MEDICATION	LOCATION	CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Locus coeruleus	NE	Tofranil, Nardil, Xanax, Inderal, Depakote	Brain stem	Panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (full activation), arousal, anxiety, learning (moderate activation)
Amygdala	DA ACH	Anticonvulsants, antipsychotics	Limbic system	Involved in control of emotional tone. Implicated in inappropriate rage, fear, sexuality, seizures
Suprachiasmatic nucleus	5-HT EAA GABA	SSRIs	Hypothalamus	Internal pacemaker. Possibly involved in seasonal and nonseasonal affective disorders.
Solitary nucleus	NE 5-HT (?)	Tofranil, Nardil, Inderal, SSRIs	Brain stem	Involved in suffocation alarm theory of panic disorder.
Dorsal raphe	5-HT	BuSpar, Klonopin, SSRIs	Brain stem	Involved in decreasing anxiety. Site of action of Buspar
Corpus striatum (basal ganglia)	DA	Antipsychotics, L-DOPA	Cerebral hemispheres	Mediates involuntary muscle movement, tone. Site of Parkinson's disease, medication side effects. Involved in affective disorders and OCD.
Hypothalamus	NE DA 5-HT EAA	Almost all psychotropics	Immediately above the brain stem	Directs homeostasis, mind-body link, interface of nerve, hormone, and immune systems. Regulates autonomic nervous system.
Accumbens	DA	Antipsychotics	Limbic system	Mediates the reinforcing properties of drugs of abuse. Involved in deficit schizophrenia.