1. Past Papers Flashcards
what is the main overview to your approach to management of a violent patient?
examine first and then take a history
ABC of management
restraint and tranuilisation
continuously monitor the patient
refer
differentials
Main: what is your approach to the management of a violent patient?
-
examine first and then take a history
- observe and examine the situation
- de-escalate the situation
- take collateral
- examine patient when patient is retrained -
ABC of management
- Assessment: look for signs of the cause (this stage is completed once the patient is sedated)
- Back up: staff/ resources to ensure no harm to people or property
- Containment: pharm or non-pharm.
(5 C’s of containment = be calm, take control, confidently manage staff, contain the patient with reassurances, constraint if needed in the situation) -
restraint and tranuilisation
- 4 point immobilisation = 4 preassigned staff - each take a hip and shoulder of the patient and then the doctor or nurse in charge sedates the patient immediately
- administration of drugs: PO takes longer to work; IM needs monitoring; IV works rapidly but requires back up/ resus
- drug options:
benzodiazepines (Lorazepam 2-4mg SL/PO/IM or in severe cases, Diazepam)
Antipsychotic agents: haloperidol 5-10mg PO/IM/IV +- Lorazepam or Risperidone 1-2mg PO or olanzepine 10mg PO/IM/IV
For 4 point immobilisation: Inject 2-4mg Lorazepam and 5-10mg Haloperidol IM which can be repeated twice in 30-60min interval
- continuously monitor the patient
- look for EPSEs
- treat the underlying cause -
refer
- if unable to establish cause
- hospitalisation is required
- initial strategies to manage persistence violence fails -
differentials
- criminal behavior
- antisocial personality disorder
- substance use disorders
- acute psychotic episode
- mania
- depression
- dementia
- anxiety
- delirium
- epilepsy
- cerebral infarctions/ bleeds/ TB
In managing a violent patient, what are the 5 C’s of containment?
5 C’s of containment =
be calm
take control
confidently manage staff
contain the patient with reassurances
constraint if needed in the situation
In managing a violent patient, what happens in the 3rd step of restraint and tranuilisation
-
restraint and tranuilisation
- 4 point immobilisation = 4 preassigned staff - each take a hip and shoulder of the patient and then the doctor or nurse in charge sedates the patient immediately
- administration of drugs: PO takes longer to work; IM needs monitoring; IV works rapidly but requires back up/ resus
-
drug options:
benzodiazepines (Lorazepam 2-4mg SL/PO/IM or in severe cases, Diazepam)
Antipsychotic agents: haloperidol 5-10mg PO/IM/IV +- Lorazepam or Risperidone 1-2mg PO or olanzepine 10mg PO/IM/IV
For 4 point immobilisation: Inject 2-4mg Lorazepam and 5-10mg Haloperidol IM which can be repeated twice in 30-60min interval
In managing a violent patient, what are your drug options?
- drug options:
benzodiazepines (Lorazepam 2-4mg SL/PO/IM or in severe cases, Diazepam)
Antipsychotic agents: haloperidol 5-10mg PO/IM/IV +- Lorazepam or Risperidone 1-2mg PO or olanzepine 10mg PO/IM/IV
For 4 point immobilisation: Inject 2-4mg Lorazepam and 5-10mg Haloperidol IM which can be repeated twice in 30-60min interval
In managing a violent patient, what happens in the 2nd step of the ABCs of management
- ABC of management
- Assessment: look for signs of the cause (this stage is completed once the patient is sedated)
- Back up: staff/ resources to ensure no harm to people or property
- Containment: pharm or non-pharm.
(5 C’s of containment = be calm, take control, confidently manage staff, contain the patient with reassurances, constraint if needed in the situation)
In managing a violent patient, what are the differentials
what could be wrong with this patient?
- differentials
- criminal behavior
- antisocial personality disorder
- substance use disorders
- acute psychotic episode
- mania
- depression
- dementia
- **delirium **
- anxiety
- epilepsy
- cerebral infarctions/ bleeds/ TB
In managing a violent patient, what medication do you use to sedate the patient?
For 4 point immobilisation: Inject 2-4mg Lorazepam and 5-10mg Haloperidol IM which can be repeated twice in 30-60min interval
Discuss the mood stabiliser lithium in terms of monitoring and therapeutic levels
Monitoring: Measure trough levels after 5 days, then monthly, then 3 monthly once stabilised therapeutic serum level
Narrow therapeutic index: 0.6-1mmol/l [0.4-0.7 for geriatric patients]
If it is required, the dose can be increased in increments and trough levels can be
repeated after 5 days
Discuss the mood stabiliser lithium in terms of the clinical presentation of toxicity
Mild toxicity reached at = 1.5-2.5mmol/l
moderate = 2.5-3.5mmol/l
severe > 3.5mmol/l
o Seen a lot in **chronic treatment ** or if there is decreased excretion due to drug
interactions, dehydration or renal impairment
o Features: nausea and vomiting, dehydration
renal dysfunction, electrolyte imbalance,
restlessness, tremor/fasciculations,
confusion/apathy, dysarthria, ataxia,
hyperreflexia, muscle weakness,
flat or inverted T waves, arrhythmias,
hypotension, convulsions and coma
o Management: gastric lavage within 1-2hrs; monitor fluids and electrolytes/serum
lithium level/cardiac functions, haemodialysis for moderate-severe toxicity
Discuss the mood stabiliser lithium in terms of the use in women of child bearing age
o Increase risk of Ebstein’s anomaly due to T1 exposure and T2 and T3 problems Ā
polyhydramnios, PTL, thyroid abnormalities, floppy baby syndrome
So if mother has:
o Mild stable bipolar disorder: taper down and stop lithium pre-pregnancy
o Moderate risk of relapse: taper and discontinue during T1
o Severe BPD: maintain lithium during pregnancy Ā informed consent, counsel,
detailed USS and echo at 16-18 weeks
Discuss the mood stabiliser lithium in terms of definition
Lithium is mood stabiliser, gold standard for treating bipolar mood disorder
Discuss the mood stabiliser lithium in terms of the indications
- acute manic episodes
- prophylaxis for manic episodes
- augmentation of antidepressants in resistant/recurrent depression
- aggressive or self-mutilating behavior
Discuss the mood stabiliser lithium in terms of the contraindications
- cardiac disease
- renal impairment
- T1 pregnancy
- epilepsy
Discuss the mood stabiliser lithium in terms of what investigations you would do before you start the mood stabiliser
- ECG
- renal function
- pregnancy test
- TSH
- Ca
Discuss the mood stabiliser lithium in terms of the starting dose
- 400-600mg at night
- increased weekly depending on serum levels** to 2g**
Discuss the mood stabiliser lithium in terms of the side effects
Head and neck
2. dry mouth,
4. alopecia, folliculitis, rash, leukocytosis
3. goitre,
4.Hypothyroidism,
GIT
6. Upset GI: N&V, diarrhoea
7. Increased weight,
Limbs
3. tremors and teratogen,
Other
1. Leucocytosis,
2. Insipidus diabetes,
7. Miscellaneous (ECG changes, acne)
what is the management of lithium toxicity?
- gastric lavage within 1-2hrs
-
monitor:
fluids and electrolytes
serum lithium level
cardiac functions - haemodialysis for moderate-severe toxicity
what are the features of lithium toxicity?
Brain
- confusion/apathy, dysarthria, ataxia
- convulsions and coma
Muscles
- hyperreflexia, muscle weakness
- restlessness
- tremor/fasciculations,
Heart muscle and blood
- flat or inverted T waves, arrhythmias,
- hypotension
GIT
- nausea and vomiting,
- dehydration
- renal dysfunction
- electrolyte imbalance,
what are the toxicity levels of lithium toxicity?
Mild toxicity = 1.5-2.5mmol/l
moderate = 2.5-3.5mmol/l
severe > 3.5mmol/l
what is the teratogenicity for lithium toxicity?
o Increase risk of **Ebstein’s anomaly **due to T1 exposure and T2 and T3 problems Ā
polyhydramnios, PTL, thyroid abnormalities, floppy baby syndrome
So if the patient has:
o Mild stable bipolar disorder: taper down and stop lithium pre-pregnancy
o Moderate risk of relapse: taper and discontinue during T1
o Severe BPD: maintain lithium during pregnancy Ā informed consent, counsel,
detailed USS and echo at 16-18 weeks
Main: Discuss the mood stabiliser lithium in terms of:
monitoring and therapeutic level
side effects
clinical presentation of toxicity
the use in women of child-bearing age
Lithium is mood stabiliser, gold standard for treating bipolar mood disorder
Indications:
- acute manic episodes
- prophylaxis for manic episodes
- augmentation of antidepressants in resistant/recurrent depression
- aggressive or self-mutilating behavior
**Contraindications:
**
- cardiac disease
- renal impairment
- epilepsy
- T1 pregnancy
**Before initiation:
**
- pregnancy test
- renal function
- TSH
- Ca
- ECG
**Starting dose:
**
- 400-600mg at night,
- increased weekly depending on serum levels to 2g
**Side effects:
**Leucocytosis, Insipidus diabetes, tremors and teratogen, Hypothyroidism,
Increased weight, Upset GI, Miscellaneous (ECG changes, acne)
weight gain, nausea and vomiting, diarrhoea, anorexia, dry mouth, goitre, hypothyroidism,
diabetes insipidus, alopecia, folliculitis, rash, leukocytosis
Monitoring and therapeutic level:
Not much difference between toxic and therapeutic levels
Narrow therapeutic index: 0.6-1mmol/l [0.4-0.7 for geriatric patients]
Measure trough levels after 5 days, then monthly, then 3 monthly once stabilised
therapeutic serum level
If it is required, the dose can be increased in increments and trough levels can be
repeated after 5 days
**Toxicity:
**o Mild = 1.5-2.5mmol/l, moderate = 2.5-3.5mmol/l, severe > 3.5mmol/l
o Occurs in chronic treatment or if there is decreased excretion due to drug
interactions, dehydration or renal impairment
o Features - nausea and vomiting, dehydration, renal dysfunction, electrolyte
imbalance, restlessness, tremor/fasciculations, confusion/apathy, dysarthria, ataxia,
hyperreflexia, muscle weakness, flat or inverted T waves, arrhythmias, hypotension, convulsions and coma
o Management - gastric lavage within 1-2hrs; monitor fluids and electrolytes/serum
lithium level/cardiac functions, haemodialysis for moderate-severe toxicity
**Teratogenicity:
** o Increase risk of Ebstein’s anomaly due to T1 exposure and T2 and T3 problems Ā
polyhydramnios, PTL, thyroid abnormalities, floppy baby syndrome
o Mild stable bipolar disorder: taper down and stop lithium pre-pregnancy
o Moderate risk of relapse: taper and discontinue during T1
o Severe BPD: maintain lithium during pregnancy Ā informed consent, counsel,
detailed USS and echo at 16-18 weeks
Main: what is the side effect profile of 1st generation anti-psychotics
- Typicals/First gen: Chlorpromazine [phenothiazine], Haloperidol [Butyrophenone]
- Atypicals/Second gen: Clozapine, Olanzapine, Risperidone
EPSEs
- acute dystonia typically in sternocleidomastoid and tongue but can be widespread
- akathisia [feeling of inner restlessness],
- parkinsonism
- NMS - neuroleptic malignant syndrome [rigidity/fluctuating consciousness/pyrexia]
- late TDS - tardive dyskinesia [continuous slow writhing movements] more common with typicals, caused by D2-R blockade in corpus striatum
- orphenadrine co-administration reduces EPSEs
**Anticholinergic side effects:
**
- dry mouth
- blurred vision
- glaucoma
- dysuria
- urinary retention
- constipation
- ileus
Anti-adrenergic: postural hypotension, sexual dysfunction
Anti-histamininc: sedation and weight gain
Other side effects: raised prolactin and cardiac conduction abnormalities from prolonged QT syndrome
In the side effect profile of 1st generation anti-psychotics, what are the EPSEs?
EPSEs
- acute dystonia typically in sternocleidomastoid and tongue but can be widespread
- akathisia [feeling of inner restlessness],
- parkinsonism
- NMS - neuroleptic malignant syndrome [rigidity/fluctuating consciousness/pyrexia]
- late TDS - tardive dyskinesia [continuous slow writhing movements] more common with typicals, caused by D2-R blockade in corpus striatum
- orphenadrine co-administration reduces EPSEs
In the side effect profile of 1st generation anti-psychotics, what are the anticholinergic side effects?
Anticholinergic side effects:
- dry mouth
- blurred vision
- glaucoma
- dysuria
- urinary retention
- constipation
- ileus
In the side effect profile of 1st generation anti-psychotics, what are the anti-adrenergic side effects?
postural hypotension, sexual dysfunction
In the side effect profile of 1st generation anti-psychotics, what are the anti-histaminic side effects?
Anti-histamininc: sedation and weight gain
In the side effect profile of 1st generation anti-psychotics, what are the categories of side effects?
EPSEs
Anticholinergic
Antiadrenergic
Antihistaminic
Other side effects
Main: How do you assess a depressed patient who you suspect might be suicidal in casualty?
- Determine whether they’re high or low risk by looking at the risk factors:
Look at risk factors: SADPERSONS
5-6: medium risk, 7 or more: high risk
● S: Male sex
● A: Age (<19 or >45 years)
● D: Depression
● P: Previous attempt
● E: Excess alcohol or substance use
● R: Rational thinking loss
● S: Social supports lacking
● O: Organized plan
● N: No spouse
● S: Sickness (GMC)
+ general risk factors (family history, non-compliance, feelings of hopelessness, unemployment)
- Then determine ideation, intention, plan
- ideation: content and duration of thoughts
- intention: self-harm vs suicide
- plan: detail, lethality, concealment and preparation - Then examine and assess them
● Assessment steps:
o Ensure physical condition is stabilised
o Physical examination for medical illness/drug intoxication
o Collateral interviews from family, colleagues, friends
o Psych exam: Hx, MSE
o Current presentation of suicidality: lethality of method, level of intent, steps
enacted, feelings of hopelessness
o Psychiatric illness and history thereof
o History of previous suicide attempts
o Psychosocial situation
o Individual strength and vulnerabilities – coping mechanisms, personality traits, past response to stressors - Then do a post assessment
● Post-assessment: Likely risk of further self-harm, is there a treatable mental illness,
psychosocial problems that need to be addressed, intervention and support required to reduce risk - Look out for the **warning signs **of suicide =
o Talk: self-criticism, talking about killing themselves, joke about suicide, having no
reason to live, being a burden to others, feeling trapped
o Behaviour: increased substance use, looking for a way to kill themselves, reckless, change in personality, withdrawal from activities, loss of interest in appearance, sleeping too much/too little, calling people to say bye, preparing for death by giving away possessions
o Mood: depression,* loss of interest*, rage, irritability, humiliation, anxiety, excessive
feelings of guilt
In the assessment fo a depressed/ suicidal patient, what are the warning signs of suicide?
- Look out for the warning signs of suicide =
o TALK: self-criticism, talking about killing themselves, joke about suicide, having no
reason to live, being a burden to others, feeling trapped
o BEHAVIOUR: increased substance use, looking for a way to kill themselves, reckless, change in personality, withdrawal from activities, loss of interest in appearance, sleeping too much/too little, calling people to say bye, preparing for death by giving away possessions
o MOOD: depression, loss of interest, rage, irritability, humiliation, anxiety, excessive feelings of guilt
In the assessment of a depressed/ suicidal patient, what are the main risk factors and how do you score them?
- Determine whether they’re high or low risk by looking at the risk factors:
Look at risk factors: SADPERSONS 5-6: medium risk, 7 or more: high risk
● S: Male sex
● A: Age (<19 or >45 years)
● D: Depression
● P: Previous attempt
● E: Excess alcohol or substance use
● R: Rational thinking loss
● S: Social supports lacking
● O: Organized plan
● N: No spouse
● S: Sickness (GMC)
+ general risk factors (family history, non-compliance, feelings of hopelessness, unemployment)
In the assessment fo a depressed/ suicidal patient, in step 2, what do you need to determine? (IIP)
Ideation
Intention
Plan
- ideation: content and duration of thoughts
- intention: self-harm vs suicide
- plan: detail, lethality, concealment and preparation
In the assessment of a depressed/ suicidal patient, how do you assess and examine the patient?
- ● Assessment steps:
o Ensure physical condition is stabilised
o Physical examination for medical illness/drug intoxication
o Collateral interviews from family, colleagues, friends
o Psych exam: Hx, MSE
o Current presentation of suicidality: lethality of method, level of intent, steps
enacted, feelings of hopelessness
o Psychiatric illness and history thereof
o History of previous suicide attempts
o Psychosocial situation
o Individual strength and vulnerabilities – coping mechanisms, personality traits, past
response to stressors
In the assessment of a depressed/ suicidal patient, what do you do post-assessment?
Post-assessment: Likely risk of further self-harm, is there a treatable mental illness,
psychosocial problems that need to be addressed, intervention and support required to reduce risk
Main: what is the clinical presentation of PTSD?
● Presence of Severe psychological disturbance following a traumatic event characterised by involuntary re-experiencing of elements of the event with symptoms of hyperarousal, avoidance and emotional numbing
● Symptoms and signs:
o Within 6 MONTHS of traumatic event, present for at least **1 month **with clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational or other important areas of functioning
o EXPOSURE: directly experiencing, witnessing, events happening to close person,
repeated/extreme exposure to details of traumatic events
o ONE OR MORE: recurrent/intrusive memories of event, recurrent dreams, dissociative reactions where it feels like events are recurring, intense/prolonged distress to cues that symbolise/resemble event
o AVOIDANCE OF STIMULI associated with event – efforts to avoid distressing memories or external reminders of those distressing memories
o NEGATIVE ALTERATIONS in cognition and mood – inability to remember aspects, negative beliefs about oneself, distorted cognition about cause and consequence of event, negative emotional state, diminished interest in activities, detachment/estrangement from others, inability to experience positive emotions
o INCREASED PHYSIOLOGICAL SENSITIVITY and arousal: sleep disturbance, irritability or outbursts of anger, difficulty concentrating, hypervigilance, exaggerated startle response, reckless/self-destructive