Child Psyche: Schizophrenia and other disorders Flashcards
What is the definition of delirium?
It is a non specific neuropsychiatric disorder that indicated global encephalopathy dysfunction in seriously ill patioents
What are the causes of delirium in children?
- Infections, toxins
- Multiple medications
- Nutritional/vitamin deficiencies
- Hypoxia
- Trauma/burns
- Endocrine/metabolic abnormalities
How do children typically present with delirium?
- Inconsolable crying, irritable, anxiety
- Fluctuating course
- Disorientated, poor memory and recall
- Finds it hard to concentrate
- Hyper/hypoactive, aggressive or listless
- Acute/subacute
Which drugs are common culprits of delirium?
Benzodiazepines
What are the medical causes of dementia in children that’s lead to deterioration in cognitive functioning?
- Recurrent substance use
- HIV encephalopathy, HIV associated neuro cognitive disorders(HAND), Meningitis, TB
- Trauma: head injury
- Hypoxia: drowning
- Central nervous system tumours
- Metabolic: repeated hypoglycaemia
- Chemotherapy for leukemia
What are the medical causes of psychosis in children?
- Brain tumours
- Wilson’s disease, Huntington’s disease
- Neurosyphilis
- SLE
- Vitamin B12 deficiency
What are the medical causes of depression in children?
- Brain tumours
- Cysts
- Brain trauma
- Hypothyroidism
- Cerebral SLE
- Thiamine deficiency
What are the common conditions that present in the western cape in children?
- Epilepsy
2. HIV in adolescents or children
What are the common conditions that present with epilepsy in children?
- Adjustment disorder due to the bullying and name calling that occurs from other children that do not understand the condition
- ADHD- the occurrence is about 12-39%
Common reported behaviours of children with epilepsy is hyperactivity and inattention
Possibly caused by the adverse effects of the anticonvulsants
What is the mechanism of action of anticonvulsants?
They reduce the neuronal irritability and dampens seizure development
What is the best medication to use?
Phenytoin and carabamezipine(older anticonvulsants have decreased risk of adverse effects)
Phenobarbitone is associated with greater risk of neuropsychological problems
What are the adverse effects of the anti -convulsant drugs that are associated with ADHD?
- Hyperactivity
- Irritability
- Mood dysregulation
What are the psychiatric symptoms directly associated with a seizure episode?
Ictal: the symptoms occur before or during an attack
-hallucinations
Postictal: Postictal delirium
Interictal: severe aggression and mood dysregulation
What is the psychiatric manifestations of HIV in children and adolescents?
- ADHD
- Mood and anxiety disorders
- Substance use diosorders
The prevalence rates are between 25% and 50%
What are HIV positive adolescences most at risk for?
- School failure and dropout
- Risky sexual behavior
- Substance use disorders
