Clinical Conditions

Question 1

What is neuroleptic malignant syndrome?

Answer 1

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome is life threatening reaction within 2 weeks of initiating antipsychotics characterised by fever, altered mental status, muscle rigidity and autonomic dysfunction (tachycardia, labile BP, flushing)

Question 2

What is serotonin syndrome?

Answer 2

Serotonin syndrome is a life threatening presentation which occurs within a few weeks of initiating SSRIs or when 2 used at once

Question 3

What is a seizure

Answer 3

A seizure is an event of sudden excessive depolarisation/electrical activity in the neurones

Question 4

What is epilepsy

Answer 4

Epilepsy is a condition wherein a patient experiences more than one episode of unprovoked seizures

Question 5

What are clinically significant infections?

Answer 5

Clinically significant infections are infections that if left untreated will cause death, permanent harm or medium to long term disability

Question 6

What is allodynia?

Answer 6

Allodynia is pain due to a stimulus that does not usually provoke pain

Question 7

What is hyperalgesia?

Answer 7

Hyperalgesia is increased pain from a stimulus that usually provokes pain

Question 8

What is an arrhythmia?

Answer 8

• An arrhythmia is a heart condition arising due to disturbances in pacemaker impulse formation and/or contraction impulse conduction
• It results in a rate and/or timing of myocardial contraction that is insufficient to maintain normal CO