Depression Flashcards
Which psychiatric disorder is highly associated with suicide?
- Schizophrenia (46.3%)
- Depression (26.8%)
What are the 3 best predictors of suicide?
- Hx of attempted suicide using highly lethal means
- Coexisting significant physical illness
- Delusions
Components of suicide risk assessment:
- Rapport
- Collateral information (w consent)
- Suicide inquiry (ideation, suicide plan, intent, explore ambivalence)
- Consultation with specialist when in doubt
Suicide risk management
- Identify and manage underlying disorders (e.g., depression)
- Identify risk factors
- Prior attempts
- Past/current psychiatric disorders
- Key symptoms: anhedonia, hopelessness, anxiety, impulsivity, aggression, delusions
- FH of suicide, child maltreatment
- Stressors: triggering events
- Access to meds (drug overdose), firearms, other lethal means
- Identify protective factors
- Removing means
- Activating support system
Suicide questions to ask:
Most impt to ask: Have you had any thoughts of killing yourself?
- refer to counseling
Additional questions: to seek IMMEDIATE help (emergency room)
- Have you had intention of acting on them?
- Have you started to work out details on how to kill yourself?
- Have you done anything / prepared to do anything to end your life? Was this within the past 3 months?
Etiology of major depressive disorder
- Biological (neuroendocrine)
- Hormonal influences (incr secretion of cortisol, major stress hormone)
- Monoamine hypothesis (dcr neurotransmitter in the brain - Norepinephrine, Serotonin, Dopamine)
- Psychological
- Loss, negative self-esteem
- Psychosocial
- Isolation, loss of social support
- Genetics
- S/S genotype on SERT gene: more vulnerable to depression of early life stress
- L/L genotype more immune to depressive effects of early life trauma
- Medical disorders
- Pharmacological (intoxication, withdrawal)
Secondary causes for depression: Medical disorders
- Endocrine disorders (Hypothyroidism, Cushing syndrome, Diabetes)
- Deficiency states (Anemia)
- Infections - can cause dysphoric mood
- Metabolic disorders (electrolyte imbalance, hepatic encephalopathy)
- Cardiovascular: CAD, CHF, MI
- Neurological: Alzheimer’s, Epilepsy, Parkinson’s, post-stroke, pain - frustration, depression
- Malignancy, cancer
Secondary causes for depression: Psychiatric disorders
- Alcoholism
- Anxiety disorders
- Eating disorders
- Schizophrenia
Secondary causes for depression: Drug-induced
- Lipid-soluble beta-blockers (*propranolol can cause psychosis)
- Psychotropics: CNS depressants (BZD, opioids, barbiturates), anticonvulsants, tetrabenazine
- Withdrawal from alcohol, stimulants**
- Systemic corticosteroids (can cause anxiety, psychosis, depression)
- Isotretinoin (Vit A)
- Interferon-B-1a (Hep C tx)
DSM-5 Criteria
(In SAD CAGES)
A) At least 5 out of 9 symptoms (including depressed mood or loss of interest) over the most of the same 2 weeks, causing significant distress or functional impairment)
- Loss of interest
- Sleep: insomnia
- Appetite: LOA, weight loss
- Depressed mood
- Concentration: impaired concentration and decision making
- Activity: psychomotor retardation or agitation (retardation: slowed speech, decreased movement, and impaired cognitive function) (agitation: restlessness and anxiety, repetitive and unintentional movements)
- Guilt
- Energy: dcr energy, fatigue
- Suicidal: thoughts or attempts
B) Symptoms cause significant distress or impairment
C) Symptoms NOT caused by underlying medical conditions or substance
What is the 1st line treatment for MDD?
Mild depression - psychosocial treatments
Mod-severe depression - psychosocial + pharmacological treatments
What is persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia)?
If patient has depressed mood + 2 or more symptoms, for 2 years, but does not fulfill MDD diagnosis
- May be treated with antidepressants as well
What are 2 differential diagnosis for MDD?
- Adjustment disorder
- Symptoms occur within 3 months of onset of a stressor, but once stressor is terminated, symptoms do not persist for additional 6 months
- Acute stress disorder
- Symptoms occur within 1 month of a traumatic event and last 3 days to 1 month (if prolong >1m: PTSD)
- Symptoms include: intense fear, helplessness, horror, dissociation, re-experiencing, avoidance, increased arousal
These disorders are NOT to be treated with antidepressants, they can be treated with benzodiazepines instead
General assessments
- History of present illness
- Psychiatric history – history of manic/hypomanic episodes - bipolar depression cannot use antidepressants
- Substance use – cigarettes, alcohol, substances
- Complete medical history and medication history (Drug allergy? Other medications? Compliance?)
- Family, social, forensic, developmental, and occupational history (1st-degree FH of illness, treatment, and response; review psychosocial circumstances every visit)
- Physical and neurological exam (Injury? Esp head trauma?)
- Mental state exam (Suicidal, homicidal ideations and risks; Reassess MSE every interview to evaluate efficacy and tolerability)
- Labs and other investigations - Vital signs (BP, O2), weight, BMI, FBC, urea, electrolyte, creatinine, LFTs, TFTs, ECG, FBG, lipid panel, urine toxicology
FBC: rule out anemia, infection
TFTs: rule out hypothyroidism - depressed mood
ECG, CVD: cardiovascular events and depression
Exclude general medical conditions or substance-induced/withdrawal symptoms (e.g., psychosis, depression, mania, anxiety, insomnia)
Compare the onset, consciousness, memory b/w Depression, Delirium, Dementia, and Withdrawal/intoxication
ONSET:
- Depression: cyclical (worse when there’s a stressor)
- Delirium: Acute
- Dementia: Insidious, progressive
- Withdrawal/intoxication: Acute
Consciousness
- Depression: Generally unimpaired
- Delirium: Impaired
- Dementia: Clear until later stages
- Withdrawal/intoxication: Continuum of unimpaired to impaired
Memory
- Depression: Intact
- Delirium: Poor
- Dementia: Poor short and long-term memory
- Withdrawal/intoxication: Intact
Psychiatric rating scales
Clinician Rated: Hamilton rating scale for depression (HAM-D) to evaluate recovery GOLD STANDARD
- Therapy goal: symptom-free
- Remission =<7
- Response = 50% improvement
Self-rated screening/assessment tool: PHQ-9 / PHQ-2
- Score 1-4: minimal symptoms (in remission)
- Score 5-9: mild depression
- Score 10-14: mod depression
- Score 15-19: mod-severe depression
- Score >=20: severe depression
10 and above: warrants starting of antidepressants
PHQ2
Over the past two weeks, how often have you been bothered by any of the following problems?
- Little interest or pleasure in doing things
- Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless
VS PHQ9 - basically all 9 symptoms of In SAD CAGES
Goals of treatment in MDD
- Remission of symptoms (symptom-free)
- Treatment adherence
- Suicide prevention
Non-pharmacological therapy in MDD
- Sleep hygiene
- Psychotherapy (1st line for mild depression, includes coping mechanisms; not suitable as monotherapy for mod-severe MDD)
- Counseling
- Neurostimulation (reserved for severe/refractory depression) - Electroconvulsive treatment (ECT), rTMS
- Light therapy - for seasonal affective disorder
What classes do the following drugs belong to?
- Amitriptyline
- Vortioxetine
- Moclobemide
- Clomipramine
- Fluoxetine
- Mirtazapine
- Venlafaxine
- Bupropion
- Duloxetine
- Agomelatine
- Fluvoxamine
- Escitalopram
- Trazodone
- Ketamine
- TCAs: Amitriptyline, Clomipramine
- SSRIs: Fluoxetine, Fluvoxamine, Escitalopram
- SNRIs: Venlafaxine, Duloxetine
- SMS: Vortioxetine
- NaSSA: Mirtazapine (antagonist of the a2 autoreceptors)
- RIMA (reversible MAOi): Moclobemide
- NDRI: Bupropion
- Melatonin receptor agonist (act on MT1 and MT2 receptors, indirectly increases NA and dopamine): Agomelatine
- SARI: Trazodone
- Glutamate NMDA receptor (calcium ion channel) antagonist: Ketamine (anesthetic)
Which antidepressant has the fastest oral onset?
Mirtazapine
- works directly on autoreceptors to incr neurotransmitter release, does not inhibit reuptake of neurotransmitters (within 1 week)
Oral Escitalopram also has quick onset as it is very potent (within 1 week)
FYI:
- Onset of IV ketamine within 1h
- Onset of ECT within 1min
All SSRI are in SDL except:
Paroxetine and Escitalopram
*Also note that bupropion is NOT subsidized
Common indications for antidepressants
- TCAs
*Dose for amitriptyline, clomipramine
Besides depression,
Amitriptyline (30-300mg/day, max dose 300mg/day) - neuropathic pain, migraine prophylaxis
Clomipramine (max dose 300mg/day) - OCD (2nd line), Cataplexy a/w narcolepsy
Nortriptyline - neuropathic pain
Imipramine
Dothiepin
Common indications for antidepressants
- SSRIs
*Dose for fluoxetine
Besides depression, used for anxiety disorders due to its serotonergic properties
Fluoxetine (20-60mg OM, max 80mg): OCD
Fluvoxamine: OCD
Escitalopram: Anxiety disorders
Citalopram: Panic disorders
Paroxetine: Anxiety disorders
Sertraline: OCD, Panic disorder
Common indications for antidepressants
- SNRI
Besides depression,
Venlafaxine: GAD, PD
Duloxetine: GAD, chronic musculoskeletal pain, diabetic neuropathy, stress urinary incontinence, fibromyalgia
*Venlafaxine has similar structure to tramadol
Common indications for antidepressants
- RIMA: Moclobemide
Besides depression,
Moclobemide: Social anxiety disorder
Common indications for antidepressants
- NDRI: Bupropion
Besides depression,
Buproprion can be used for smoking cessation (increases NA and dopamine at ventral tegmental area)
Common indications for antidepressants
- SARI: Trazodone
Not typically used as an antidepressant as antidepressant dose of 300-600mg per day is too sedating, not tolerable
May use off-label for insomnia, commonly use PO 25mg at bedtime PRN for insomnia
It is also anti-hypertensive