Depression and insomnia Flashcards
What is mild depression?
Four symptoms
What is moderate depression?
Five to six symptoms
What is severe depression?
Seven or more symptoms with or without psychotic symptoms
How long should symptoms be present for in order to diagnose depression?
A month or more and every symptom should be present for most of every day
What are the two questions you should ask someone if you think they could be depressed?
During the last month, have you often been bothered by feeling down, depressed or hopeless?
During the last month, have you often been bothered by having little interest or pleasure in doing things?
Diagnosis of depression is performed using what?
ICD-10
What are the key symptoms of depression (ICD-10(?
Persistent sadness or low mood
Loss of interest and pleasure
Fatigue or low energy
What are the associated symptoms with depression?
Disturbed sleep Poor concentration and indecisiveness Low self confidence Poor or increased appetite Suicidal thoughts or acts Agitation or slowing of movement Guilt or self blame
What are the symptoms reported by at least 90% of people with depression?
Less enjoyment from usual activities Hopelessness Disappointment with self Irritability Difficulty sleeping
How many hours of sleep should a 15 year old have?
8 hours
How many hours of sleep should a 20 year old have?
7.5 hours
How many hours of sleep should a 40 year old have?
6.8 hours
How many hours of sleep should a 60 year old have?
6.3 hours
How many hours of sleep should a 80 year old have?
5.8 hours
How many weeks is short term insomnia?
Less than 4 weeks
How many weeks is long term insomnia?
More than 4 weeks
How long should you avoid caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol before going to bed? (to help with sleep)
6 hours
How long before bed should you avoid exercise for?
4 hours
What is the maximum length of time to treat short term insomnia pharmacologically?
3 weeks
What is preferred for insomnia treatment, short acting benzodiazepines or zopiclone?
There is no firm evidence of differences between the two
What is recommended for the long-term management of insomnia?
Pharmacological therapy is generally not recommended.
Referral to a specialist would be needed.
When should pharmacological treatment be used to treat depression?
For moderate or severe depression or mild with previous moderate/severe episode
What drug class is used first line to treat depression?
SSRIs
Which SSRIs should be considered first line to treat depression?
Sertraline and escitalopram
Which SSRI has a QT prolongation warning?
Escitalopram
What drug class is sertraline?
SSRI
What drug class is escitalopram?
SSRI
What drug class is Citalopram?
SSRI
What drug class is Fluoxetine?
SSRI
What drug class is Paroxetine?
SSRI
What antidepressant may be an option if sedation is desired or where hyponatraemia or an increased bleeding risk is a concern?
Mirtazepine
When should patients receiving pharmacological treatment for short term insomnia be reviewed?
after 2 weeks of treatment
When should people on mirtazapine be assessed for response?
4 weeks for adults or 6 weeks for over 65 year olds
For people who are not considered to be at increased risk of suicide, when should they normally be reviewed for their depression treatment?
2 weeks
For people who are younger than 30 years, when should you normally review them for their depression treatment?
1 week
What adverse effects should you monitor for when SSRIs are prescribed?
GI upset
Bleeding
Hyponatraemia
What period of time should an antidepressant be stopped over?
4 weeks
Does paroxetine have a long or short half life?
Short
Does fluoxetine have a long or short half life?
Long
How long should antidepressants be continued if it is the patients first episode?
6 months
How long should antidepressants be continued if it is the patient’s second episode?
2-3 years
How long should antidepressants be continued if it is the patient’s 3rd episode?
5 years
How long should antidepressants be continued if is it the person’s 4th or more episode?
Lifelong
What is transient insomnia?
Lasts a few days and is usually a result of a stressful situation
What is short term insomnia?
Lasts 1-4 weeks. Typically due to emotional trauma or physical illness
What is chronic insomnia?
Lasts more than one month