L10_ organic_mental_disorders_2_flashcards
What is Alzheimer’s disease?
An irreversible, progressive brain disorder that destroys memory and cognitive function.
What are the risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease?
Increasing age, family history, Down’s syndrome, ApoE4 gene, cerebrovascular disease, high homocysteine levels, diabetes, obesity.
What are the core clinical features of Alzheimer’s disease?
Memory impairment (amnesia), aphasia, apraxia, agnosia, executive dysfunction, depression, personality change.
What neurotransmitter is most deficient in Alzheimer’s disease?
Acetylcholine (ACh).
How is Alzheimer’s disease diagnosed?
Clinical exclusion of other causes, neuroimaging (CT/MRI), and post-mortem findings (amyloid plaques, neurofibrillary tangles).
What are the main pharmacological treatments for Alzheimer’s disease?
Cholinesterase inhibitors (donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine) to increase ACh, NMDA receptor antagonists (memantine) for severe cases.
What are the common side effects of cholinesterase inhibitors?
Diarrhea, insomnia, nausea, increased urination and salivation.
What symptomatic treatments are used in Alzheimer’s disease?
Anxiolytics (buspirone), antipsychotics (olanzapine, quetiapine), SSRIs for depression, anticonvulsants for aggression.
What are the key features of vascular dementia?
Abrupt onset, stepwise deterioration, history of strokes, fluctuating course, hypertension.
How is vascular dementia diagnosed?
EEG (focal slowing), MRI/CT (multiple infarcts), history of stroke or transient ischemic attacks (TIAs).
What are the major causes of amnesia?
Transient (head injury, alcohol blackouts, PTSD, ECT) and persistent (Korsakoff syndrome, herpes encephalitis, stroke).
What are the key clinical features of amnestic syndromes?
Profound episodic memory loss, anterograde amnesia, preserved short-term memory, confabulation (false memories).
What is Korsakoff syndrome?
An amnestic syndrome due to thiamine deficiency, commonly caused by chronic alcohol abuse.
What are the clinical features of Korsakoff syndrome?
Memory loss, confabulation, disorientation, neuropathy, ataxia, ophthalmoplegia.
How is Korsakoff syndrome managed?
High-dose thiamine replacement, alcohol cessation, supportive care.
What is organic hallucinosis?
Persistent or recurrent hallucinations due to an organic cause, usually visual in nature.
What are the common causes of organic hallucinosis?
Hallucinogenic drugs (LSD, cannabis, PCP), alcohol withdrawal, sensory deprivation, epilepsy, brain lesions.
What is organic delusional disorder?
Delusions caused by an organic brain disorder, often persecutory in nature, with predominant visual hallucinations.
What are the causes of organic mood disorders?
Drugs (L-dopa, amphetamines, steroids), endocrine disorders (hypothyroidism, Cushing’s syndrome), CNS disorders (stroke, Parkinson’s).
What is the treatment for organic mood disorders?
Treat underlying cause, use low-dose antidepressants (SSRIs) for depression, mood stabilizers for mania.
What are the causes of organic anxiety disorder?
CNS diseases, metabolic disorders, endocrine dysfunction, drug withdrawal (alcohol, benzodiazepines).
What are the features of organic personality disorder?
Poor impulse control, emotional lability, apathy, disinhibition, aggression, altered sexual behavior.
What are the common causes of organic personality disorder?
Frontal lobe damage, traumatic brain injury, temporal lobe epilepsy, neurodegenerative diseases.
What is the management for organic personality disorder?
Treat underlying cause, use mood stabilizers (lithium, carbamazepine) for aggression, and psychotherapy.
