Laboratory and ECG assessment Flashcards
Medical conditions which are associated with depression
Coronary artery disease Diabetes End stage renal disease Malignancy HIV Degenerative neurological disorders Stroke
Conditions which can mimic depression
Addison’s disease
Hypothyroidism
Vitamin B12 deficiency
Reason to take FBC when depression is suspected
Rule out infectious or inflammatory pathology
Reason to take TSH when depression is suspected
Rule out hypothyroidism
Reason to take B12 level when depression is suspected
Rule out deficiency which can mimic depression
Reason to take electrolyte levels such as calcium, magnesium when depression is suspected
Abnormalities can cause fatigue which could mimic depression
Reason to take renal function when depression is suspected
To prepare for starting antidepressants
Reason to take LFTs when depression is suspected
To rule out alcohol related damage is concomitant alcohol misuse is suspected
To prepare for starting antidepressants
Reason to take 24 hour free urinary cortisol when depression is suspected
To rule out Cushing’s disease if suspected - more common in patients with depression than the general population
Reason to take ACTH stimulation test when depression is suspected
To rule out Addison’s disease which can mimic depression
Depression related conditions in which a dexamethasone suppression test is more likely to be positive
Major depressive disorder
Psychotic affective disorder
Depression with suicidality
Somatic syndrome
Non-depression related psychiatric conditions in which a positive dexamethasone suppression test can be seen
Anorexia nervosa Bulimia nervosa Alcoholism OCD Anxiety
Prognostic feature of a positive dexamethasone suppression test in depression
More likely to respond to medication
Common result of corticotropin releasing hormone test in major depression
Blunted ACTH due to HPA axis abnormality
Percentage of patients presenting with depression who have overt hypothyroidism
1-4%
Percentage of patients with depression who have subclinical hypothyroidism
4-40%
Differential diagnoses for anxiety attacks
Paroxysmal atrial tachycardia PE Seizures Meniere's disease TIA Carcinoid syndrome Cushing's Hyperthyroidism Hypoglycaemia Pheochromocytoma
Substance that causes a panic attack in 72% of patients with panic disorder when injected
IV sodium lactate
Infusion rarely used in clinical practice which worsens organic conditions, and improves non-organic conditions, causing anxiety
Amobarbitol
Differential diagnosis for psychosis
Head injury
Seizures
Recreational drug use
Dietary deficiencies e.g. B12, folate, niacin, thiamine
Reason to take FBC when investigating psychosis
Rule out infections or inflammatory causes
Baseline if starting antipsychotics
Reason to take TFTs when investigating psychosis
Rule out hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism
Reason to take glucose and lipid profile when investigating psychosis
As a baseline prior to starting antipsychotics to rule out pre-existing metabolic syndrome
Reason to take an ECG when investigating psychosis
As a baseline prior to starting antipsychotics
Reason to take prolactin level when investigating psychosis
As a baseline prior to starting antipsychotics
Reason to take electrolytes when investigating psychosis
To rule out an underlying cause
Reason to take LFTs when investigating psychosis
To rule out chronic alcohol use if suspected
To investigate for Wilson’s disease if suspected
As a baseline prior to starting antipsychotics
Tests to consider if delirium suspected
FBC CRP Urine MC&S CXR Blood culture Blood alcohol Blood glucose
Tests to consider if STDs suspected
HIV test
Syphilis
STD testing
Tests to consider if encephalitis suspected
NMDA receptor antibodies Voltage-gated potassium channel antibodies - LGI 1, CASPR 2, contactin-2 AMPA receptor GABA-B Glycine receptor
Tests to consider if Cushing’s disease suspected
24 hour urinary free cortisol
Evening salivary cortisol
Dexamethasone suppression test
Symptoms of acute intermittent porphyria
Muscle weakness Seizures Coma Anxiety Confusion Hallucinations Rarely overt psychosis Abdominal pain NOT a rash - unlike other types
Tests to consider if porphyria suspected
Spot urine sample for porphobilinogen during attack
24 hour urine for porphyrins, porphobilinogen and delta-aminolevulinic acid
Tests to consider if hyperparathyroidism suspected
Serum calcium
Serum parathyroid hormone
Neuropsychiatric symptoms of Wilson’s disease
Cognitive deterioration Clumsiness Parkinsonism Depression Anxiety Psychosis Frontal lobe dysfunction Migraine Seizures
Non-neuropsychiatric manifestations of Wilson’s disease
Signs of chronic liver disease - oesophageal varices, splenomegaly, spider naevi
Kayser-Fleischer rings in the eyes on slit lamp examination
Renal tubular acidosis
Cardiomyopathy and heart failure
Tests to consider if Wilson’s disease suspected
Serum ceruloplasmin
24 hour copper excretion
Tests to consider if lysosomal storage diseases are suspected
Skin biopsy
Genetic testing
Serum alpha-galactosidase enzyme
Tests to consider if homocystinuria suspected
Homocysteine in urine and blood
Genetic testing
Tests to consider if CNS lesions suspected
MRI or CT
EEG if temporal lobe epilepsy suspected
Medications that can precipitate an episode of acute intermittent porphyria
Oestrogens
Benzodiazepines
Barbiturates
Diclofenac
Most common sex to suffer from anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis
Female
Malignancy found in 50% of women presenting with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis
Ovarian teratoma
Most common first presentation of anti-NMDA receptor encphalitis
Psychosis
Mania
Prodrome associated with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis
Fever
Headache
Malaise
Confirmatory test to diagnose anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis
CSF analysis
Treatment of anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis
Steroids
Plasma exchange
Complications caused by giving antipsychotics in cases of anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis
NMS-like syndrome
Tests to consider to investigate dementia
FBC CRP TFT Electrolytes Thiamine Syphilis and HIV if suspected Glucose, lipids - if vascular dementia suspected CT or MRI head
Endocrine abnormalities expected in anorexia nervosa
Low LH, FSH, oestradiol Low T3, normal T4, normal TSH Mildly raised cortisol Raised growth hormone Low glucose Low leptin
ECG abnormalities in anorexia nervosa
Bradycardia AV block ST depression TWI Prolonged QT Arrhythmias
Haematological abnormalities expected in anorexia nervosa
Normocytic normochromic anaemia
Mild leucopaenia
Thrombocytopaenia
Metabolic abnormalities expected in anorexia nervosa
Raised cholesterol Raised phosphate Raised serum carotene Low potassium Raised chloride alkalosis
Electrolyte abnormalities seen in repetitive vomiting
Metabolic alkalosis
Hypokalaemia
Electrolyte abnormalities seen in laxative misuse
Metabolic acidosis
Hyponatraemia
Hypokalaemia