Mental Health Flashcards
What is the therapeutic range for Lithium?
0.4-1.0 mmol/L
Indication of lithium
Bipolar disorder
When do the lithium levels need to be checked when dose changed?
1 week
What is knight’s move
illogical leaps from one idea to another
What is flight of ideas?
Discernible links between ideas
What are the common features of PTSD?
1) Re-experiencing
2) Avoidance
3) Hyperarousal
4) emotional numbing
Management of PTSD
- CBT or eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing
- Drug is not routine 1st line : Venlafaxine or SSRI (sertraline)
What ECG changes does Citalopram cause?
QT prolongation and Torsades de pointes
What are the examples of SSRI?
Citalopram
sertraline
Fluoxetine
Side effect of lorazepam
Anterograde amnesia
What should be monitored when initiating and titrating venlafaxine?
Blood pressure (HTN)
What is 2nd line option for depression?
SNRI - venlafaxine
What signs should be monitored when taking antidepressants?
Hyponatraemia
What is life-threatening side-effect of clozapine?
Agranulocystosis/Neutropenia
What is agranulocystosis?
Decreased WCC, primarily neutrophils
What is the 1st line medication for GAD?
SSRI - specifically Sertraline
What is the stepwise approach for managing GAD?
1) Patient education + monitor condition
2) Low-intensity psychological intervention
3) High-intensity psychological intervention. -drug treatment/CBT
4) highly specialist input
What is the management of severe OCD - (severe functional impairment)?
- SSRI and CBT (including ERP)
What are the side effects of typical antipsychotics?
- Acute dystonia (e.g. torticollis, oculgyric crisis)
- Parkinsonism
- Akathisia (severe restlessness)
- Tardive dyskinesia
- Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
What is torticollis?
- Unilateral pain and deviation of the neck with pain on palpation and restricted range of motion
What is neuroleptic malignant syndrome?
- Altered MSE
- Generalised rigidity
- Fever
- Fluctuating blood pressure
What is tardive dyskinesia?
- uncontrolled facial movements such as lip-smacking
- usually caused by long term use of antipsychotics
What are examples of typical antipsychotics?
- Haleperidol
- Chlopromazine
What are examples of atypical antipsychotics?
- Clozapine
- Risperidone
- Olanzapine
Why was atypical antipsychotics developed?
Due to problematic extrapyramidal side-effects
What is ESPEs?
- Parkinsonism
- Acute dystonia (sustained muscle contraction)
- akathisia (severe restlessness)
- tardive dyskinesia
Management of hypomania?
Routine referral to CMHT
Which intervention is most beneficial for schizophrenia?
CBT
MOA of venlafazine
Serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor
What is cotard syndrome and what condition is it associated with?
- Subtype of delusion where they believe they or part of them is dead
- Associated with depression
What are the first rank symptoms of schizophrenia?
1) Auditory hallucinations
2) Thought disorder
3) Passivity phenomena
4) Delusional perceptions
For a diagnosis of PTSD, how long should symptoms be present for?
4 weeks
What is an effective treatment for borderline personality disorder?
Dialectical behaviour therapy
What is dialetical behaviour therapy?
Targeted therapy that is based CBT, but has been adapted to help people who experience emotions very intensely.
What is the key difference between mania and hypomania?
Psychotic symptoms
What are the symptoms associated with depression?
DSM-5
5/9 symptoms required for diagnosis (everyday for at least 2 week):
Core symptoms:
- Low mood
- Anhedonia
Associated symptoms:
- Disturbed sleep
- Decreased or increased appetite
- Fatigue /loss of energy
- Agitation or slowing of movements
- Poor concentration
- Feelings of worthlessness
- Suicidal thoughts
What tools can be used to assess the degree of depression?
HAD scale
PHQ-9
What investigations should be carried out for depression?
- Bloods to eliminate other causes
What is the management of subthreshold /mild depression?
- CBT
- Group - based CBT
Do not routinely offer antidepressants unless:
- past hx of moderate or severe depression
- persistent symptoms > 2 years
- failed with other interventions
What is the management of moderate to severe depression?
- Antidepressant (normally SSRI : citalopram, fluoxetine or sertraline)
- Psychological intervention
What is seasonal affective disorder?
Depression which occurs predominately around the winter months.
Management of SAD?
- Treated the same way as depression
- Mild depression: psychological therapies
Follow-up in 2 weeks to check no deterioration - SSRI - after therapy if needed
- In SAD, you should not give the patient sleeping tablets as this can make the symptoms worse.
What is dsythmic disorder?
- Chronic depressive state (2 years or more)
- Persistent low mood not meeting depression diagnostic criteria
- Not the consequence of a partly resolved major depression
Management of dsythmic disorder?
- Antidepressants (first line): –> Citalopram
- Psychotherapy
- -> Or group-based CBT
Define bipolar disorder
Chronic mental health disorder characterised by periods of mania/hypomania alongside episodes of depression.
What are the types of bipolar disorder?
- type I disorder:
mania and depression (most common) - type II disorder:
hypomania and depression
Difference between mania & hypomania
- Hypomania:
• Mild elevation of mood and increased energy / activity
• 4 days of manic symptoms
• Does NOT disrupt life
2. Mania: • Mood change (7 days of persistently high, expansive, or irritable mood) AND 3 manic symptoms: --> Increased activity level --> Talkativeness --> Racing thoughts --> Distractibility --> Reduced need for sleep --> Inflated self esteem --> Faulty judgement
What is the management of bipolar disorder?
- Admission for acutely manic patient
- Pharmacotherapy
- -> Mood stabilizers – 1st line: lithium, Valproate
- -> Sedatives - Mania:
- -> Antipsychotics- mainly atypicals (eg. risperidone), olanzapine, haloperidol - Depression
- -> talking therapies
- -> fluoxetine is the antidepressant of choice - ECT
- Psychosocial
Referral criteria for bipolar disorder?
- if symptoms suggest hypomania = routine referral to the community mental health team (CMHT)
- if there are features of mania or severe depression then an urgent referral to the CMHT should be made
Define obesity
BMI 25-29.9 kg/m2