Mental Health Flashcards
Incidence of schizophrenia?
approx 1% develop it at some point
affects men and women in equal proportions, men tend to have an earlier onset, and women have a second incidence peak in mid-late 40s
Biological basis of schizophreia?
MRI scans show sufferers have enlarged ventricles
Genetic risk factors for schizophrenia?
there are multiple genes in creating a predisposition to schizophrenia. higher rates between families
Environmental risk factors for schizophrenia?
Prenatal problems, obstetric complications, urban/city birth, stressful life events, drug abuse
- related to dopamine production
How to genetic and environmental risk factors combine to turn into schizophrenia?
cause gene expression impairments, leading to neurochemical and metabolic changes. altered connectivity leads to impaired information processes and then the symptoms: altered behaviour, altered cognition and altered emotion
Positive symptoms of schizophrenia?
Delusions, hallucinations, disorganised speech
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia?
reduced emotion, motivation, interests, thought/speech and pleasure
Cognitive deficits from schizophrenia?
Problems with attention, memory (working and verbal), executive function
Mood symptoms of schizophrenia?
depression/anxiety, hostility/aggression, suicide
Which brain circuits/areas cause the positive symptoms of schizophrenia?
mesolimbic and striatal
Which brain circuits/areas cause the negative symptoms of schizophrenia?
mesocortical and prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens reward circuits
Which brain circuits/areas cause the cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia?
dorsolateral prefrontal cortex
Which brain circuits/areas cause the aggressive symptoms of schizophrenia?
orbitofrontal cortex
Which brain circuits/areas cause the affective symptoms of schizophrenia?
ventromedial prefrontal cortex
DSM-V criteria for schizophrenia?
A: at least two of: delusions, hallucinations, disorganised speech, grossly disorganised or catatonic behaviour, negative symptoms for at least one month. certain delusions or hallucinations mean no other symptoms from A need to be present.
B: social/occupational dysfunction
C: duration of at least 6 months
Impact of increased dopamine in subcortical pathways?
psychotic symptoms
What do agonists of dopamine do, and exmaple?
induce psychotic symptoms e.g. amphetamines
What do antipsychotics do?
dopamine antagonists D2
How does too much dopamine at the D2 receptors relate to the symptoms?
D2 receptors are inhibitory - so increased dopamine leads to too much inhibition, causing symptoms
Consequences of NMDA receptor hypofunction?
- can be genetic or non-genetic, triggers psychosis in early adulthood
- important in the balance of GABA (inhibitory) and glutamate (excitatory)
- hypo NMDA leads to less GABA, which leads to more glutamate. this activates cell bodies to increase dopamine, which can cause psychosis.
Examples of typical antipsychotics
haloperidol, chlorpromazine
How do typical antipsychotics work?
high affinity for dopamine D2 receptors
- only effective against positive symptoms, not negative ones
- blockade of D2 receptors can lead to motor control impairments
Examples of atypical antipsychotics
Clozapine, olanzapine, risperidone
How do atypical antipsychotics work?
higher affinity for 5HT2 (serotonin) receptors over D2
- effective against positive symptoms, and more effective than typicals against negative symptoms
- significant side effects of weight gain etc
- less motor impairments than typicals
What does evidence suggest about the difference in efficacy vs side effects between antipsychotic types?
differences in efficacy were small, and smaller than the differences in side effects
What is EPS?
Extrapyramidal symtpoms
What is the balance between receptor occupancy and dose for antipsychotics?
certain receptor occupancy percentage needed to treat psychosis, but too much causes EPS. different drugs require different doses to reach the threshold
What is the % D2 occupancy required for antipsychotic efficacy?
65%
At what % D2 occupancy does hyperprolactinaemia begin to occur?
70%
At what % D2 occupancy do EPS start to occur?
78%
Which antipsychotic has least risk of EPS?
Clozapine
Which antipsychotic has most risk of EPS?
Haloperidol
What are some of the theories about antipsychotic induced weight gain?
- antagonism of histamine H1 receptors, serotonin 5HT2c receptors, dopamine D2
- affecting hormonally controlled systems e.g. leptin
- significant individual variation implies genetic involvement
Ways to manage antipsychotic induced weight gain?
- warn patients before starting high risk drugs
- early hunger, snacking and early weight gain are all indicators
- standard weight management
- consider swapping or stopping
Which other psychotropic drugs have a greater risk of weight gain?
- TCAs
- Mirtazapine
- Lithium
- Valproate
- Carbemazepine
Which other psychotropic drugs have a lower risk of weight gain?
- SSRIs
- Duloxetine
- Agomelatine
- Lamotrigine
Which antipsychotics have the highest risk of prolactin increase?
Haloperidol, risperidone, paliperidone
When was the Mental Health Act 1983 amdended?
2007
Examples of disorders of mood?
Depression, anxiety, elation, anger
Examples of disorders of perception?
Hallucinations, sensory perceptions, illusions
Examples of disorders of thinking?
Delusions, obsessions, abnormal thought streams
Diagnostic process for mental illness?
- Patient interview/observation essential
- May speak to family/carers
- Blood tests/scans used to rule out a physical cause
- Two main diagnostic criteria, DSM-V and ICD-10
What countries does the Mental Health Act apply to?
England and Wales
What does the mental health act outline?
When people with a mental disorder might be admitted to hospital, assessed and treated against their own will for their own health and safety, and/or the protection of others
Also specifies rights of those with mental health disorders, enshrining respect, communication, participation and least restriction principles
What must decisions taken under the Mental Health Act minimise?
undesirable of metnal disorder, by maximising safety and wellbeing, and promoting recover of the patient and protecting others from harm
What is an informal mental health patient?
One who comes into hospital voluntarily
What does a Section 2 cover?
hospital admission of patients against their will, considered to have a disorder requiring inpatient care for the patients or others’ safety
mainly used for assessment and treatment - usually for people not known to services
How long does Section 2 last?
28 days
How is a Section 2 carried out?
Application for admission made by an Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) within 14 days of interviewing the patient (including views of the relatives). Nearest relatives can also apply for admission.
Two doctors must assess the patient to confirm sectioning, one of which is an approved doctor
Who manages patient care once the patient is admission?
The responsible clinician