Mental Health: Affective disorders 2 Flashcards
What is depression?
A mental disorder characterised by low mood and low energy levels
What criteria is used to diagnose depression?
DSM-IV criteria
true or false: most cases of depression will eventually resolve themselves?
true
How many of the DSM-IV criteria must be met for a depression diagnosis to be made?
5 of the 9
for more than 2 weeks
what to look out for and what to screen when diagnosing depression?
weight, changes, physical activity, energy changes, tiredness, feelings of worthlessness/ guilt, poor concentration, more indecisive than usual.
screen for conditions that may mimic/ coexist with depression: substance misuse/ medical/ psychiatric conditions/ life changing event or bereavement causing particular episode of depression.
What are the psychosocial interventions available for depression?
- CBT
- counselling
- mindfulness
- self-help
- exercise
- mental health apps
What are the basic principles of prescribing for depression?
- discuss w px: choice of drug/non-pharmacological options
- ensure effective dose following titration
- withdraw antidepressants gradually
How long should the first episode of drug treatment continue?
6-9 months
what should hcps discuss choice of with the patient alongside choice of drug?
alternative non pharmacological option
are relief of symptoms from treatment quick or gradual over a few weeks?
gradual
Px who’ve had multiple episodes of depression:
Treatment recommended for how long, and when to re-evaluate?
2 years but no upper limit set. Re-evaluate after 2 years with px: age, co-mobidities, other factors, if circumstances changed since diagnosis
How do antidepressants compare in terms of efficacy?
equal
What governs the antidepressant choice?
SE profile
What are the different anti-depressant classes?
- SSRIs
- tricyclics
- NARIs, NASSAs, SNRIs
- MAOIs
- St Johns Wort
- Lithium
all antidepressants are equal in terms of efficacy and side effect profile governs choice of drug. Which drug class is well tolerated and safer in overdose and associated with a reduction in sodium?
SSRIs
first line antidepressants: SSRIs. what do they have a risk of? and what to do about this?
Risk of bleeding! Prescribe GI protective drug: PPI (lansoprazole) in older px who take NSAID or aspirin. But PPI also associated with hyponatraemia = compounding effect of two together so rinetidine may be better.
SSRIs are Less sedating and fewer anti muscarinic effects.
give 2 example drugs
o Citalopram
o Sertraline
What electrolyte can SSRIs affect and how?
lowers Na, risk of hyponatraemia
What ADR are SSRIs associated with, who is it more risky in and what is the management?
- increased risk of bleeding
- elderly, NSAID/aspirin
- prescribe PPI
What is negative about SSRIs?
- toxicity in overdose
- cardiovascular effects
What antidepressants are reserved for specialist initiation for depression? and have drug interactions
MAOIs
tricyclics are toxic in overdose and have effects in which body system?
cardiovascular.
Mirtazapine: new drug, noradrenergic specific serotonergic antidepressant. (Tetracyclic antidep)
why is it taken at night?
Causes drowsiness
benefit of new drug mirtazapine vs SSRIs?
doesn’t have same negative effects on sodium :) thus electrolyte neutral and wont cause hyponatraemia like SSRIs. = good alternative option if px not tolerated SSRI
What can antidepressants cause upon stopping?
discontinuations symptoms - explained by ‘receptor rebound’ theory
what is the receptor rebound theory?
caused by stopping antidep suddenly
‘withdrawal’
Brain’s response to sudden absence of increased serotonin levels from when px on antidepressant
What discontinuation symptoms result from tricyclic antidepressants? TCAs
- cholinergic rebound
- insomnia