Mental Health Clinical Depression and Anxiety Flashcards
Describe the epidemiology of depression:
1 in 5 (19%) have symptoms of anxiety/ depression
Higher proportion in women than men
First episode often in ages 15-18
Most common first episode between 30-40
What are the risk factors for unipolar depression?
Genetics (40-70%)
Gender
Lack of parental care
Poor sleep (2x)
Vit D deficiency
Quitting smoking (increases risk)
Mother having Post natal depression (5x increase)
Drugs
Social adversity
Physical illness
What are the risks to individual for untreated depression?
Increase in risky behaviours e.g drug/alcohol abuse
Cognitive impairment, poor interactions
Poor work
Poor sleep
Suicidal ideation
What are the risk factors for recurrent unipolar depression?
Hx of frequent and/or multiple episodes
Onset after age of 60
Long duration of individual episodes
Family hx of affective disorder
Poor symptom control during therapy
Co-morbidity with anxiety disorder or substance abuse
What are the drugs that can induce unipolar depression?
Alcohol
Steroids (dexamethasone)
Benzodiazepines e.g diazepam, clonazepam
Antipsychotics
Anticonvulsants e.g carbamazepine, lamotrigine, levetiracetam, pregabalin, topiramate
NSAIDs
CV drugs e.g BBs, CCBs
Caffeine/ withdrawal
Name some examples of emotional symptoms of depression:
Sadness, anxiety, lack of enjoyment, suicidal
Name some examples of cognitive symptoms of depression:
Difficulties in attention and conc
Short/ long term memory loss
Name some examples of physical symptoms of depression:
Fatigue, eating/weight changes, loss of energy
Describe the ICD10 diagnosis of depression:
At least TWO key symptoms, most days, most of the time for at least 2 weeks, minimum 4 symptoms
Describe the DSM IV diagnosis of depression:
At least ONE key symptom, most days most of the time for at least 2 weeks, minimum of 5 symptoms
Name the key symptoms of depression:
Persistent sadness or low mood
Marked loss of interests or pleasure
Lack of energy (ICD10 only)
Name the associated symptoms of depression:
Disturbed sleep (increase or decrease)
Increased/decreased appetite and/or weight
Fatigue or loss of energy
Agitation or slowing of movements
Poor conc or indecisiveness
Feelings of worthlessness/ or excessive guilt
Suicidal thoughts/ acts
Name the 5 grades that NICE (CG90) has subdivided depression into:
Sub-threshold
Mild
Moderate
Severe
Complex
Describe sub-threshold depression:
Where person has few symptoms and feels low, but can still function
Describe mild depression:
Where person has enough symptoms for a diagnosis but can function reasonably well
Describe moderate depression:
Person has a range of symptoms and is not coping well
Describe severe depression:
Where the person has a full set of symptoms, can’t function and may even suffer some psychotic symptoms
Describe complex depression:
Symptoms have failed to improve with treatment and may have psychosis, other symptoms and problems
Name differential diagnosis’ of depression:
BPD
GAD
Drug induced- substance misuse
Schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder
ADHD
Personality disorders
Normal bereavement
Physical illness e.g hormonal, infection
Dementia
Panic disorder
SAD
Name common co-morbidities of depression:
GAD
Psychosis
Insomnia
OCD
PTSD
Panic disorder
Dementia (esp early onset)
Describe Step 1 in the stepped-care model of depression treatment:
For all suspected presentations of depression
Assessment
Supoort
Psycho-education
Active monitoring
Onward referral for further assessment and intervention
Describe Step 2 in the stepped-care model of depression treatment:
Mild to moderaste depression
Low intensity psychological interventions
Medications (for moderate+) but for mild if past Hx/ other factors
Onward referral
Describe Step 3 in the stepped-care model of depression treatment:
Moderate to severe depression
Medication
High-intensity psychological interventions
Combine treatments
Onward referral
Describe Step 4 in the stepped-care model of depression treatment:
Severe/complex
Medication
ECT
Combined treatment
High intensity
Crisis service
Multiprofessional inpatient care
Describe low intensity psychological interventions:
Guided self help (books)
Being active
Computer/team based CBT
Describe high intensity psychological interventions:
Psychological therapies, CBT
IPT (interpersonal therapies)
General support and advice
ECT (electroconvulsive therapy) for acute severe depression- max 12
TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation)
Describe the starting dose of antidepressants:
Almost all antidepressants (except mirtazapine) are more tolerable if started at a lower initial dose (half standard) and increased to the target dose over a few days/weeks
What is the starting dose/ exception of mirtazapine?
30mg is less sedating than 15mg OD
What is the specialist combination/augmentation if antidepressants fail?
Can consider lithium, an antipsychotic or another antidepressant
Be aware of increased SE burden and monitoring
What is the first and second line therapy for depression?
1st line SSRIs
TCA are difficult to get to the therapeutic dose due to the wide range of SEs giving poor tolerability
Name the antipsychotics used for depression:
Aripiprazole
Olanzapine
Quetiapine
Risperidone
Name examples of SSRIs first line in depression:
Citalopram
Escitalopram
Sertraline
Fluoxetine
Votioxetine (with cognitive enhancement)
Name examples of SNRIs:
Duloxetine
Venlafaxine
What is the problem with TCA and an outcome?
Toxicity at higher doses and alcohol expect lofepramine
Name examples of TCA first line in depression:
Clomipramine
Lofepramine
Name second line SSRIs for depression:
Fluvoxamine
Paroxetine
Name related antidepressants for second line depression:
Agomelatine
Reboxetine
Trazadone (SSRI with 5HT2 antagonist)
Name second line TCA for depression:
Amitriptyline
Dosulepin
Doxepin
Imipramine
Nortriptyline
Trimipramine
Name irreversible MAO inhibitors second line for depression:
Isocarboxazid
Phenelzine
Tranylcypromine
Name reversible MAO inhibitors second line for depression:
Moclobemide
What are the requirements to avoid when taking irreversible MAOi?
Tyramine free diet
Name the high efficacy and tolerability antidepressants:
Agomelatine
Escitalopram
Vortioxetine
Name high efficacy but decreased tolerability antidepressants:
Amitrptyline
Mirtazapine
Paroxetine
Venlafaxine
Name low efficacy but high tolerability antidepressants:
Citalopram
Fluoxetine
Sertraline
Name low efficacy and tolerability antidepressants:
Fluvoxamine
Reboxetine
Trazodone
Describe the STAR*D approach to treating depression:
Focus on remission not just response
Give pt 4 weeks to start to fully respond
Augmentation may be better if partial or incomplete response
Switching to another SSRI is as effective as other switches
Response decrease with more switches (esp after 2)
Describe the efficacy in relapse prevention of antidepressants:
Relapsed decreased, placebo= 4%, active 18%
Continue antidepressants decreased relapse 70%
Efficacy persists for up to 36 months
The NNT for reapply prevention is 4.3
When should you take most antidepressants and why?
Taken in the morning
During dreaming, serotonin and dopamine need to be completely suppressed for dreaming
Which antidepressants should be taken at night and why?
Mirtazapine- as serotonin repuptake counteracted by 5HT2- a histamine blocker, histamine keeps us awake
Agomelatine is a melatonin receptor agonist and improves sleep
What is the onset of action of antidepressants?
Response is not immediate, can take 2-6 weeks to work (4-6 for optimum effect), although some can see benefit after 1 week
The patient should be seen every 2-4 weeks for the first 3 months, then less frequently if treatment working
What if there is no improvement after 4 weeks of taking an antidepressant?
If no improvement (even minimal) after 4 weeks of therapeutic dose, check adherence then switch to another
If minimal improvement occurs, continue until week 6
What is the onset of action like of an antidepressant in elderly?
Time may need to be increased as response may be slower
What are the cautions when switching to another antidepressant from fluoxetine?
It has a long half life so caution of serotonin syndrome
To a reversible MAOi, taper and stop fluoxetine and wait 5-6 weeks