Module 3: Part 2 Flashcards
What is PTSD?
- Experience of a severe traumatic event of an exceptionally threatening nature which is likely to cause distress in anyone
What are the three main cluster of syndromes?
- Re-experiencing
- Hyperarousal
- Avoidance
What are features of reliving?
- Flashbacks
- Recurring memories related to the traumatic event
- Recurring dreams of the event
What are features of hyperarousal?
- Difficulty falling asleep
- Irritability and outbursts of anger
- Difficulty concentrating
- Exaggerated startle response (noise, fireworks)
What are features of avoidance?
- Efforts to avoid thoughts, feeling associated with the trauma
- Efforts to avoid activities, place and people that arouse recollections of the trauma
- Feeling detached from others
- Reduced interest in participation in important
activities
What is the 4th factor of PTSD according the DSM-2013 four-factor model?
- Negative alterations in cognition and mood
- Persistent negative cognitions about, self,
others and the world - Persistent negative emotional states (anger,
shame, fear) - Diminished interest in significant activities
- Inability to experience positive emotions.
- Persistent negative cognitions about, self,
What are different types of trauma?
- Combat trauma
- Torture
- Terrorism
- Rape
- Witnessing violent death of others (war)
What are more types of trauma?
- Type I trauma - a single traumatic event (Terr,
1991) - Type II trauma - prolonged and repeated
trauma - Interpersonal vs natural disaster
- Intergenerational trauma
- Concept of catastrophic trauma (ICD 10,
1992)
What is the aetiology of PTSD?
- Not clear why some people develop PTSD and
some not - Heritability 30% (Goldberg et al., 1990)
- Impaired sensitivity of HPA axis (Yehuda et al.,
1991) - Reduced hippocampal volume
What is the prevalence of PTSD?
- Lifetime prevalence in general population 8%
(Kessler et al., 1995) - Lifetime prevalence of PTSD in general
practice 14% (Gomez-Beneyto et al., 2006) - 31% of Vietnam war veterans (The
National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment
study) had lifetime PTSD (Kulka et al. 1990) - PTSD more prevalent in victims of
interpersonal trauma than disaster victims
What are features of a PTSD history?
- Current Mental state (triad of symptoms)
- Past psychiatric Hx (first contacts with mental health services, admissions; ?under section)
- Developmental Hx
- Employment Hx
- RIsk of self harm and harm to others
What are some comorbidities of PTSD?
- Alcohol abuse/dependence – M-52%; F-27%
(Kessler et al. 1995) - Drug misuse – 34%
- MDD -48%
- Physical health problems (stomach ulcer)
more prevalent than in general population
What are some treatments for PTSD?
- Watchful waiting in mild/moderate PTSD for first
4/52 - Pharmacotherapy
- Mirtazapine, paroxetine, sertraline, olanzapine
- Psychological interventions
- No evidence of benefit of single session debriefing
- Trauma focussed CBT
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing
(EMDR)
Describe PTSD Management
- Severe PTSD - engagement problems
- Ongoing evaluation of risk to self and others
- Treat comorbidity (substance misuse)
- Physical health checks
- Social support
- Voluntary week/employment
- Carer’s assessment
What is the prognosis of PTSD?
- 56% improve after receiving psychotherapy (no
longer meeting diagnostic criteria for PTSD) - 38% continue to have some residual symptoms
- Highest remission rates in PTSD survivors of natural
disasters 60% - Trauma severity, the lack of social support and
additional post-trauma life stressors important rrisk
factors
What are the problems with the current DSM diagnostic classification of PTSD?
- Complex PTSD (Herman, 1992)
- Disorder of extreme stress, not otherwise specified,
DESNOS (Van der Kolk et al. 1996) - Enduring personality change after catastrophic
experience, EPCACE (ICD 10)
What is Enduring Personality Change After Catastrophic Experience EPCACE?
- a change of at least four years duration in a
person’s pattern of perceiving, relating to, or thinking about the environment and self following exposure to catastrophic stress
What are the main features of EPCACE?
- Permanent hostile and distrustful attitude
- Social withdrawal
- A constant feeling of emptiness and/or hopelessness (may be associated with increased dependency on others, prolonged depressive mood without evidence of depressive disorder before trauma)
- Feeling of being ‘on edge’ or threatened
- Permanent feeling of being changed or different to others
What are some conditions for EPCACE?
- No history of existing personality pathology prior
traumatic experience - May or may not be preceded by PTSD
- Not related to other mental health disorders or
organic brain injury
What is the aetiology of EPCACE?
- Catastrophic trauma
What is Catastrophic trauma?
- catastrophic trauma would involve prolonged exposure to life-threatening circumstances with imminent possibility of being killed (for example exposure to war trauma, concentration camp experience, being tortured, hostage situations and sexual assault)
What is PTSD according to ICD-11?
- PTSD – three clusters of symptoms
remain - Complex PTSD introduced as a new
diagnostic category
What is complex PTSD (ICD-2018)
- Exposure to an event or series of events of an extremely threatening or horrific nature, most commonly prolonged or repetitive events from which escape is difficult or impossible (torture, slavery, genocide campaigns, prolonged domestic violence,
repeated childhood sexual or physical abuse)
What are other features of Complex PTSD?
- Problems with affect regulation
- Feelings of worthlessness, shame and guilt
- Difficulties with sustaining relationships
What are the problems with the definition of Complex PTSD?
- CPTSD criteria overlap with criteria for PD –
this could lead to diagnostic confusion both
clinically and in research - Risk factors (sexual and physical abuse)- the
same for CPTSD and PD - ?preference for CPTSD - Stigma attached to
PD diagnosis - ?treatment for CPTSD vs treatment for PD
What is the ICD 11 criteria of harmful substance use?
- Damage to mental or physical health of the user in absence of Dx of dependence syndrome
- Damage observed over 12 months if episodic use, one month if continuous use
- Harm due to one or more of the following:
- behaviour related to intoxication;
- direct or secondary toxic effects on body organs and systems
- or a harmful route of administration.
What is dependence?
- Sense of compulsion
- Difficulty in controlling (onset/termination/level of use, all-or-nothing
- Withdrawal state (physical/cognitive state)
- Tolerance
- Progressive neglect despite harmful consequences
- DSM V: Abuse and dependence combined to single disorder, added gambling
What increases dopamine levels in ventral striatum (nucleus accumbens)?
- Food
- Sex
- Drugs e.g. cocaine, amphetamine, alcohol, MDMA
How does cocaine work?
- Blocks dopamine transporter
- Increases dopamine signalling
How does amphetamine?
- Blocks dopamine transporter
- Enhances dopamine release
What are different types of dopamine family receptor imaging?
- 11C-PHNO
Agonist
DRD3 preferring
Extra striatal binding - 11C-raclopride
Antagonist
DRD2 > DRD3
Striatal
Where does cocaine increase dopamine in? Ventral or dorsal striatum?
- Dorsal Striatum
In alcoholics, which areas does alcohol activate?
- Ventral striatum
- Anterior cingulate
- Ventromedial prefrontal cortex
What is the dopamine system modulated by?
- GABA: inhibitory on dopamine neuron
- Opioids: inhibitory on GABA-ergic neuron
What are endorphins?
- Natural opiates in the brain
- Exercise and endorphin rush
- Improve mood
- Substance of abuse may increase the release of endorphins which then stimulate the dopamine system
How does the μ-opioid receptor activation lead to DA neuronal firing?
- μ-opioid receptors are inhibitory
- when activated, GABA neuron is shut down
- Results in increase in DA neuronal firing
What does naltrexone do?
- Block the μ-opiate receptor
- Allows GABA ‘brake’ to function
- Leads to reduced dopaminergic activity
Is there more or less opioid receptor availability in alcoholics?
- Less
- Alcoholic dependent individuals have more opioid receptors than control
What would contribute to the differences between earlier and recent studies of opioid release?
- Recent imaging has lower availability of mu opioid receptor and early abstinence
- Higher mu opioid receptor availability has been associated with craved and response to naltrexone
How does tissue damage lead to inflammation?
- Tissue damage —> Foreign pathogens —> Cytokine release —> Increased permeability —> Immune cells invade —> Inflammation
What is inflammation characterised by?
- Rubor
- Calor
- Dalor
- Loss of function
How is neuroinflammation different to general inflammation?
- No pain
- Loss of function more significant
- Different immune cells
What are triggers of neuroinflammation?
- Classical: Infectious, Autoimmunity, Toxins
- Neurogenic (due to increased neuronal activity e.g. seizures
What are microglia?
- CNS macrophages that orchestrate an immune response and exacerbate damage by releasing toxic factors
What toxic factors do microglia release?
- Reactive oxygen species
- Prostaglandins- COX-2
- Cytokines - TNF-alpha, IL-1
How do you work out Units of alcohol?
- % x Volume (L)
What is the daily limit of alcohol?
- 2 units (with 2> alcohol free days)
What is a binge?
- 2x daily limit
What are the three types of alcohol problems?
- Hazardous drinking
- Problem drinking
- Dependent drinking
What is hazardous drinking?
- Numbers are too high (Increased BP), raising risk of problem
What is problem drinking?
- Evidence of harmful consequences
- Physical, psychological or social
What is dependent drinking?
3 or more of following in the last 12 months
- Craving/Compulsion to use
- Withdrawal symptoms
- Continuing in spite of harm
- Tolerance
- Neglect of other interests
- Difficulty controlling use
What structural changes do abstinent ‘Healthy’ alcohol dependent individuals have?
- Atrophy (narrow gyri, widening sulci) - ICAM study
What are different types of alcohol-related brain damage?
- Thiamine deficiency: Wernicke’s-Korsakoff syndrome
- Direct neurotoxicity
- Alcoholic liver disease: peripheral inflammation can cross BBB to start neuroinflammation
- Head injury: alcohol —> Increased risk of falls —> Increased risk of head injury —> neuroinflammation —> cognitive dysfunction
- Increased risk of CVD —> Increased risk of stroke
What brain areas are affected by alcohol-induced neuroinflammation?
- Caudate
- Putamen
- Hippocampus
- Medulla
How does alcohol cause neuroinflammation?
- Alcohol activates Microglia via TLR4 —> Neuroinflammation
- Activated microglia present for 14 days after last alcohol dose in Rat model of dependence
- TLR4 KO mice protected against alcohol induced neuroinflammation
- Post-mortem alcohol dependent brain show increased microglia and increased inflammatory cytokines
- Microglia activation seen during alcohol intake and withdrawal
Describe PET imaging in alcohol neuroinflammation
- 11C-PBR28 PET ligand binds to TSPO to detect Microglia (must assess binding affinity of patient as can affect signal)
- Alcohol-dependent have decreased hippocampal binding for PBR28 (Tracer for activated microglia) - Microglia loss or dysfunction?
- Decreased hippocampal TPSO expression associated with decreased memory function
What is the relationship between alcohol and Alzheimer’s?
- Peripheral inflammation or high TNFα in Alzheimer’s Disease is associated with deterioration in cognition
Describe the amyloid hypothesis of neurodegeneration
- APP cleaved by beta and gamma secretase
- Dynamic equilibrium of Monomers, Oligomers, Protofibrils, Fibrils, Plaques
What are the direct actions of alcohol on neuroinflammation and AD?
- Alcohol binds to TLR-4 on Microglia —> activate Microglia —> Cytokine release —> Neuroinflammation
What are the indirect actions of alcohol neuroinflammation and AD?
- Thiamine deficiency —> Increased beta-amyloid plaque deposition
- Thiamine-deficit rats have increased amyloid plaque deposition
- Alcohol dependence is the most common cause of thiamine deficiency
- Fibrillar beta-amyloid binds to TLR-4 activates microglia —> Neuroinflammation —> Neuronal death (AD Sx) —> Cycle
- Systemic inflammation superimposed on Neurodegenerative diseases accelerates disease progression
- TBI
- Withdrawal effects
What are the different roles of pharmacotherapies in alcohol addiction?
- Substitution
- Withdrawal
- Abstinence
- To prevent harms e.g. brain damage, infections etc
Describe substitution in alcohol addiction treatment
- Diazepam (Benzodiazepine)
Describe withdrawal in alcohol addiction treatment
- Diazepam (Benzodiazepine) +/- Acamprosate (anti-glutaminergic)
- Decreased withdrawal symptoms (Gold standard for alcohol withdrawal)
- Carbamazepine (Anticonvulsants) - treat seizures, alternative to BDZ
What is the MOA of alcohol?
- Binds to GABA-A receptor —> Acute: Increased GABA, Chronic: GABA receptor desensitised therefore decreased GABA function
- Binds to NMDA receptor —> Acute: NMDA antagonist, Chronic: NMDA receptor upregulation (associated with decreased memory)
What is the MOA of alcohol withdrawal?
- Decreased alcohol —> Glutamate acts on Increased Glutamate receptors —> Increased Ca2+ —> Hyperexcitability —> Seizures
- Alcohol withdrawal associated with Increased Ca2+ influx (NMDA), decreased GABA-ergic activity, decreased Mg2+ inhibitory system (NMDA)
- During alcohol withdrawal —> Increased Glutamate
With treatment —> Decreased glutamate
What is multiple detoxification associated with?
- Increased withdrawal symptoms
- Increased risk of relapse
- Impaired cognitive function
How does vitamin supplementation help alcoholics?
- Thiamine deficit —> Risk of wernicke’s encephalopathy —> Korsakoff’s syndrome
How is abstinence maintained in treatment for alcohol addiction?
- Disulfiram
- Bromocriptine
- Baclofen
- Naltrexone
- Nalmefene
- Acamprosate
How do dopamine receptors relate to addiction?
- Now think addicts have high DA
- Low levels of DRD2 associated with ‘drug-liking’ & impulsivity
- Low levels of DRD2 seen in stimulant & alcohol addicts.
- Higher levels of DRD3 subtype in stimulant addiction, no change in alcoholism
- Release of dopamine is blunted or none is apparent.
What is the MOA of disulfiram?
- Inhibits alcohol dehydrogenase (Increased acetaldehyde —> N&V)
- Inhibits dopamine beta-hydroxylase in Brain (blocks DA —> NA therefore increased DA)
- S/E: psychosis
How does bromocriptine work?
- DA agonist