Mood disorders and self-harm | Flashcards
According to ICD-10, what are: 1. The 3 core symptoms of depression
2. 7 additional symptoms
Core:
- Low mood, present most of the day, nearly every day
- Loss of interest and enjoyment (anhedonia)
- Reduced energy (anergia)
Additional symptoms:
- Reduced concentration
- Reduced confidence and self-esteem
- Ideas of guilt and worthlessness
- Pessimism about the future
- Ideas/acts of self-harm/suicide
- Disturbed sleep
- Changes in appetite
According to the ICD-10 criteria, what is classified as:
- Mild depressive episode
- Moderate depressive episode
- Severe depressive episode
- Severe depressive episode with psychotic symptoms
Mild depressive episode
- At least 2/3 core symptoms
- Plus additional symptoms, giving a total of at least 4
- With or without the somatic syndrome
Moderate depressive episode
- At least 2/3 core symptoms
- Plus additional symptoms, giving a total of at least 6
- With or without the somatic syndrome
Severe depressive episode
- All 3 core symptoms
- Plus additional symptoms, giving a total of at least 8
Severe depressive episode with psychotic symptoms
- All 3 core symptoms
- Plus additional symptoms, giving a total of at least 8
- Plus delusions, hallucinations or depressive stupor
According to ICD-10, what are 7 somatic symptoms of depression?
- Loss of emotional reactivity
- Diurnal mood variation (depression worse in the morning, improving throughout the day)
- Anhedonia
- Early morning wakening
- Psychomotor agitation or retardation
- Loss of appetite and weight
- Loss of libido
According to ICD-10, what are psychotic symptoms/features of depression?
- Delusions (7)
- Hallucinations (3)
Delusions
- Poverty
- Personal inadequacy
- Guilt over presumed misdeeds
- Responsibility for world events - accidets, natural disasters, war
- Deserving of punishement
- Other nihilistic delusions
- Persecutory delusion can also occur
Hallucinations
- Auditory - defamatory or accusatory voices, cries for help or screaming (2nd person)
- Olfactory - bad smells, such as rotting food, faeces, decomposing flesh
- Visual - tormentors, demons, the Devil, dead bodies, scenes of death or torture
What are the causes of depression?
- Biological
- Psychological
- Social
Biological
- Genetics
- Hormonal changes
- Substance misuse
- Serious illness
Psychological
- Negative thoughts
- Learned helplessness
- Psychodynamic defence mechanisms
Social
- Life events
- Social isolation
- Bereavement
- Loss
- Childhood abuse
- Social adversity
What is the ratio of depression in M:F?
1:2
What % is the lifetime prevalence of depressive symptoms?
10-20%
What is the point prevalence of major depressive illness?
5%
In terms of prognosis, what % of people with depression will recover within a year?
50-60%
In terms of prognosis, what % of people will have chronic depression (>2 years)?
10-25%
What % of people with depression will die by suicide?
5-10%
What are 5 risk factors for depression?
- Genetic
- Childhood experiences
-Loss of a parent
-Childhood sexual abuse
-Lack of parental care
-Parental alcoholism/antisocial traits - Personality traits
-Anxiety
0Impulsivity
-Obsessionality - Social circumstances
-Unmarried/divorced
-Adverse life events - Physical illness
-Especially if chronic, severe or painful
According to ICD-10, how long do symptoms have to be present to count as depression?
> 2 weeks
What are ddx of depression?
- Other psychiatric disorders
- Neurological disorders
- Metabolic disorders
- Medication-related
- Substance misuse
- Other psychiatric disorders
- Dysthymia
- Anxiety disorders
- Bipolar disorder
- Negative symptoms of schizophrenia
- Personality disorder - Neurological disorders
- Dementia
- Parkinson’s doisease
- Huntington’s disease - Metabolic disorders
- Hypoglycaemia
- Thyroid and parathyroid disorders (esp hypothyroidism)
- Cushing’s/Addison’s disease - Medication-related
- Anti-hypertensives
- Steroids
- H2 blockers
- L-dopa
- Opiates - Substance misuse
- Alcohol
- Amfetamines
- Cocaine
What are common comorbidities of depression?
- Psychiatric
- Organic
- Neurological
- Endocrine
- Infections
- Iatrogenic
Psychiatric:
- Psychosis
- Anxiety
- Suicide and self-harm
- Eating disorder
- Dementia
- Substance abuse
Organic
- Neurological
- MS
- Parkinson’s
- Huntington - Endocrine
- Thyroid/parathyroid
- Cushing’s/Addison’s disease - Infections
- HIV/AIDs
- Syphilis - Iatrogenic
- 2o to opiates, L-dopa, steroids, anti-hypertensives
What are 5 physical effects of depression?
- Increases risk of CVD
- Sensations of aches and pains
- Shakes and tremors
- Dizziness
- Difficulty sleeping
What are 4 social effects of depression?
- Substance use and abuse
- Social and family withdrawal including loss of marriage
- Decreased performance at work or school
- Financial problems
According to the NICE stepped care model of the management of depression, what 6 things need to be done for all known and suspected presentations of depression regardless of severity?
Bio-psycho-social
Social
- Assessment
- Active monitoring
Psycho:
- Psychoeducation
- Computerized CBT
- Sleep hygiene
- Guided self-help
According to the NICE stepped care model, what is the management of mild/moderate depression or persistent subthreshold depressive symptoms?
Bio-psycho-social
Bio
1. Medication - 1st line is SSRI
Psycho
- Low-intensity psychological interventions
- Psychoeducation
Social
4. 1o care
According to the NICE stepped care model, what is the management of moderate/severe depression or persistent subthreshold depressive symptoms or mild to moderate depression with inadequate response to initial interventions?
Bio-psycho-social
Bio
1. Medication - 1st line SSRI
Psycho
- High-intensity psychological interventions e.g. CBT, ITP (interpersonal psychotherapy)
- Psychoeducation
Social
- Consider 2o care referral
- CPN and outpatient appointments to monitor symptoms, mood, mental state
- Support with regard to housing, benefits, education, training, employment
- Carer support
- Work around social inclusion
According to the NICE stepped care model, what is the management of severe complex depression/risk to life/severe self-neglect?
Bio-psycho-social
Bio
- Medication - other agents may be considered including:
a. venlafaxine, an SNRI
b. mirtazapine, a NASSA
c. tricyclics, like imipramine
d. MAOIs, like phenelzine
e. Adjunctive medications, such as antipsychotics or lithium esp in treatment-resistant depression - ECT
Psycho
- High-intensity psychological interventions e.g. CBT, interpersonal therapy
- Psychoeducation
Social
- Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment (CRHT)
- Multidisciplinary (MDT) approach
- Inpatient care
- CPN and outpatient appointments to monitor symptoms, mood, mental state
- Support with regard to housing, benefits, education, training, employment
- Carer support
- Work around social inclusion
How long do patients have to be on medication for to reduce risk of relapse?
- Following a single episode of depression
- Following recovery from recurrent depression
- Continued pharmacotherapy for 6 months
2. Continued pharmacotherapy for 2 years
What are 10 indications for antidepressants?
- Depressive illness (more effective in moderate and severe depression)
- Anxiety disorders
- Neuropathic pain
- Insomnia
- Bulimia nervosa
- Impulsivity
- Migraines
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Narcolepsy
What is the mechanism of action of most anti-depressants including: SSRIs, TCAs and SNRIs?
Most inhibit the reuptake of serotonin, noradrenaline or both, resulting in the enhancement of neurotransmission
What is the 1st line medication for depression?
SSRIs
What are 6 SSRIs?
- Fluoxetine
- Paroxetine
- Citalopram
- Sertraline
- Fluvoxamine
- Escitalopram
How long does it usually take for SSRis to work roughly?
1-6 weeks
What are 3 more common side effects of SSRIs on initiation, and 8 other possible side-effects?
Common:
- Transient nausea on starting
- Transient exacerbation of anxiety on starting
- Reports of increased suicidal ideation with starting
Others:
- Insomnia
- Apathy and fatigue
- Diarrhoea
- Dizziness
- Sweating
- Restlessness (akathesia)
- Sexual dysfunction
- Cardiac defects with 1st trimester exposure (Paroxetine)
What is the 2nd most commonly prescribed anti-depressant?
Serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (SNRI)
What are 2 SNRIs?
- Venlafaxine
2. Duloxetine
What are the side effects of SNRIs? How do they compare to SSRIs?
- Similar to SSRIs
- Transient nausea on starting
- Transient exacerbation of anxiety on starting
- Reports of increased suicidal ideation with starting
- Insomnia
- Apathy and fatigue
- Diarrhoea
- Dizziness
- Sweating - Greater sedation than SSRIs
- Greater discontinuation symptoms when stopped than SSRIs
Why are SSRIs and SNRIs more preferable to TCAs?
Better side-effect profile
What must you be careful of with TCAs?
They are toxic in overdose - take into consideration a person’s risk of suicide when deciding on an appropriate antidepressant
-Lofepramine is less toxic
When are TCAs indicated as 1st line?
In pregnancy - they are not associated with teratogenic effects
What are 5 TCAs?
- Amitriptyline
- Imipramine
- Clomipramine
- Dosulepin
- Lofepramine
What is the main mode of action causing side effects of TCAs? What side effects do they cause?
What other side effects do they cause?
Anti-muscarinic:
- Dry mouth
- Blurred vision
- Constipation
- Urinary retention
Other:
- Sedation
- Weight gain
- Dizziness
- Hypotension
- Delirium
Why are monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) less commonly used now?
Significant risk of serious drug/food interactions - cheese reaction
What are 2 indications for MAOIs?
- Resistant depression
2. Atypical depression
What are 4 MAOIs?
- Phenelzine
- Tranylcypromine
- Isocarboxazid
- Moclobemide (reversible MAOI)
What are the 5 most common side effects of MAOIs?
- Dry mouth
- Nausea, diarrhea or constipation
- Headache
- Sleep disturbance
- Postural Hypotension
What is an example of a noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressant (NaSSA)?
Mirtazapine
What are 2 indications for a NaSSA?
- Mirtazapine can be combined with other antidepressants in treatment resistant depression
- For anxiety
What are 4 side effects of the NaSSA mirtazapine?
- Weight gain and increased appetite
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Headache
What is an important thing to consider when initiating someone on antidepressants
Select a medication a patient is likely to tolerate and is effective
How long should you try an antidepressant for before deciding if a treatment has failed?
At least 3-4 weeks at an effective dose
If partial improvement has occurred by 4 weeks it is advisable to continue treatment for another 2 to 4 weeks, before considering alternative treatments
How long should you continue antidepressants for?
6 months following resolution of symptoms
What are 12 possible withdrawal symptoms of antidepressants?
- Dizziness
- Numbness
- Tingling
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Headache
- Sweating
- Anxiety
- Sleep disturbance
- Strange dreams
- Shaking
- Electric-shock like sensations
Which 2 antidepressants have bigger withdrawal effects?
Paroxetine
Venlafaxine
What are the 4 main mood stabilisers?
- Lithium
- Valproate
- Lamotrigine
- Carbamazepine
What are 4 indications of mood stabilisers?
- Prophylaxis for bipolar disorder
- Single manic episode associated with significant risk
- Illness with significant impact on functioning
- Two or more acute episodes - Treatment of an acute mania/hypomania
- Treatment of bipolar depression - generally not first line
- Augmentation for antidepressants in treatment-resistant depression
What is the mechanism of action of lithium?
Unclear
What are 4 indications of lithium?
- Acute mania/hypomania (good evidence)
- Prophylaxis in bipolar disorder
- Bipolar depression
- Treatment-resistant depression
-reduces risk of both attempted and completed suicide by 80%
What are 7 common side effects of lithium?
- GI upset
- Fine tremor
- Polyuria
- Polydipsia
- Metallic taste in mouth
- Weight gain
- Oedema
What are 7 symptoms of lithium toxicity?
- Diarrhoea
- Course tremor
- Ataxia
- Dysarthria
- Nystagmus
- Confusion
- Convulsions
What plasma concentration of Lithium leads to toxicity?
Over 1.5 mmol/L
Why do you need to be careful with administering Lithium?
- Narrow therapeutic range - need to titrate dosing and monitor levels
- Can be nephrotoxic and thyrotoxic so need to monitor:
- Lithium level (once every 3 months)
- Urea and Electrolytes (once every 6 months)
- Thyroid function test (once every 6 months) - Known teratogen with increased risk of major congenital malformations - recommend that Lithium should be withdrawn prior to conception