Nervous system diseases II Flashcards
Migraine characteristics
intense throbbing pain or pulsing sensation
usually on one side of the head
2-3 times more common in women than men
Migraine Symptoms
within aura
without aura
acute pain
Migraine Triggering Factors
bright or flashing light
lack of food
certain food or drink
tiredness
stress or menstruation
Causes of Migraine
unknown
- dilation and contraction of blood vessel
- change in serotonin signalling
- genetic component
-> ion channels - impact on nerve activity
-> trigemina ganglion - mutations in the TRESK - potassium channel
Treatment of Migraine
- triptan drugs - serotonin receptors agonist
- anti-emetics
- painkillers
- lying in a dark room
Types of Anxiety
Generalised anxiety disorder
Panic disorder
Phobia Related disorder
Generalised anxiety disorder symptoms
recurrent and unexpected panic attacks
sweating tremblings
shortness of breath
Anxiety disorders
genetic and environmental factors
risk factors - family history
Anxiety disorder treatment
- psychotherapy
- anxiolytics
-> antidepressants
-> benzodiapamines
Depression causes
genetic predisposition
early life experiences
upsetting or stressful life events
gut microbiome
Depression pathopsyiology
alternations in monoaminergic neurotransmitter signalling
Depression treatment
antidepressant
psychotherapy
Types of antidepressant treatments
- SSRIs
- SNRIs
- TCSs
- MAOI
- atypical agents
SSRI
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
SNRI
Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors
TCA
Tricyclic antidepressant
MAIO
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
Characteristics of Psychosis
loss of contact with reality
3 stages of psychotic episode - prodromal, acute, recovery
What are the 3 stages of psychotic episode
prodromal
acute
recovery
Characterisitics of psychotic illness
Sz
Schizoaffective disorder
Paraphernalia
Psychosis Symptoms
3 main symptoms
- hallucinations
- delusions
- confused thought
Causes of psychotic episodes
underlying psychotic illness
co-morbid illnesses
triggers - depression, stress
early life experiences
alcohol and drug misuse
Pathophysiology of psychosis
genetic
- anatomical
- neurotransmitter signalling - glutamate, GABA, dopamine
environmental
Treatments of psychosis
antipsychotics - inhibit dopaminergic transmission
psychological treatment eg. CBT
Tourette’s syndrome characteristics
symptoms begin in childhood
- 2-14 years old
Tourette’s syndrome symptoms
tics - repeated, sudden movement, twitches or sound
premonitory sensations - strong urge before a tic
comorbidities eg, OCD, ADHD, Anxiety
Causes of Tourettes
complex disorder - genetic and environmental factors
Abnormalities in basal ganglia, frontal lobe and cortex
changes in serotonin and dopamine
Treatment for Tourettes
behavioural therapy
- habit reversal training
- exposure with response prevention
medication
- eg. respiridone
(dopamine and histamine receptor antagonist)
Characteristists of traumatic brain injury
sudden injury or trauma caused to the brain
blow, bump or jolt to the brain
closed head injury
Symptoms of traumatic brain injury
loss of consciousness
persistent headache
repeated vomiting and nausea
convulsions or seizures
feeling tired
blurred vision
Treatment for traumatic brain injury
acute medical care
- blood flow, oxygen supply, surgery
rehab
- physical, occupational, speech therapy
Spinal Cord Injuries Causes
sudden trauma blow to the spine
fracture or dislocation or compression of the vertebrae
What is complete spinal cord injury?
total lack of sensory and motor function below the level of injury
What is incomplete spinal cord injury?
potential to regain some function
Complications of spinal cord injuries
chronic pain
respiratory infections
bladder and bowel dysfunction
fractures
Treatment of spinal cod injuries
rehab programs
CNS tumours characteristics
abnormal growths of tissue
can place pressure on tissue and impair function
CNS tumours symptoms
brain tumour
- headaches, seizures, nausea, vomiting
- behavioural and cognitive changes
- motor and/or balance problems
spinal cord tumour
- pain, sensory alternations, motor problems
CNS tumour treatments
surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy
Epilepsy characteristics
excessive abnormal synchronised pattern or neuronal activity in the cortex
Symptoms of epilepsy
seizures
- convulsive
- non-convulsive - absence
triggers for seizure
eg. lack of sleep, stress, excessive alcohol
Causes of Epilepsy
genetic - ion channels, GPCR, enzymes, GABA
acquired - eg. stroke, head injury, brain tumour, infection
Epilepsy Treatment
anti-epileptic drugs
surgery
vagus nerve stimulator
deep brain stimulator implanted
ketogenic diet
Characteritics of hydrocephalus
excessive accumulation of CSF
pressure on brain
Causes of hydrocephalus
congenital
- spina bifida or infection during pregnancy
- X-linked hydrocephalus
- arachnoid cytes
- CSF flow restricted
- brain damage when born
Hydrocephalus causes
acquired
- head injury
- brain tumour
Hydrocephalus symptoms
vomiting
problems with balance and coordination
sleepiness/lethargy, drowsiness
changes in personality and cognition
Hydrocephalus treatment
surgery to drain excess fluid
Characteristics of multiple sclerosis
demyelinating condition
Causes of multiple sclerosis
thought to be an autoimmune disease
immune system attacks the myelin sheath of neurons
genetic and environmental factors
- pervious infections
Multiple sclerosis symptoms
- progressive or relapsing remitting
- relatively benign to disabling/devastating
-> eg difficulty walking
Multiple sclerosis treatment
steroids for relapses
disease modifying therapies
Narcolepsy Characteristics
- neurological disorder
- first identified in dogs
Symptoms of Nacolepsy
excessive daytime sleepiness
cataplexy
direct transition from wakefulness to REM sleep
Causes of Narcolepsy
- loss of hypocretin/orexins
- autoimmune diseases
-> cells producing orexin
-> orexin receptors - triggers - hormonal changes, psychological stress, infection
Treatment of Narcolepsy
stimulants
SSRIs - surpress REM sleep
Sodium oxybate - cataplexy
