Neurological & Psychiatric Disorders Flashcards
What are the primary symptoms of a stroke?
FAST
- F = Face dropped on one side.
- A = Weakness or numbness in one arm.
- S = Speech may be slurred.
- T = Time to call 999.
What are the uncommon symptoms of a stroke?
- Complete paralysis of one side of the body.
- Loss or blurring of vision.
- Dizziness.
- Confusion.
- Difficulty understanding speech.
- Difficulty swallowing.
What do arteries do?
- Provide blood supply to the brain.
- Includes oxyhaemoglobin.
What do veins do?
- Drain spent blood back towards the heart.
- Includes deoxyhaemoglobin which has dropped its oxygen.
What are foramina?
Special holes in the skull that allow arteries, veins and nerves to pass through.
What is the role of the Posterior Cerebral Artery?
Supplies the occipital lobe and ventral temporal lobe.
What is the role of the Anterior Cerebral Artery?
Supplies the medial frontal lobe and some of the adjacent cortex on the lateral surface.
What is the role of the Middle Cerebral Artery?
Supplies a lateral zone spanning the frontal, temporal, and parietal cortex.
- Associated with the brain areas involved with the symptoms of a stroke.
What traditional treatment can be used for a stroke?
Physiotherapy
- Focus on strengthening and stretching muscles.
- Promotes movements that re-establish neuron connections to control those muscles.
What are experimental treatments for a stroke?
- Stem cells.
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation.
What is Cerebral Palsy?
- Post-natal motor control disorder.
- Relate to stroke, usually from complications at birth.
What are the primary signs of Cerebral Palsy?
- Delays in reaching development milestones.
- Being too stiff.
- Being too floppy.
- Weak arms or legs.
- Uncontrolled movements.
- Hand tremors.
What are the different types of Cerebral Palsy?
- Spastic Cerebral Palsy.
- Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy.
- Ataxic Cerebral Palsy.
- Mixed Cerebral Palsy.
What is Spastic Cerebral Palsy?
Muscles are stiff and tight.
What is Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy?
Muscles switch between stiffness and floppiness.
- Causes uncontrolled body movements.
What is Ataxic Cerebral Palsy?
Balance and coordination problems.
What are the biological mechanisms of Cerebral Palsy?
- Damage to white matter.
- Infection caught by mother.
- Stroke.
- Injury to unborn baby’s head.
What are traditional treatments of Cerebral Palsy?
- Physio and assisted mobility.
- Physio and Botulin toxin A.
- Physio and gaming.
- Physio and Robots.
What are the primary mental symptoms of a concussion?
- Confusion.
- Loss of consciousness.
- Feeling slow.
What are the primary physical symptoms of a concussion?
- Dizziness.
- Nausea.
- Headache.
How do you treat a concussion?
- Conserve energy - relax.
- Sleep lots.
- Eat well.
- Slow return to physical and mental activity.
In epilepsy, what are tonic seizures?
The patient goes stiff and likely falls.
In epilepsy, what are clonic seizures?
The patient convulses in jerking and twitching motions.
What are the primary symptoms of epilepsy?
- Uncontrollable jerking and shaking (a fit).
- Losing awareness.
- Strange sensations.
- Passing out.
- Becoming stiff.
What are the biological mechanisms of epilepsy?
A cascade of electrical activity throughout the brain.
- Uncontrolled brain activity,
What treatments are used for epilepsy?
Anticonvulsants
- GABA agonist.
Surgical removal
- Most likely, Medial Temporal Lobe
What are the primary mental symptoms of depression?
- Lasting feelings of unhappiness.
- Anhedonia (losing interest in things you used to enjoy).
- Anxiety symptoms.
What are the primary physical symptoms of depression?
- Constantly tired.
- Sleeping too much or too little.
What are the biological mechanisms of depression?
There are too few monamines (serotonin & norepinephrine), causing more monamine receptors.
What are the treatment options for depression?
- Antidepressants.
- CBT.
How do antidepressants work?
It is not exactly known how they work.
- It is thought they work by increasing serotonin and noradrenaline neurotransmitters.
What are the two most common anti depressants?
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
Selective-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
What does Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) involve?
- Facing fears.
- Testing beliefs and assumptions.
- Replacing unhelpful habits.
What are experimental treatments of depression?
- Receptive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)
- Deep Brain Stimulation (with invasive surgery).
What are the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)?
- Persistent low mood.
- Loss of pleasure in usual activities.
- Reduced sex drive.
- Increased appetite.
- Too much sleep.
- Regularly timed to winter.
What are the biological mechanisms of SAD?
Circadian rhythm
Phase-Shifting Delay Hypothesis
- Caused by starting your day before the circadian clock.
- Light triggers hypothalamus to start circadian day.
- Increases metabolic activity.
What are the treatment options for SAD?
- Morning light therapy.
- Evening melatonin.
- Antidepressants.
What are the positive symptoms of schizophrenia?
Presences
- Delusions.
- Hallucinations.
- Inappropriate affect (emotions).
- Disorganised thoughts/speech.
What are the negative symptoms of schizophrenia?
Absences
- Affect flattening (absense of emotions).
- Avolition (absence of motivation).
- Catatonia (awkward, waxy, motionless).
What are the biological mechanisms of schizophrenia?
- The dopamine theory.
- Dopaminergic pathways. There are 4 - explains diverse symptoms.
What are the four dopaminergic pathways involved in schizophrenia?
Mesolimbic dopaminergic pathway
- Inappropriate or flattened affect
The nigrostriatal pathway
- Catatonia.
Tubero-infundibular pathway
- Avolition.
Mesocortical pathway
- Delusions & Hallucinations.
