Neurological & Psychiatric Disorders

Question 1

What are the primary symptoms of a stroke?

Answer 1

FAST
- F = Face dropped on one side.
- A = Weakness or numbness in one arm.
- S = Speech may be slurred.
- T = Time to call 999.

Question 2

What are the uncommon symptoms of a stroke?

Answer 2

• Complete paralysis of one side of the body.
• Loss or blurring of vision.
• Dizziness.
• Confusion.
• Difficulty understanding speech.
• Difficulty swallowing.

Question 3

What do arteries do?

Answer 3

• Provide blood supply to the brain.
• Includes oxyhaemoglobin.

Question 4

What do veins do?

Answer 4

• Drain spent blood back towards the heart.
• Includes deoxyhaemoglobin which has dropped its oxygen.

Question 5

What are foramina?

Answer 5

Special holes in the skull that allow arteries, veins and nerves to pass through.

Question 6

What is the role of the Posterior Cerebral Artery?

Answer 6

Supplies the occipital lobe and ventral temporal lobe.

Question 7

What is the role of the Anterior Cerebral Artery?

Answer 7

Supplies the medial frontal lobe and some of the adjacent cortex on the lateral surface.

Question 8

What is the role of the Middle Cerebral Artery?

Answer 8

Supplies a lateral zone spanning the frontal, temporal, and parietal cortex.

• Associated with the brain areas involved with the symptoms of a stroke.

Question 9

What traditional treatment can be used for a stroke?

Answer 9

Physiotherapy
- Focus on strengthening and stretching muscles.
- Promotes movements that re-establish neuron connections to control those muscles.

Question 10

What are experimental treatments for a stroke?

Answer 10

• Stem cells.
• Transcranial magnetic stimulation.

Question 11

What is Cerebral Palsy?

Answer 11

• Post-natal motor control disorder.
• Relate to stroke, usually from complications at birth.

Question 12

What are the primary signs of Cerebral Palsy?

Answer 12

• Delays in reaching development milestones.
• Being too stiff.
• Being too floppy.
• Weak arms or legs.
• Uncontrolled movements.
• Hand tremors.

Question 13

What are the different types of Cerebral Palsy?

Answer 13

• Spastic Cerebral Palsy.
• Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy.
• Ataxic Cerebral Palsy.
• Mixed Cerebral Palsy.

Question 14

What is Spastic Cerebral Palsy?

Answer 14

Muscles are stiff and tight.

Question 15

What is Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy?

Answer 15

Muscles switch between stiffness and floppiness.
- Causes uncontrolled body movements.

Question 16

What is Ataxic Cerebral Palsy?

Answer 16

Balance and coordination problems.

Question 17

What are the biological mechanisms of Cerebral Palsy?

Answer 17

• Damage to white matter.
• Infection caught by mother.
• Stroke.
• Injury to unborn baby’s head.

Question 18

What are traditional treatments of Cerebral Palsy?

Answer 18

• Physio and assisted mobility.
• Physio and Botulin toxin A.
• Physio and gaming.
• Physio and Robots.

Question 19

What are the primary mental symptoms of a concussion?

Answer 19

• Confusion.
• Loss of consciousness.
• Feeling slow.

Question 20

What are the primary physical symptoms of a concussion?

Answer 20

• Dizziness.
• Nausea.
• Headache.

Question 21

How do you treat a concussion?

Answer 21

• Conserve energy - relax.
• Sleep lots.
• Eat well.
• Slow return to physical and mental activity.

Question 22

In epilepsy, what are tonic seizures?

Answer 22

The patient goes stiff and likely falls.

Question 23

In epilepsy, what are clonic seizures?

Answer 23

The patient convulses in jerking and twitching motions.

Question 24

What are the primary symptoms of epilepsy?

Answer 24

• Uncontrollable jerking and shaking (a fit).
• Losing awareness.
• Strange sensations.
• Passing out.
• Becoming stiff.

Question 25

What are the biological mechanisms of epilepsy?

Answer 25

A cascade of electrical activity throughout the brain. - Uncontrolled brain activity,

Question 26

What treatments are used for epilepsy?

Answer 26

Anticonvulsants - GABA agonist. Surgical removal - Most likely, Medial Temporal Lobe

Question 27

What are the primary mental symptoms of depression?

Answer 27

- Lasting feelings of unhappiness. - Anhedonia (losing interest in things you used to enjoy). - Anxiety symptoms.

Question 28

What are the primary physical symptoms of depression?

Answer 28

- Constantly tired. - Sleeping too much or too little.

Question 29

What are the biological mechanisms of depression?

Answer 29

There are too few monamines (serotonin & norepinephrine), causing more monamine receptors.

Question 30

What are the treatment options for depression?

Answer 30

- Antidepressants. - CBT.

Question 31

How do antidepressants work?

Answer 31

It is not exactly known how they work. - It is thought they work by increasing serotonin and noradrenaline neurotransmitters.

Question 32

What are the two most common anti depressants?

Answer 32

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) Selective-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)

Question 33

What does Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) involve?

Answer 33

- Facing fears. - Testing beliefs and assumptions. - Replacing unhelpful habits.

Question 34

What are experimental treatments of depression?

Answer 34

- Receptive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) - Deep Brain Stimulation (with invasive surgery).

Question 35

What are the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)?

Answer 35

- Persistent low mood. - Loss of pleasure in usual activities. - Reduced sex drive. - Increased appetite. - Too much sleep. - Regularly timed to winter.

Question 36

What are the biological mechanisms of SAD?

Answer 36

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.

Question 37

What are the treatment options for SAD?

Answer 37

- Morning light therapy. - Evening melatonin. - Antidepressants.

Question 38

What are the positive symptoms of schizophrenia?

Answer 38

Presences - Delusions. - Hallucinations. - Inappropriate affect (emotions). - Disorganised thoughts/speech.

Question 39

What are the negative symptoms of schizophrenia?

Answer 39

Absences - Affect flattening (absense of emotions). - Avolition (absence of motivation). - Catatonia (awkward, waxy, motionless).

Question 40

What are the biological mechanisms of schizophrenia?

Answer 40

- The dopamine theory. - Dopaminergic pathways. There are 4 - explains diverse symptoms.

Question 41

What are the four dopaminergic pathways involved in schizophrenia?

Answer 41

Mesolimbic dopaminergic pathway - Inappropriate or flattened affect The nigrostriatal pathway - Catatonia. Tubero-infundibular pathway - Avolition. Mesocortical pathway - Delusions & Hallucinations.