Organic disorders and psych problems w physical sx

Question 1

What is CJD?

Answer 1

Creutzfeldt Jakob disease - rapidly progressive neuro condition caused by prions. Prion causes huge cell death in the brain.

Question 2

What are the causes of CJD?

Answer 2

Sporadic - can have a familial link but most idiopathic
Variant - ingesting contaminated beef products

Question 3

What are the CF of CJD?

Answer 3

• Mild memory and mood changes first
• Myoclonus
• Speech and lang impairment
• Seizures and death

Question 4

How do you treat CJD?

Answer 4

You can’t - is fatal and avg life expectancy = 5 months

Question 5

What is transient global amnesiona?

Answer 5

Temporary total disruption of short and long term memory. Episode can last for several hours before resolving and pt make full recovery, unlikely to recur.

Question 6

What is Wenicke’s encephalopathy? How is it treated?

Answer 6

Triad - confusion, ataxia, opthalmoplegia/nystagmus
Commonly caused by chronic alcohol abuse = Vit B1 def.
Treat = oral thiamine in community or IV pabrinex inpt, encourage treatment of alcohol dependence

Question 7

What is Korsakoff’s syndrome?

Answer 7

Untreated Wenicke’s will progress to Korsakoff. Is profound anterograde amnesia (can’t form new memories) and limited retrograde amnesia (can’t recall old memories).
Pt can confabulate - fabricate memories to mask memory def.

Question 8

Conversion disorder vs somatisation

Answer 8

Conversion disorder - associated w stressful event and not chronic, normally loss of motor or sensory function
Somatisation disorder - chronic, usually >2 years, attended multiple GPs, won’t accept reassurance or -ve test results