Passmed psych Flashcards
Side effects of TCAs?
Dry mouth (anticholinergic) and weight gain (antihistaminic)
Urinary retention
Why should SSRIs and MAOIs never be mixed?
Risk of serotonin syndrome
Difference between depression and dementia presentation?
Depression - global memory loss rather than short-term (pseudodementia)
What is word salad and what is it associated with?
Disorganised speech - mania and psychosis
Acute stress disorder vs PTSD?
Acute stress <4w but PTSD >4w
What common symptom can TCAs cause?
Urinary retention
Management of PTSD?
CBT, EMDR
Drugs - SSRI or venlaxafine
Are men or women more likely to be successful in a suicide attempt?
Men
What suggests depression over dementia?
Sleep disturbance, stress triggers and normal MMSE with global memory
What is the 666 rule for SSRIs?
Wait 6 weeks to take effect
Continue for 6 months to stabilise and avoid relapse
Takes at least 6 weeks for the washout period in order to avoid adverse effects
What is somatisation disorder?
Multiple physical symptoms that can’t be explained by any medical condition
What is the life threatening side effect of clozapine and how is it monitored?
Agranulocytosis/neutropenia - FBC
What is the cutoff for severe depression in the PHQ-9?
16
Which SSRI is the most likely to prolong QT and cause torsades de pointes?
Citalopram
What is borderline personality disorder associated with?
History of recurrent self-harm and intense interpersonal relationships that alternate between idealisation and devaluation
1st line drug for GAD?
Sertraline
How does Wernicke’s encephalopathy present?
Gait ataxia, ophthalmoplegia and nystagmus
How does Korsakoff’s syndrome present?
Retrograde/anterograde amnesia and confabulation
What is De Clerambault’s syndrome?
Ertomania -form of paranoid delusion with an amarous quality. The patient is oftena single woman who believes that a famous person is in love with her
What is delusional parasitosis?
Fixed, false belief (delusion) that they’re infested by bugs
What is Hoover’s sign used for? What is the test?
Differentiating organic from non-organic leg paresis.
-Non-organic: pressure is felt under paretic leg when lifting non-paretic leg against pressure due to involuntary contralateral hip extension
How is hypomania characterised?
Elevated mood, pressured speech and flight of ideas without psychotic symptoms
What is the risk of schizophrenia for an affected monozygotic twin?
50% - suggests genetics play a vital role in schizophrenia development
Most common SE of atypical antipsychotics?
Weight gain
What is akathisia?
Sense of inner restlessness and inability to keep still
Management for more severe depression?
Individual CBT and antidepressant
What symptoms are seen in SSRI discontinuation syndrome?
GI - diarrhoea
What are the risks of antipsychotics in the elderly?
Increased risk of stroke and VTE
Common side effect of electroconvulsive therapy?
Memory impairment - retrograde amnesia
What is the difference between retrograde and anterograde amnesia?
Retrograde - can’t recall memories from past
Anterograde - can’t form new memories but can still remember things from before amnesia development
What is the risk of zopiclone in the elderly?
Falls
In GAD, what do you use if sertraline is ineffective/not tolerated?
Try another SSRI or SNRI
What is cotard syndrome?
Characterised by a person believing they’re dead or non-existent
Short-term SE of ECT?
Arrhythmia, headache, nausea, memory loss/impairment
How does tardive kinesis present?
Chewing, jaw-pouting, excessive blinking
Three common features of PTSD?
Re-experiencing, avoidance, hyperarousal
What is circumstantiality?
Long-winded answer but comes back around eventually whereas tangentiality is when the answer goes off in one direction forever
What is echolalia?
Repetition of someone else’s speech including the questions being asked (feature of schizophrenia - typically catatonic)
What is a neologism?
A made up word
What is palilalia?
Automatic repetition of one’s own words, phrases or sentences
What is echopraxia?
Meaningless repetition or imitation of the movements of others
What is copropraxia?
Involuntary performing of obscene or forbidden gestures or inappropriate touching
What is a characteristic physical finding of anorexia nervosa?
Lanugo hair
What should patients with OCD and severe functional impairment?
Referred to the secondary care mental health team - treatment can be started while waiting assessment
What is Münchausen’s syndrome?
Purposefully causing symptoms for personal gain
What is functional neurological disorder?
Conversion disorder - involves loss of motor or sensory function
What happens when there is poor oral compliance with antipsychotics?
Switch to IM antipsychotics (depot) - usually once monthly
What is Othello syndrome?
Delusional jealousy
What is the SSRI of choice for children and adolescents?
Fluoxetine
What is the first line treatment for young people with anorexia?
Anorexia focused family therapy
How is acute dystonia managed when secondary to antipsychotics?
Procyclidine
What are the symptoms of SSRI discontinuation syndrome?
Dizziness, electronic shock sensations, anxiety
What is the acute management of mania/hypomania in patients taking antidepressants?
Consider stopping antidepressant and starting antipsychotics
When starting ECT treatment on antidepressants, what should be done?
Antidepressants reduced not stopped
Which drug can you give to reverse benzodiazepines?
Flumenazil
When taking SSRI and NSAID what else should be prescribed and why?
A PPI
What’s a good type of therapy for patients with OCD and why?
Exposure and response prevention - exposing them to an anxiety-provoking situation
What are the useful side effects on mirtazapine?
SNRI - sedation and increased appetite (better eating and sleeping)
What are the metabolic side effects of antipsychotics?
Dysglycaemia, dyslipidaemia and diabetes mellitus
What are the first rank symptoms of schizophrenia?
Thought broadcasting, thought withdrawal, delusional perceptions and auditory hallucinations
What is the strongest risk factor for psychotic disorders?
Family history
Before diagnosing GAD, what is important to rule out?
Hyperthyroidism
What is a GI side effect of clozapine?
Constipation, intestinal obstruction
Which type of antidepressants give the most antimuscarinic SEs?
TCAs - dry mouth and blurred vision
Are pseudohallucinations common after grief?
Yes - doesn’t imply psychosis
What is an important investigation in elderly patients with sudden-onset psychosis?
CT head - rule out organic cause
What is the difference between Knight’s move thinking and flight of ideas?
Knight’s move - illogical leaps from one idea to another
Flight of ideas - links from one idea to another
What is the link between clozapine and seizures?
Clozapine reduces the seizure threshold making seizures more likely
What is illness anxiety disorder?
Persistent belief in the presence of an underlying disease
What is Charles-Bonnet syndrome associated with?
Age related macular degeneration
What is Charles-Bonnet syndrome?
Persistent or recurrent complex hallucinations (visual or auditory) occurring in clear consciousness. Generally against a background of visual impairment. Insight usually preserved. Occurs in absence of other psychiatric disorders
Circadian rhythm in schizophrenia?
Disturbed
Which antidepressant increases the risk of suicide the most at the start of treatment?
Venlaxafine (but all of them do)
Feature of avoidant personality disorder?
Fearful of criticism, being unliked, rejected and ridiculed
Features of anorexia?
Most things are low except G’s and C’s:
-Growth hormone, glucose, glands (salivary)
-Cortisol, cholesterol, carotinaemia
What is the typical patient at high risk of suicide?
Male with history of drug and alcohol abuse with deliberate self-harm
Key feature of bulimia?
Erosion of teeth
What happens if a patient misses their clozapine dose for 48h?
Has to be restarted again slowly
Which atypical antipsychotic has the best side effect profile?
Aripiprazole (particularly for prolactin elevation)
SSRI use in pregnancy?
Weight up benefits and risk:
1st trimester use - small congenital heart defect risk
3rd trimester use - can result in persistent pulmonary hypertension of newborn
Paroxetine use in pregnancy?
Increased risk of congenital malformations, particularly in first trimester
(serotonin is required for establishing left-right asymmetry of heart in embryogenesis)
What is cotard syndrome associated with?
Severe depression
What is an obsession?
Intrusive, unpleasant and unwanted thought
What is a compulsion?
Senseless action taken to reduce the anxiety caused by obsession
Does smoking affect clozapine levels?
Smoking cessation can cause a rise in clozapine blood levels
What is the prognosis of a prodromal phase of social withdrawal in schizophrenia?
Poor prognosis
What is the effect of long-term antipsychotic use?
Development of glucose dysregulation and diabetes
Features of schizotypal personality disorder?
Lack close friends other than family and have odd/eccentric behaviour, speech and beliefs
Prognosis of low IQ in schizophrenia?
Poor prognosis
What is tangentiality?
Wandering from a topic without returning to it
Does brief psychotic disorder result in long-term consequences?
No - return to baseline functioning
Which electrolyte abnormality are SSRIs associated with?
Hyponatraemia
Which sex is affected more by antisocial personality disorder?
Men
Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal?
6-12h: tremor, sweating, headache, anxiety
36h: seizures
72h: delirium tremens
What is a clang association?
Ideas related only by rhyme or being similar sounding
What can lithium precipitate on bloods?
Benign leukocytosis
What is the difference between type 1 and 2 bipolar disorder?
I - Associated with mania
II - Associated with hypomania
How does mirtazapine work?
Noradrenergic and specific seritonergic antidepressant - increases release of neurotransmitters by blocking a2 adrenoreceptors
What is malingering?
Lying or exaggerating for financial gain
What is used to treat moderate/severe tardive dyskinesia?
Tetrabenazine
1st line treatment for acute stress disorders?
Trauma-focused CBT
Five negative symptoms of schizophrenia?
Incongruity/bluntness of affect
Anhedonia
Alogia (poverty of speech)
Avolition (poor motivation)
Social withdrawal
What is clozapine reserved for?
Cases of treatment resistant schizophrenia
Cases where patients experience negative symptoms
What are the negative symptoms of schizophrenia?
Incongruity/blunting of affect
Anhedonia
Alogia
Avolition
Social withdrawal
What is seasonal affective disorder?
Recurrent episodes of depression that occur during the same season each year, often in winter
What is used to treat moderate/severe tardive dyskinesia?
Tetrabenazine
Which antipsychotic makes seizures more likely?
Clozapine - reduces seizure threshold
Which medication precipitates a benign leukocytosis?
Lithium
Dangerous short-term side effect of ECT?
Cardiac arrhythmia
How does tardive kinesia present?
Chewing, jaw pouting or excessive blinking due to late onset abnormal involuntary choreoathetoid movements (conventional antipsychotics - usually long-term)
Schizoid vs schizotypal PD?
Both cold and not interested in forming close relationships but schizotypal has odd/eccentric behaviour, speech and beliefs
Which type of incontinence do TCAs cause?
Overflow incontinence
Malingering vs Munchausen?
Malingering - faking symptoms
Munchausen - self-inflicted symptoms
Features of avoidant PD?
Fearful of criticism, being unliked. rejection and ridicule
What is acute dystonia?
Sustained muscle contraction such as torticollis or oculoghric crisis
Which SSRI has the highest incidence of SSRI discontinuation syndrome?
Paroxetine
Treatment of personality disorders?
Dialectical behavioural therapy (DCT)
How is acute dystonia secondary to antipsychotics managed?
Procycldine
What is Othello syndrome?
Delusional jealousy - usually believing partner is unfaithful
Symptoms of SSRIs discontinuation syndrome?
Dizziness, electric shock sensations, anxiety and diarrhoea
What is akathisia?
Severe restlessness
Symptoms of mania/hypomania in primary care?
Mania - Urgent referral to CMHT
Hypomania - Routine referral to CMHT
Most common endocrine disorder developed as a result of chronic lithium toxicity?
Hypothyroidism
Most common side effect of clozapine?
Constipation
Which electrolyte abnormality occurs to due SSRIs?
Hyponatraemia
Pseudohallucinations in grieving?
Normal
Factors associated with poor prognosis of schizophrenia?
Family history
Gradual onset
Low IQ
Prodromal phase of social withdrawal
Lack of obvious precipitant
What is cotard syndrome?
When patients with severe depression believe they or part of them is dead
What is the difference between knight’s move thinking and flight of ideas?
Knight’s move - illogical leaps from one idea to another
Flight of ideas - discernible links between ideas
Patients with obsessive-compulsive PD?
Rigid with respect to morals, ethics and values. Often reluctant to surrender to work
Antipsychotic use in the elderly?
Risk of VTE/stroke
How to acutely manage mania/hypomania in those taking antipsychotics?
Stop antidepressant and start antipsychotic
Main indication for ECT?
Treatment resistant depression and catatonia
What is word salad and what is is associated with?
Disorganised speech - associated with mania and psychosis
Metabolic side effects of antipsychotics?
Dysglycaemia, dyslipidaemia and diabetes mellitus
What is hypomania?
Elevated mood, pressured speech and flight of ideas without psychotic symptoms
When checking lithium levels, when are the bloods taken?
12h post dose
Difference between type I and type II bipolar?
Type I - mania
Type II - hypomania
Before diagnosing GAD, what has to be ruled out?
Thyroid disease
What are the symptoms of delirium tremens?
Hallucinations, confusion and delusions
What is tangentiality?
Wandering from a topic without returning to it
Bloods for bulimia?
Hypochloraemic hypokalaemia metabolic alkalosis due to excessive vomiting
Most serious side effect of clozapine and how to monitor?
Agranulocytosis/neutropenia - FBC
PTSD management?
Trauma focussed CBT or EMDR
Venlaxafine
First-line treatment for children and young-people with anorexia?
Family focused CBT
First-line treatment for acute stress disorders?
Trauma-focused CBT
Most commonly used drug in panic disorder?
SSRI - Sertraline
What is echolalia?
Repetition of someone else’s speech including the questions being asked
Which antipsychotic has the most tolerable side effect?
Aripiprazole
How do benzodiazepines work?
GABA agonist
Risk of SSRI and NSAIDs?
Bleeding risk - give PPI
Common features of PTSD?
Re-experiencing
Avoidance
Hyperarousal
What is somatisation disorder?
Multiple physical symptoms not explained by an organic cause
Schizoid PD?
Prefer to be alone, don’t like relationships, low libido
Treatment for OCD?
SSRI requiring a higher dose and a longer duration (12w)
Most likely SSRI to cause Torsades to Pointes?
Citalopram - most likely to prolong QT interval
How should an SSRI be stopped?
Remain on it for at least 6 months during remission then gradually reduce over 4 weeks
Who are more likely to be successful in suicide?
Men
Post-MI, which SSRI is preferred?
Sertraline
What is catatonia?
Stopping of voluntary movement or staying still in an unusual position
What is the difference between an obsession and a compulsion?
Obsession - intrusive, unpleasant and unwanted thought
Compulsion - senseless action taken to reduced the anxiety caused by the obsession
When does PHQ9 score indicate severe depression?
15+
Management of severe depression?
SSRI and CBT
Management of severe OCD?
Add SSRI alongside CBT/ERP
What is illness anxiety disorder?
Persistent belief in the presence of an underlying serious disease
What is circumstantiality?
Inability to answer a questions without giving excessive, unnecessary detail
Brief psychotic disorder?
Return to baseline functioning
Mirtazapine mechanism of action?
Noradrenergic and serotongeric antidepressant increasing the release of neurotransmitters by blocking alpha2 adrenoreceptors
Which drug may cause psychosis?
Corticosteroids
Treatment of delirium tremens/alcohol withdrawal?
Chlordiazepoxide or other benzodiazepines
Zopiclone use in the elderly?
Increases the risk of falls
Useful side effects of mirtazapine?
Sedation and increased appetite
Why are triptans avoided in patients taking SSRIs?
Increased risk of serotonin syndrome
Anorexia features?
Most things low but G’s and C’s raised:
-GH, glucose, salivary glands
cortisol, cholesterol, carotinaemia
What is clozapine reserved for?
Cases of treatment resistant schizophrenia
Cases where patients experience negative symptoms
What is conversion disorder?
Functional neurological disorder - typically loss of motor or sensory function
Protective factors against completed suicide?
Social support, religious belief, having children at home and regretting an attempt
When can a PD be diagnosed?
After 18 years of age
What is exposure and response prevention?
Used in OCD - exposing patient to an anxiety provoking situation
What are clang associations?
Ideas related only by rhyme or being similar sounding
Purging behaviours in bulimia?
Vomiting, laxatives, diuretics or exercising
Choice of SSRI in children and young people?
Fluoxetine
What is Russell’s sign?
Calluses on knuckles or back of hand due to repeated self-induced vomiting
For moderate/severe OCD what may be used instead of SSRI?
Clomipramine (TCA)
What is the strongest risk factor for psychotic disorders?
Family history
What can long-term lithium use result in?
Hyperparathyroidism and hypercalcaemia