Psych Flashcards
Depression ICD-10
Must last at least 2 weeks and represent a change from normal
Must not be secondary to other causes, i.e. drugs, alcohol misuses, medication etc
Core sx:
- low mood
- anhedonia
- anergia
Other sx:
- sleep disturbance
- diminished appetite
- reduced concentration and attention
- reduced self-esteem/sel-confidence
- ideas of guilt and worthlessness
- bleak and pessimistic views of future
- ideas or acts of self harm/suicide
Psychotic sx in depression
Delusions
- mood congruent, nihilistic
- overbearing guilt for misdeeds, responsible for world events
- deserving of punishment
Hallucinations
- 2nd person auditory most common
- olfactory bad smells, rotting flesh
- visual, demons, dead bodies
Severity of depression levels
Mild: 2 core sx + 2 other sx
Moderate: 2 core sx + 3+ other sx
Severe: 3 core sx + 4+ other sx
Severe w/ psychosis: severe depression + psychotic sx (delusions +/- hallucinations)
Tx of mild-to-moderate depression
Consider watchful waiting, assessing again normally within 2 weeks
Consider offering one or more low-intensity psychosocial interventions
- CBT (self-guided, computerised)
- Relaxation therapy
- Brief psychological interventions (brief CBT, counselling, 6-8 sessions)
ANTI-DEPRESSANTS NOT RECOMMENDED**
Tx of moderate-to-severe depression
Check if at risk
- urgent psych referral if pt has active suicide ideas/plans or putting themselves or others at immediate risk
Offer anti-depressant medication COMBINED with high-intensity psychological treatment (CBT or IPT; 1:1)
ECT
Factors necessitating admission
Self neglect Risk of suicide/self harm Risk to others Poor social support Psychotic sx Lack on insight Tx resistant depression
Dysthmia
Presence of chronic low grade depressive sx (usually long-standing)
Always slightly depressed, it’s become their baseline
Mild sx of depression that lasts a long time, 2:1 F:M, 25% suffer chronic sx
Postnatal depression
10-15% women within 1-6 months post partum
Peak incidence is 3-4 weeks post-partum
Seasonal affective disorder
Low mood w change in season
Lack of sunlight -> lack of pineal gland melatonin synthesis -> lack of serotonin
Light therapy + anti-depressant tx
Bipolar affective disorder ICD-10
Pt must experience ‘at least two episodes one of which must be hypomanic/manic or mixed, with recovery usually complete between the episodes’
Depressive episode same as unipolar depression
Criteria for hypomanic/manic episodes being the same as unipolar hypomania/mania
**Mixed affective episodes is when there is occurrence of both hypomanic/manic and depressive sx in single episode present everyday for at least 2 weeks
(almost a retrospective diagnosis)
BPAD epidemiology
BPAD 1 - 1%, mean onset 18.2
BPAD 2 - 1.1%, mean onset 20
Suicide rate is x15-18 higher than general population
10% pts who begin with depressive episode go onto develop episode of mania within 10 years
- genetic disposition
- greater incidence in upper social classes
- no differences in sexes/ethnicities
Manic episode ICD-10
Mood
- predominately elevated, expansive, irritable, definitely abnormal for individual
- mood must be prominent and sustained for at least 1 week (unless severe enough for hospital admission)
At least 3 of following signs must be present (4 is only irritable), leading to severe interference w personal functioning in daily living:
- increased activity/physical restlessness
- increased talkativeness (pressured speech)
- flight of ideas or subjective experience of thoughts racing
- loss of normal social inhibitions
- decreased need for sleep
- inflated self-esteem/grandiosity
- distractibility/constant changes in plans
- recklessness behaviour (spending sprees, foolish enterprises, reckless driving)
- marked sexual energy/sexual indiscretions
Psychotic sx of mania
Delusions
- grandiose (religious figure, special powers)
- persecutory (suspicion develops)
Incomprehensible speech
- pressured speech
Self neglect
Cationic behaviour
- manic stupor
Hypomanic episode ICD-10
Mood elevated or irritable to a degree abnormal for inidividual and sustained for at least 4 consecutive days
Same 3 signs as manic episode need to be bresent
Mania vs hypomania
Degree of functional impairment: hospitalisation is proxy of functional deterioration
DSM: duration criteria of 4 days for hypomania and 7 days for mania in DSM is arbitrary; follow-up studies show most hypomanic episodes in BPAD 2 lasts for less than 4 days
Beck’s Cognitive Triad
Self - Future - Worth
Worthless guilt - Helplessness - Hopelessness
=> Informs CBT
Cotard syndrome
Rare subtype of nihilistic delusions
Pt believes they or part of them is dead or does not exist
Seen most commonly in severe depression, but is also associated with schizophrenia
SSRI action
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
fluoxetine, setraline
Side effect: headache, GI (nausea, diarrhoea/constipation), sleep disturbance/vivid dreams, sexual dysfunction
TCA action
5-HT and NA re-uptake inhibition; affects multiple transmitters though (also anti-cholinergic/muscarinic effect - very dirty x )
- prescribed when pts don’t respond to first-line
- Amitryptyline, clomipramine, lofepramine*
Just as effective as SSRIs if not for side effect profile; lethal in over dose
MAOI action
Increase availability of 5-HT and NA in synapse
- irreversible old ones: phenelzine, tranylcypromine, isocarboxazid*
- reversible: moclobemide*
SSRI consultation
- what do you need to tell the pt?
‘blocks the serotonin pumps’
Common side effects
Drug cx: hyponatraemia, GI bleeding
Serotonin syndrome: psych sx, neuro sx including myoclonus and autonomic sx
Discontinuation syndrome (short half-life): flu-like illness, trouble sleeping, shocks, anxiety
Suicidality: potential association (small evidence in adolescence), general pragmatic view warn all pts potential to feel suicidal
Duration: same dose for 6-12 months min. when in remission and 2 years for those at greater risk of relapse
Review: 2 weekly initially and then regularly thereafter
MAOI problem
Tyramine interaction (cheese effect)
- pts need special low tyramine diet
- avoid cheese, cured meat, fermented pickles, red wine, soybeans etc
Tyramine amine derivative of tyrosine AA, has sympathomimetic effect (release of A from adrenal glands)
Hypertensive episode!!!
- tachycardic, flushing, severe throbbing headache, pallor, stroke, death, renal failure
Mirtazepine action
NaSSA; blocks presynaptic alpha-2 adrenergic receptors
Autoreceptor hence less feedback and more NA release
Side effects: drowsiness, increased appetite, weight gain
**used a lot in old age pysch
Venlafaxine/duloxetine action
SNRI; similar to SSRI incl. side effect profile
Pts require monitoring of BP
Trazadone action
Used in old age psych
Side effects: sedation, arrhythmia, hypotension, priapism
Vortioxetine action
Serotonergic modulator
New and expensive
Improves cognitive function
St John’s Wort
Not recommended as uncertain about appropriate doses and potential serious interactions with other drugs
Not as effective or safe as SSRI medication so not used in UK
*fucks up P540 cytochrome
EPSE - what are they and when can they occur?
Extrapyramidal side effects of antipsychotics: Dystonia (early, within hours) Akathisia (hours to weeks) Parkinsonism (days to weeks) Tardive dyskinesia (months or years)
Dystonia sx and tx (EPSE)
sx: involuntary painful, sustained muscle spasm
tx: anticholinergics (e.g. procyclidine)
Akathisia sx and tx (EPSE)
sx: unpleasant subjective feeling of restlessness; pts have to pace about and jiggle their legs to cope w it
tx: decrease dose/change antipscyhotic, add propranolol or benzodiazepines
Parkinsonism sx and tx (EPSE)
sx: triad of resting tremor, rigidity (like stiffness), bradykinesia, pts may have mask-like faces and shuffling gait
tx: decrease dose/change antipsychotic, try anticholinergic (i.e. procyclidine) but review frequently
Tardive dyskinesia sx and tx (EPSE)
sx: rhythmic involuntary movements of mouth, face, limbs, and trunk which are v distressing, pts may grimace or make chewing/sucking movements w their mouth and tongue
tx: stop antipsychotic or reduce dose, avoid anticholinergics as this worsens problem, switch to atypical/clozapine
often irreversible :(
3 core components of psychosis
Perceptions => hallucinations
Beliefs => delusions
Functioning => loss of insight
Ddx of schizophrenia (ICD-10 definitions)
Paranoid: dominated by relatively stable delusions, usally w auditory hallucinations
Catatonic: prominent psychomotor disturbances (hyperkinetic/stupor)
Residual: chronic; negative sx dominate w poor self-care and social performance
Persistent delusional disorder: single/set of related delusions in ABSENCE of auditory hallucinations, delusions of control, blunting of affect, and brain disease
Acute and transient psychotic disorders: acute onset of psychotic sx, delusions hallucinations disrupt ordinary behavior within <2 weeks, complete recovery occurs within days to months, associated w acute stress
Schneider’s First-Rank Sx
Auditory hallucinations
- third person, running commentary, thoughts spoken aloud
Passivity experiences
- delusions of control (made feelings, impulses)
Thought withdrawal
- thoughts taken out of head
Though insertion
- thoughts inserted into head
Delusional perception
- linking normal perception to a bizarre conclusion (i.e. see red car -> have 2 souls)
Negative sx in schizophrenia
Social withdrawal Reduced affect Apathy Anhedonia Defects in attention control
Hypnagogic vs hypnopompic hallucinations
Hallucinations when falling asleep
Hallucinations when waking up
- drug use, medication, anxiety, personality disorders
Mx of schizophrenia and related psychoses
Medication
(typical + atypical antipsychotics)
CBT for psychosis
Family interventions (high expressed emotion associated w increased relapse)
Psychosocial rehabilitation (care coordination, assertive outreach, EIS, recovery)
Physical health of people w psychosis
General antipsychotic action
Dopamine receptor antagonists
How does aripiprazole work?
Partial dopamine agonist
Typical vs atypical antipsychotics side effects
Typical
- greater risk of EPSE and cardiac risk
Atypical
- greater risk of metabolic syndrome and cardio/cerebrovascular risk
Dopamine theory of schizophrenia (4 pathways)
Mesolimbic pathway
- excessive activity causes psychosis (pathway targeted by antipsychotic medication)
Mesocortical pathway
- under activity causes the negative syndrome and cognitive impairment (harder to target by medication)
Nigrostriatal pathway
- under activity causes Parkinsonism (EPSEs seen by antipsychotic medication)
Tuberoinfundibular pathway
- antipsychotics cause under activity thus less inhibition of prolactin, leading to hyperprolactinaemia
Relevance of the QTc interval?
Normal interval:
<440 ms in men, <470ms in women
All antipsychotics can prolong QTc interval
Potential to develop torsades de point -> VT -> death
Must have ECG prior to commencing medication
Why should you monitor BMI, BP, waist circumference, HbA1c, lipids, LFTs when on antipsychotics?
Metabolic syndrome is a side effect, particularly atypical antipsychotic
Olanzapine*** biggest cause
Iatrogenic cause of central obesity, bad as schizophrenia already increased risk of CVD problems
When is clozapine indicated?
For treatment resistance schizophrenia (when at least 2 antipsychotic drugs have failed, at least 1 should be atypical, for at least 6 weeks)
SE:
- Risk of agranulocytosis -> regular FBC testing **
What do you see in neuroleptic malignant syndrome?
Mental status change
- confusion, reduced GCS
Muscular rigidity
- severe ‘lead pipe’ rigidity
Hyperthermia
Autonomic instability
- tachycardia, sweating, hypertensive, tremor
Typically occurs in men, high dose antipsychotic usage, past history NMS, dehydrated
What pathology is seen in neuroleptic malignant syndrome?
Dopaminergic blockade leads to extreme muscle rigidity -> rhabdomyolysis -> acute renal failure
Depletion dopamine in hypothalamus -> elevated temperature
Ix for neuroleptic malignant syndrome
Elevated CK Raised WCC Reduced renal function Raised hepatic transaminase Metabolic acidosis
Mx for neuroleptic malignant syndrome
ABCDE
Transfer to A&E
Stop all antipsychotics
Supportive: IV fluids, antipyretics/cooling devices, dialysis
Potential tx: muscle relaxant, dopaminergic replacements, ECT
NMS vs SS
Both are rare and potentially lethal
Both present w altered consciousness, neuromuscular status and autonomic dysfunction
Both treated w ABCDE approach and supportive measures
NMS
- lack of dopamine
- sx PLUS lead pipe rigidity
- develops over time
- tx: raise dopamine (bromocriptine, ECT)
SS
- excessive serotonin
- sx PLUS myoclonus, tremor, hyperreflexia (less rigidity)
- acute timeframe
- tx: serotonin antagonist effect (cyproheptamine)
Delirium tremens presentation
Within 48hrs of abstinence, lasts 3-4 days
Confused, hallucinations (visual), fearful, gross tremor of hands, delusions, autonomic disturbance (sweating, tachycardia, hypertension, dilated pupils, fever)
Delirium tremens tx
Medical emergency
Reducing benzodiazepine regime and parenteral thiamine
Manage potential fatal dehydration and electrolyte abnormalities
Wernicke’s vs Korsakoff’s
Wernicke’s encephalopathy
- acute thiamine (b1) deficiency
- classic triad of confusion, ataxia, and ophthalmoplegia
- medical emergency as if untreated it progress to…
Korsakoff’s syndrome
- IRREVERSIBLE anterograde amnesia (some retrograde); registers new events but cannot recall within minutes
- patients may CONFABULATE to fill in gaps in their memory
Complications of IV drug use
Local
- abscess
- cellulitis
- DVT; repeated injection into femoral veins damages valves, slows down venous return
- emboli
Systemic
- septicaemia
- infective endocarditis
- blood-borne infections
- increased risk of overdose; less dose-titration than in smoking
What does naloxone do?
Opiate antagonist
- antidote for opiate overdose
- beware; pts plunge into immediate withdrawal
What does naltrexone do?
Opiate antagonist
- blocks opiate receptors and thus euphoric effects of opiates
- given to people who have completed opiate detoxification as a relapse prevention agent
CAGE screening questionnaire
C “Have you ever felt you should CUT DOWN on your drinking?”
A “Have people ANNOYED you by criticizing your drinking?”
G “Have you ever felt GUILTY about your drinking?”
E “Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or get rid of a hangover?” (EYE-OPENER)
What are the limit ages for the following developmental milestones?
a) Eye contact
b) Turns to a voice
c) Walks independently
d) First word
(average age)
a) 3 months (1-4 weeks)
b) 9 months (7 months)
c) 18 months (11-13 months)
d) 2 years (8-18 months)
What is agoraphobia?
Fear of being in situations where escape might be difficult or that help wouldn’t be available if things go wrong
What is the gold standard mood stabiliser?
Lithium carbonate
What can lithium be used for?
BPAD
Schizoaffective disorders
Depression (recurrent/tx-resistant)
What is the therapeutic range of lithium like?
Narrow therapeutic range
- 4-1mmol/L
- needs to be monitored to ensure not sub-clinical/toxic dose
What teratogenic impact may lithium have?
Ebstein’s anomaly
What may lithium toxicity present with?
- Coarse tremor
- Marked GI upset
- Ataxia
- Dysarthria
- Impaired consciousness
- Epileptic seizures
- Nystagmus
- Renal failure
What are possible complications of lithium use?
- Renal disease (diabetes insipidus, CKD)
- Hypothyroidism
- Wt gain
- Persistent tremor
- T wave flattening on ECG
- Lethargy
- Mild cognitive impairment
- Mild leucocytosis
Ix to do before starting lithium
FBC, U&Es, Calcium, TFTs, ECG (if known cardiac disease)
How often do lithium pts get monitored?
Initialy weekly tests
Once stable, every 3 months U&Es, eGFR, 12hr-serum lithium, TFT
Reduced to 6 months for lower risk pts after a year
What drugs should pts on lithium be careful of using?
NSAIDs
ACEi
What rash do you need to be aware of when using lamotrigine/carbamazepine?
Steven-Johnsons syndrome
Which antidepressant is often used with bipolar depression alongside other tx?
Fluoxetine
What are the following called?
a) pt feigning sx for external gain
b) pt feigning sx for unconscious reasons
c) pt w sx unexplained by investigation findings
a) Malingering
b) Munchausen’s syndrome (factitious disorder)
c) Functional symptoms (have no known structural cause)
What is conversion disorder?
Neurological deficit that is not explained by structural disorder
- blind, paralysis, deaf
- result of ongoing psychosocial stress
What are the three domains that are affected in ASD?
- Reciprocal social interaction
- Communication abnormalities
- Restricted behaviours and routine
ICD-10 says ASD develops in what aged children?
Abnormal/impaired development manifests before the age of three
What is Rett syndrome?
Condition in girls where normal early development followed by partial/complete impact on:
- speech
- skills in locomotion
- use of hands
- deceleration in head growth
Onset is between 7-24 months
12 month old girl presents with loss of purposive hand movements, hand-wringing stereotypes, and hyperventilation - what is this and its prognosis?
Rett syndrome
Poor prognosis
- social and play development arrested
- social interest maintained
- severe mental retardation invariably results
7 yr old girl is complaining about headaches for last 3 months, and her teachers have flagged up to her foster carer that she has been underperforming in lessons and talking back to teachers.
It is noted in her GP notes she is in foster care as her parents were deemed unfit to care for her.
What treatment may you consider?
?Depression
Take separate hx w child without guardian present to pick up on potential safeguarding issues
1st line CBT for depression in children
Severe cases, refer to CAMHS to consider fluoxetine (>/= 8yo)
School refusal vs truancy
School refusal
- anxiety based, unconcealed absence from school
- children find difficult going/staying in school
- child typically has tummy ache before school but never on weekends/holiday
Truancy
- illegal/illegitimate absence from school
- unexcused absence without parental permission
- potentially seen in CD/ODD
How long should there be a history of antisocial behaviour to diagnose Conduct Disorder?
6 months+
What is a tic?
Involuntary, rapid, recurrent, nonrhythmic motot movement or vocal production that is of a sudden onset and serves no apparent purpose
What is coprolalia?
Vocal tic where person uses socially unacceptable (often obscene) words
What characterises learning disabilites?
Global impairment of intelligence and significant difficulties in socially adaptive functioning
How is LD graded in the ICD-10?
IQ levels: Mild = 50-69 Moderate = 35-49 Severe = 20-34 Profound = <20
Name 3 syndromes associated with LD
- Down syndrome
- Fragile X
- Fetal alcohol syndrome
What approach may be taken in Behavioural Therapy?
ABC:
Antecedents - avoid
Behaviour - reinforce positive behaviours, prevent reinforcing negative behaviours
Consequences - help people understand consequences of their actions
What is diagnostic overshadowing?
Tendency to attribute everything to pt’s mental health condition when such sx suggest a comorbid condition
In context of LD, for example, changes in behaviour, mental state, or ability are dismissed, despite usually indicating physical or mental illness in people without a LD
What is the criteria for diagnosis of personality disorder in ICD-10?
REPORT R elationships affected E nduring P ervasive O nset in childhood/adolescence R esult in distress T rouble in occupational/social performance
What are considered ‘Cluster A’ personality disorders?
‘Odd or eccentric’
- paranoid
- schizoid