Psych 2 Flashcards
Describe the symptoms of a panic attack.
Symptoms include tachypnea, chest pain, palpitations, diaphoresis, nausea, trembling, dizziness, fear of dying or going crazy, depersonalization, and perioral and/or acral paresthesias.
What is agoraphobia and how common is it in panic disorder cases?
Agoraphobia is the fear of situations that make one feel trapped, helpless, or embarrassed. It is present in 30-50% of panic disorder cases.
How can panic attacks be differentiated from medical conditions?
Panic attacks can be differentiated from medical conditions like angina, MI, arrhythmias, hyperthyroidism, and pheochromocytoma through specific symptoms and lab findings like alkalosis, hypocapnea, and increased O2.
Define agoraphobia and provide examples of situations that may trigger it.
Agoraphobia is the fear of places or situations that make one feel trapped, helpless, or embarrassed. Examples include public transportation, open or enclosed spaces, standing in line, or being in a crowd.
What are the treatment options for panic disorder?
Treatment options include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), benzodiazepines (e.g., clonazepam) for immediate relief, and beta-blockers as a second-line treatment.
Describe social phobia and give an example of a situation that may provoke fear.
Social phobia is marked fear provoked by social or performance situations, such as public speaking.
How is dementia characterized and what are the common causes?
Dementia is characterized by cognitive impairment with global deficits and stable consciousness. Common causes include Alzheimer’s disease (50%) and multi-infarct dementia (25%).
What are the diagnostic criteria for dementia?
Diagnostic criteria include memory impairment and at least one of the following: aphasia, apraxia, agnosia, impaired executive function, personality changes, delusions, or hallucinations.
What is the Mini-Mental State Examination used for in dementia diagnosis?
The Mini-Mental State Examination evaluates functions like arithmetic, memory, and orientation to assess cognitive impairment severity, with scores ranging from severe (≤9 points) to mild (19-24 points).
Describe Alzheimer’s disease and its characteristics.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, not preventable nor curable, with risk factors including being female, family history, head trauma, and Down syndrome.
Describe the typical age range for the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
Usually after 65 years old.
Define the treatment approach for Alzheimer’s disease involving environmental cues and a structured daily routine.
Provide environmental cues and a rigid structure for the patient’s daily life.
What are the common cholinesterase inhibitors used in Alzheimer’s treatment?
Tacrine and Donepezil.
Explain the key feature affected first in Alzheimer’s disease.
Memory.
Describe the least likely aspect to be affected in Alzheimer’s disease.
Face recognition.
What is the best treatment for Alzheimer’s disease in patients with cardiac issues?
Memantine.
Define Lewy body dementia.
Dementia accompanied by Parkinsonism and visual hallucinations.
Describe Pick’s disease including its characteristic features.
Atrophy of frontal and temporal lobes, severe personality changes, and strange behavior.
Pick’s disease, also known as frontotemporal dementia (FTD), is a rare neurodegenerative disorder that affects the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. It is characterized by progressive changes in personality, behavior, and language. Here are the key features of Pick’s disease:
Explain the key characteristics of Huntington’s disease.
Autosomal dominant, atrophy of caudate nucleus, triad of dementia, personality changes, and chorea.
Describe the typical age of onset for Parkinsonism.
Above 50 years old.
Define the triad of symptoms in normal pressure hydrocephalus.
Dementia, urine incontinence, and gait ataxia.
Explain the characteristics of vascular dementia (multi-infarct dementia).
More common in males, younger onset than Alzheimer’s, patchy or stepwise course, associated with hypertension, and focal deficits.
Describe pseudodementia and its association with which condition.
Pseudodementia is associated with depression.
Define delirium and its key features.
An acute disturbance of consciousness with altered cognition, common in children and the elderly, reversible if underlying cause is treated.
Explain the common causes of delirium.
UTI, medications, surgery, medical problems, substance abuse, organ failure.
Describe the treatment approach for delirium.
Treat underlying causes, normalize fluids and electrolytes.
What are the common causes of agitation in hospitalized patients?
Delirium and alcohol withdrawal.
Explain the treatment for a violent patient in a hospital setting.
Antipsychotics (e.g., haloperidol) via IM injection, physical restraints if necessary.
Describe the clinical picture of acute stress disorder.
Includes experiencing traumatic events, flashbacks, dreams, avoidance of trauma-related stimuli, increased arousal, anxiety, sleep disturbances, survivor’s guilt, and depression.
What is the difference in duration between acute stress disorder and PTSD?
Acute stress disorder lasts within one month of trauma, while PTSD lasts more than one month.
