Psych Flashcards
what are the 5 As of dementia?
aphasia amnesia apraxia agnosia associated
how long must symptoms be present for to diagnose dementia?
6 months, must have no change in consciousness and symptoms must impair ADLs
what is BPSD
behavioural psychological symptoms of dementia
what are the areas of cognition?
only the prettiest people can actually make love continuously Orientation to Time Person Place Concentration Attention Memory Language Construction
what are contraindications to acetylcholinesterase inhibitors?
bradycardia
peptic ulcers
COPD/ asthma
if no response to acetylcholinesterase inhibitors what could you try?
NMDA receptor agonist- memantine (not in epilepsy, parkinsons medication)
what are the 5 pathological findings in Alzheimer’s?
neurofibrillary tangles Tau proteins B amyloid plaques reduced levels of ACh cerebral atrophy
what genetic condition increases your risk of Alzheimer’s?
Down’s
which medications are protective for Alzheimer’s?
statins, NSAIDs (long term), HRT
what is echolalia?
repeats what you are saying
what is palilalia?
repeats own words
what is perseveration?
patient continues to answer the same question despite a new question being asked
what is confabulation?
patient invents things without noticing
what is concrete thinking?
focusing on the facts, and the here and now
which assessment can be used to assess the areas of cognition?
primary care- GPCOP, 6-CIT
secondary care- MOCA, ACE III
what can be used to assess frontal lobe function?
luria hand test, tap test
other than medication what else should be considered in Alzheimer’s?
referral to memory team for cognitive rehabilitation/ training
emotional support
carer support
treat co-morbid anxiety/ depression
occupational therapy
social care (financial support, daycare, sitting, respite care, dementia cafe etc)
why should antipsychotics be avoided in BPSD?
increased risk of stroke, antidepressants especially mirtazapine
what are the non-core symptoms of lewy body dementia?
sleep REM disorder (acting out dreams)
severe neuroleptic sensitivity
SPECT (DaT) scan changes
what are the 3 core features of LBD?
fluctuations in cognition
spontaneous motor features of parkinsons
visual hallucinations
what are the Ninds-Airden criteria?
diagnosis if vascular dementia- presence of dementia, presence of cerebrovascular disease and relationship between the 2 inferred by; onset of dementia within 3 months following the stroke, abrupt or stepwise progression
Life expectancy of Alzheimers/ LBD/ Vascular dementia?
Alzheimer’s 6-8 years
LBD 6 years
Vascular 3-5 years
what type of dementia has the earliest onset?
frontotemporal, 45-60
what are the main differences between dementia and delirium?
speed of onset, no change in consciousness in dementia
for how long should a patient have symptoms of dependence for a diagnosis?
12 months
what are the 6 diagnostic criteria for dependence?
cravings withdrawal symptoms tolerance impaired ability to control use neglect of pleasures/ other interests in favour of alcohol persistent use despite evidence of harm
other than the CAGE questionnaire what other tools can be used to assess alcohol dependence?
CIWA, AUDIT
what are the withdrawal symptoms of alcohol?
6-12 hours: “shakes”, retching, insomnia
12-24 hours: hallucinations- tactile/ auditory
24-48 hours: DT- Delirium, seizures, persecutory delusions, coarse tremor, autonomic disturbances, insomnia
3-4 days: exhaustion and patchy amnesia
what is Wernicke’s?
caused by low thiamine, delirium, ataxia, nystagmus, ophthalmoplegia
what is korsakoff’s?
untreated Wernicke’s: hallucinations, amnesia, confabulation
treatment in acute alcohol withdrawal
thamine (pabrinex), chlordiazepoxide 20mg QDS to prevent seizures, lorazepam if seizing, motivational interview, counselling
treatment in chronic alcohol withdrawal
disulfram (antabuse)
acamprosate- must be continued for 6 months, reduces cravings
AA, CBT
how does alcohol affect the brain?
GABA agonist, depressant
what is a delusion?
a false unshakeable belief
despite evidence to the contrary
not shared by others in the same culture
held with intense personal conviction
what is a hallucination?
a perceptual experience without a stimulus but believed to be real (if know not real ie “in mind’s eye then is a pseudohallucination)
give an example of 1st person auditory hallucination
thought echo
what is 2nd person auditory hallucination?
someone talking to you eg command
what are 3rd person hallucinations?
talking about you eg running commentary
what are hallucinations as you fall asleep called?
hypnagogic hallucinations
how long must symptoms be present for a diagnosis of schizophrenia?
> 1 month
what are Schneider’s 1st rank symptoms
thought echo thought insertion thought withdrawal thought broadcasting delusional perception delusions of control/ passivity (actions/ emotions/ somatic) 3rd person auditory hallucinations
what are positive symptoms of schizophrenia?
hallucinations
delusions
thought disorder
which part of the dopamine pathway is responsible for positive symptoms?
increased dopamine in mesolimbic
which part of the dopamine pathway is responsible for negative symptoms?
mesocortical (reduced dopamine)
which part of the dopamine pathway is responsible for EPSEs?
nigrostriatal pathway
which part of the dopamine pathway is responsible for hyperprolactinaemia?
tuberoinfundibular pathway
what are the negative symptoms of schizophrenia?
avolition (reduced motivation) anhedonia alogia (poverty of speech) asociality blunted affect
when can schizophrenia not be diagnosed?
if concurrent affective disorder (unless schizophrenia preceded this-> psychoaffective disorder)
during periods of intoxication/ withdrawal
not in presence of overt brain disease (eg epilepsy)
what are the medical treatments for schizophrenia?
antipshychotics
short term- hypnotics for sleep such as zopiclone, fluids/ TPN?
what non-medical treatments are there for schizophrenia?
educate- avoid alcohol, sleep deprivation, drugs CBT family therapy CRISIS team intervention first crisis plan for relapse supported employment drug counselling
poor prognosis factors for schizophrenia?
early age of onset male single drug use abnormal premorbid personality Family history delay in treatment
name some typical antipsychotics?
haloperidol
prochlorperazine
what are contraidications to typical antipsychotics?
elderly- increased risk of stroke
parkinsons
what do antipsychotics interact with?
QT prolonging drugs- SSRIs, quinines, macrolides
what are acute dystonic reactions?
Parkinsonian movements/ muscle spasms, treat with procyclisine
what is akithisia?
feeling of inner restlesness, treat with beta blockers
what is tardive dyskinesia?
pointless repetitive movements, may not stop on stopping antipsychotic. treat with procyclisine
what is neuroleptic malignant syndrome?
rare life-threatening response to antipsychotics. rigidity, confusion, autonomic dysregulation, pyrexia, increased risk in LBD
name some atypical antipsychotics?
quetiapine
olanzapine
risperidone
clozapine
which class of antipsychotics work better on negative symptoms?
atypical/ 2nd generation
What are some side effects of atypical antipsychotics?
if end in “-pine” metabolic SEs-> weight gain, DM, lipid changes
risperidone- hyperprolactinaemia-> breast symptoms and sexual dysfunction
all- prolonged QT
clozapine- agranulocytosis
which atypical antipsychotic is most effective?
clozapine, but reserved for resistant cases as can cause agranulocytosis