Psych Flashcards
What is Panic Disorder?
Presentation: Recurrent and unexpected panic attacks w/ >=4 of the following: chest pain, palpitations, SOB, choking; trembling, sweating, nausea, chills; dizziness, paresthesias; derealization, depersonalization; fear of losing control or dying
Worrying about additional attacks, avoidance behavior
Tx: 1st line/maintenance: SSRI/SNRI or CBT
Acute distress: benzodiazepines
Pt frequently develop agoraphobia, which is anxiety + avoidance >= 2 situations in which it may be difficult to escape or get help in event of panic attack.
Panic + agoraphobia - CBT + SSRI = 1st line treatment
What is the assoc. b/n psych drugs and Parkinson’s?
Dopamine precursors (eg levodopa) and dopamine agonists (eg pramipexole) are assoc. w/ psychosis Tx: dose reduction for carbidopa-levodopa
Schizophrenia
Assoc. w/ lateral ventricular enlargement,
decreased volume of the hippocampus and amygdala
What is acute intemittent porphyria?
A hereditary disorder involving alteration in heme biosynthesis
Presentation: abdominal pain + new-onset neuropysch sxs
Dx: urinary porphobilinogen
What drugs can increase Li concentration?
ACE-i, tetracyclines, metronidazole, NSAIDs, thiazide diuretics.
What is reactive attachment disorder?
Characterized by a pattern of emotional and social withdrawal as well as a lack of positive repsonse to attempts to comfort.
May develop in young children who are abused, neglected, or institutionalized
What is venlafaxine?
An SNRI assoc. w/ dose-dependent hypertension. At high doses, it inhibits NE with effect of increasing systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
What is first line maintenance treatment for bipolar disorder?
Li, valproate, quetiapine, and lamotrigine.
Li reduces risk of suicide.
Li contraindicated w/ renal insufficiency.
Valproate contraindicated w/ liver dysfunction/ is hepatotoxic.
Severe illness: Li or Val + 2nd generation antipsychotic (quetiapine)
Antidepressant monotherapy should be avoided in maintenance treatment of bipolar 1 disorder due to risk of mood destabilization (eg induction of mania or a mixed state)
If antidepressant is used to treat an acute depessive episode, it should be slowly tapered and discontinued during maintenance treatment.
What is the tx for PCP intoxication?
Benzos; diazepam, lorazepam (parenteral formulation)
Haloperidol is 2nd line, contraindicated in seizure disorders
Propofol is 3rd line
Bulimia nervosa and electrolyte abnormalities.
Due to vomiting: metabolic alkalosis w/ hypokalemia (due to renal losses of K in setting of alkalosis) and hypochloremia.
Hypokalemia in otherwise healthy young adult is concerning for covert BN.
Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome.
Abrupt discontinuation or rapid taper of short 1/2life SSRIs results in psychological and physical symptoms of antidepressant discontinuation syndrome.
Tx: restarting the medication followed by gradual taper
What is buspirone?
An anxiolytic used to treat generalized anxiety disorder.
Not effect in mgmt of acute anxiety, not used to treat panic disorder
What is the pathophysiology of tardive dyskinesia?
Gradual in onset
Dopamine D2 upregulation and supersensitivty resulting from chronic blockade of dopamine receptors.
Tx: reduce antipsychotic dose; use valbenazine or deutetrabenazine (reversible inhibitors of VMAT2); switch to quetipaine or clozapine (clozapine good for pts w/ hx of poor response to multiple antipsychotics)
What is sedative hynotic overdose?
Benzo overdose: AMS, ataxia, slurred speech; arousable and have normal vital signs
Benzos + alcohol overdose: bradycardia, hypotension, respiratory depression, hyporeflexia
What is electroconvulsive therapy?
First-line; used to treat major depressive disorder w/ psychotic features in depressed elderly pts who are unable to eat + drink, are psychotic, or actively suicidal
Achieves a rapid response: induces 30-60s generalized tonic clonic seizure
Non-emergent tx for MDD w/ psychotic features: antidepressant + antipsychotic
Antidepressants typically take 6-8w for response and must be combined w/ an antipsychotic med to effectively treat MD w/ psychotic features.
What is methamphetamine use disorder?
Presentation: aggressive behavior, paranoid delusions, auditory, visual and tactile hallucinations (bugs crawling under skin); marked wt loss, severe tooth decay (“meth mouht”), and excoriations due to skin picking
What is cocaine withdrawal?
Follows uprupt sensation (“crash”)
Can cause acute depression w/ suicidal ideation
Presentation: depression, fatigue, hypersomnia, increased dreaming, hyperphagia, impaired concentration, intense drug craving
Treatment for alcohol withdrawal.
In pts w/ liver disease: Lorazepam, Oxazepam, and Temazepam (LOT) due to shorter 1/2Lives and lack of active hepatic metabolites.
Lorazepam can be given IM
Chloridazepoxide + Diazepam have long 1/2Lives and active metabolites that risk buildup and toxicity in pts w/ liver dysfunction.
Dementia w/ lewy body treatment.
Pts are extremelly sensitive to antipyschotics
Use of risperidone assoc. w/ worsening confusion, parkinsonism (rigidity), and autonomic dysfunction
Preferred: low potency SGA (quetiapine)
FGA (haloperidol) should be avoided entirely
Cabidopa/Levodopa
May produce orthostatic hypotension and confusion.
Akathisia.
Should be consdered if pt’s psychosis worsens clinically when antipsychotic dosage is increased.
Tx: antipsychotic dosage reduction, propranolol (1st line), benztropine, or a benzodiazepine
Cough medication + hallucinations.
Antihistamines (diphenhydramine, doxylamine): confusion + hallucinations
Phenylephrine: agitation, psychosis
Dextromethorphan (NMDA antagonist): dissociative sxs + hallucinations
ADHD treatment.
Stimulants (methylphenidate, amphetamines) are first line.
Non-stimulants (atomoxetine, NE reuptake inhibitor) - family preference for nonstimulant or in pts w/ substance use disorders; clonidine, guanfacine (alpha 2 adrenergic agonists) - following adverse effects or lack of response from stimulants or atomoxetine
MDMA (ecstasy)
A synthethic amphetamine w/ mild hallucinogenic properties; causes an increase in synpatic NE, D, and SE; neurotoxicity may develop w/ long-term use
Increases sociabilty, empathy, sexual desire
Intoxication:
-amphetamine toxicity: HTN, tachycardia, hyperthermia
-SE toxicity: SE syndrome (autonomic dysregulation, high fever, AMA, neuromuscular irritability, seizures) + hyponatremia (due to drug-induced inappropriate ADH secreation as well as excessive water intake to reduce hyperthermia)
Bath salts.
Amphetamine analog that can also cause SE syndrome.
However, they are more likely to cause AGITATION, COMBATIVENESS, and acute PSYCHOSIS and are less likely to be assoc. w/ hyponatremia.
Not detectable on routine tox screens
Benztropine.
Can atreat drug-induced parkinsonism (eg gradual onset tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia) and acute dystonia )muscle spasms/stiffness, torticollis, opisthotonus, oculogyric crisis).
Not shown to improve abnormal movements of TD (anticholinergics may worsen them.)
Diphenhydramine.
An antihistamine w/ strong anticholinergic properties can also be used to treat dystonias (sudden in onset, muscle spams or stiffness in the head and neck).
Not shown to improve abnormal movements of TD (anticholinergics may worsen them.)
Benztropine can be used as well (anticholinergic)
Lorazepam + Delirium.
Lorazepam + other benzos may be used to treat agitation in young pts.
They are typically contraindicated in older pts, who are at increased risk for adverse events (eg withdrawl, dependence, motor impairment), may experience worsening agitation (paradoxic effect), and tend to metabolize benzos slowly, making their effects very long-lasting.
Imaginary friends.
Having an imaginary friend is most common in children age 3-6, but can be seen throughout school-age years.
What are the side effects of SSRIs?
Early: headache, nausea, insomnia
Long-term: sexual dysfunction, weight gain
What is delayed sleep-wake phase disorder?
A circadium rhythm disorder characterized by the inability to fall asleep at traditional bedtimes, resulting in sleep-onset insomnia and excessive daytime sleepiness.
Commonly described as “night owls” and have chronic problems going to sleep at a conventional time (typically, prior to midnight)
Pts sleep normally if allowed to follow their internal rhythm and sleep until late morning.
What is advanced sleep-wake phase disorder?
A circadian rhythm disorder characterized by the inability to stay awake in the evening (usually after 7pm) and by early morning insomnia.
What is shift work disorder?
Involves a recurrent pattern of sleep interruption due to shift work, causing difficulty in initiating and maintaing sleep and producing daytime sleepiness.
Due to a work schedule that is incongruent w/ a normal circadian clock (a pt w/ a normal circadian rhythm who is required to work the night shift).
Antidepressant treatment timeline.
To decrease risk of depressive relapse continue antidepressant treatment at the same dose remission was achieved for an additional 6mo in pts w/ single-episode, unipolar major depression. If complete remission is maintained at the end of continuation phase, the antidepressant can be gradually tapered and discontinued.
Maintenance phase treatment: continuing antidepressant medication past initial continuation phase tx; maintenance for 1-3y is approp. for pts w/ a high risk of recurrence.
Pts w/ a hx of highly recurrent MDD, chronic episodes, strong fhx, or severe episodes (suicide attempt) should continue maintainence tx indefinitely.
Mgmt of acute agitation.
Benzo (IM) and/or an antipsychotic agent (FGA or SGA)
Lorazepam is often used due to its rapid onset of action and IM formation.
Depression in adolescents.
Depressed adolescents may be irritable rather than sad.
If a pt displays irritability along w/ social w/drawal and academic decline, major depression should be considered.
Tx: pyschotherapy; severe cases - antidepressants (fluoxetine)
Depression in older adults.
Initially present with focus on somatic complaints than on subjective changes in mood and interest.
Autism spectrum disorder.
Speech delay, social isolation, repetitive stereotypical movements (head banging) fixed interest in objects
Lack of interest in shared social play and impaired joint attention (eg lack of pointing or bringing objects to others) are characterisitic
Odd repetitive behaviors, rigid adherenece to routines
Can occur w/ and w/o language and intellectual impairment
Language deficits range from complete lack of speech to language delalys and odd, stilted speech
Language delay w/o attempt to compensate through nonverbal means of communication is characteristic
Preference for solitary play, lack of eye contact, poor response to name when called
Oppositional definant disorder.
Presents w/ irritable or angry mood, argumentativeness or deliberatly annoying behavior, and vindictiveness toward authority figures.
Temperamental, hostile, and defiantly break rules.
Conduct disorder.
Rights of others or societal norms are purposefully violated (aggression, stealing, destroying property, assaulting others)
Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder.
Temper outburts that are out of proportion to the stimulus and inconsistent w/ developmental age.
Sxs manifest prior to age 10.
What is stranger anxiety?
Normal part of early child developement, starts at 6mo peaks at 8-9mo, generally resolves by 2 years
Children cry when an unfamilar person approaches even in presene of mother
What is separation anxiety?
Part of normal development, resolves when child develops object permanence typically age 18-24mo
What is adjustment disorder?
Emtional or behavior sxs (anxiety,d epression, disturbance of conduct) developing w/in 3 mo of an identifiable stressor and lasting no longer than 6mo once the stressor ceases.
Sxs are distressing and impairing but do not meet criteria for another mental disorder.
What is generalized anxiety disorder?
Characterized by excessive, uncontrollable worry about MULTIPLE issues (eg school, family, finances, health) for >=6mo.
Typically worry about minor matters and have a chronic course.
Insomnia, fatigue, physical symptoms related to muscular tension (headaches, neck, shoulder, and back pain)
Other physical manifestation: trembling, sweating, GI sxs
What is cocaine use disorder?
Mood swings, erratic behavior due to sympathetic NS stimulation (tachycardia, pupil dilation, diaphoresis, tremors)
Anxiety, irritability, mood swings, panic attacks, grandiosity, impaired judgement, psych sxs (paranoia, hallucinations) that resemble an acute manic episode
Paranoid and grandiose delusions and auditory, visual, or tactile hallucination may occur.
Increased energy, wt loss, erythema of the nasal mucosa (in those who snort cocaine)
Withdrawal: depression and lethargy
SGAs
Serotonin 2A and dopamine D2 antagonists.
Added SE receptor binding of SGAs reduces likelihood of extrapyramidal side effects.
Mirtazapine
Preferred for depressed patient with poor sleep and appetite
First line depressant medication whose side effects include stimulation of appetite, wt gain, and somnolence
Bipolar I disorder treatment.
Highly recurrent illness that requires long-term maintenance tx to decrease risk of recurrent mood episodes.
Clinically effective medication should be continued unless signifiant side effects or contraindications prohibit use.
Bupropion
First line treatment for adult MDD and less potential to cause weight gain.
Lacks evidence in pediatric depression and is not 1st line in this age group.