Psych Flashcards
What is the aim of the mental state exam?
To give a description that is so accurate that someone else is able to walk onto the ward and pick the patient you’ve described out.
This is a snapshot of a persons mental state at the TIME OF ASSESSMENT
What are the components of the mental state exam?
Appearance and Behaviour
Speech
Mood and Affect - subjective, objective, affect
Thoughts - Form, Content, Possession
Perceptions - illusions vs hallucinations
Cognition
Insight
Risk
Define mood
The sustained, subjective, experienced emotion over a period of time.
(the climate)
Define affect
Immediate expressions of emotions e.g. smiling at a joke
the weather
Define formal thought disorder
An impairment in the ability to form thoughts from logically connected ideas
What is thought form?
Are they able to form thoughts in a logical and linear pattern
What are some examples of thought form pathology?
Loosening of associations (derailment, tangentiality, word salad)
Circumstantiality
Flight of ideas
Neologism
Perseveration
What is loosening of associations?
A lack of connection between ideas
Examples -
Derailment
Tangential = conversation drifts without focus and never comes back to the point
Word salad = just saying random words (quite rare)
What is circumstantiality?
Conversation drifts and eventually comes back to the point
What is perseveration?
Repetition of a particular response in the absence/cessation of the stimulus
What is neologism?
Creation of new words
What are the components that make up thought stream?
Acceleration
Retardation
Blocking
What are examples of thought acceleration?
Pressure of speech = speak rapidly and with an unapparent urgency
Flight of Ideas = Abrupt leaps from one topic to another. Might have connections, might be puns or rhymes etc.
Define a delusion
A fixed, false belief which is firmly held despite evidence suggesting otherwise. The delusion goes against the normal social and cultural belief system of the individual.
How do primary and secondary delusions differ?
Primary = unconnected to previous events or ideas
Secondary = arise from and are understandable in the context of previous events or ideas
Describe a grandiose delusion
Feel they are ‘special’ / the best at something / really important/ a religious figure
Describe a persecutory delusion
Feel that others are conspiring against them to cause harm/ steal money/ destroy their reputation
Describe a delusion of reference
Feel that random events, objects or behaviours of other people have a special significance to themselves
Describe a delusion of guilt
Feel they have done something sinful or shameful
Describe a nihilistic delusion
Feel they are worthless/dying/decaying
Common in depression+ psychosis
What is Cotard’s syndrome?
Severe case of nihilism
Believe that everything is non-existent incl. themselves
Define thought interference
A person can experience thoughts that they don’t perceive to be their own and have been put there by an external element
Define thought withdrawal
A person can experience what they perceive to be the removal of their own thoughts
Define thought broadcast
A person can experience what they perceive to be their thoughts out loud
Define the passivity phenomenon
The perception that they (mood or actions) are being controlled by someone else
Define an illusion
A misinterpretation of an existing external stimulus
Define a hallucination
A perception in the absence of an external stimulus
Define depersonalisation
Feeling detached from normal sense of self
Define derealisation
Feeling of unreality in which the environment/people in it are experienced as unreal
Define psychosis
A mental state in which reality is greatly distorted
How does psychosis commonly present? (in very simple terms)
Hallucinations
Formal Thought Disorder
Delusions
Give 6 non-organic causes of psychosis
Schizophrenia
Acute Psychotic Episode
Mood Disorder + Psychosis
Drug-induced psychosis
Schizoaffective disorder
Delusional disorder
Give 6 organic causes of psychosis
Drug induced/iatrogenic medication
Delirium
Dementia
Endocrine disturbances - Cushing’s, Hyperthyroidism,
Metabolic disturbances - B12 deficiency
Neurosyphyllis
Which drugs can cause psychosis? (recreational and iatrogenic please)
Recreational - Cannabis, cocaine, alcohol [withdrawal], LSD
Iatrogenic - Steroids, dopamine agonists e.g. Methyldopa, anti-malarial
How could you differentiate non-organic causes of psychosis?
Look for other symptoms e.g….
Schizoaffective – presence of a mood disorder too. This psychosis is mood congruent!
Mood disorders + Psychosis – depression or mania symptoms also present
Puerperal – there will be a baby about (usually happens within first 2 weeks of birth)
Delusional disorder – single/set of delusions for >3 months. Usually persecutory, grandiose, hypochondriacal. No hallucinations or thought disorder
What are Schneider’s first rank symptoms of Schizophrenia? (5)
- Persecutory delusions
- 3rd Person Auditory Hallucinations
- Formal thought Disorder
- Passivity phenomenon
- Thought interference
What are the negative symptoms of schizophrenia? (6As)
Alogia
Apathy (blunted affect)
Anhedonia
Asocial behaviour
Avolition
(reduced motivation)
Attention
deficits
What are the hypothesised biological causes of Schizophrenia?
Dopamine hypothesis (overactivity of mesolimbic pathway - D2 receptors
Genetics (risk increases with FHx)
Obstetric complications, low birth weight
What are the environmental risk factors for the development of Schizophrenia?
Psychological stressors
Migrant status
Urban living
Substance misuse (esp cannabis)
Low socioeconomic status
What are 4 poor prognostic factors for Schizophrenia?
Strong FHx
Gradual onset/long prodromal phase
Lower IQ
No obvious precipitating factor
What are the bedside investigations when a patient presents with Psychosis and why?
Causative Factors = Urine drug test (rule out psychosis)
Factors affecting management = ECG (Antipsychotics can cause prolonged QT)
Weight/BMI - APs cause metabolic syndrome
What are the blood tests to investigate causative factors for psychosis?
TFTs (hyperthyroidism)
Serum Calcium (Hypocalcaemia)
B12 and Folate (deficiency can cause neuropsychiatric symptoms)
What are the blood tests that will aid management options in a patient presenting with psychosis?
FBC - baseline for anaemia or infection
HbA1c and Cholesterol = Atypical APs cause metabolic syndrome
U&E and LFT – check function before starting
What is the biological management of Schizophrenia/psychosis?
Atypical Antipsychotics e.g. Risperidone or Olanzapine. Clozapine for treatment resistant.
Adjuvant Benzodiazepines (agitation)
ECT – catatonia is an indication
What is the psychological management of Schizophrenia/psychosis?
CBT can reduce residual symptoms
Family intervention + psychoeducation
What is the social management of Schizophrenia/psychosis?
Support groups - Referral to Early Psychosis Team if first presentation
Support worker
What is the definition of an affective disorder?
Any condition characterized by distorted, excessive or inappropriate moods/emotions for a sustained amount of time
What is the definition of a depressive disorder?
An affective disorder characterized by persistent low mood, loss of pleasure and/or lack of energy ALONG WITH emotional, cognitive and biological symptoms
What are the 3 core symptoms of depression?
Anhedonia
Low energy
Low mood (for at least 2 weeks)
What are 5 biological symptoms of depression?
Diurnal Variation of Mood (mood worse in morning)
Early morning wakening (2 hours before normal and can’t get back to sleep)
Loss of libido
Loss of appetite +/- weight
Psychomotor retardation
What are 3 cognitive symptoms of depression?
Poor concentration/memory
Suicidal ideation
Negative thoughts (beck’s cognitive triad)
What is the criteria for a mild depression (ICD-10)?
2 core symptoms + 2 other symptoms
What is the criteria for a moderate depression (ICD-10)?
2 core symptoms + 3-4 other symptoms
What is the criteria for a severe depression (ICD-10)?
3 core symptoms + >4 other symptoms
What is the criteria for a severe depression + psychosis (ICD-10)?
3 core symptoms + >4 other symptoms + psychosis
What are the modifiable risk factors for depression? (5)
Poor coping
Stress
Low socioeconomic status
Unemployment
Substance misuse
What are the non-modifiable risk factors for depression? (4)
Female
Fix
Personality Type
Neurotransmitter imbalance
What are the bedside tests to do when investigating depression and why?
ECG - Sertraline can prolong QT
What are the blood tests to do when investigating depression and why?
TFTs (rule out hypothyroid)
Calcium (rule out hypocalcaemia)
FBC (rule out anaemia)
U&E, LFT (baseline)
What are 2 diagnostic questionnaires for depression?
PHQ-9
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)
What is the biopsychosocial management of MILD depression?
Bio - antidepressant not routinely offered
Psycho - Low intensity psychosocial intervention e.g. CBT. (Let’s talk Leicester)
Social - Support groups, physical exercise programme
What is the biopsychosocial management of MODERATE depression?
Bio - Antidepressant
Psycho - High intensity psychosocial intervention (see therapies)
Social - Support groups
What is the biopsychosocial management of SEVERE depression?
Bio - Try other ADs or an adjuvant e.g. Lithium. ECT (treatment resistant depression/ with psychosis)
Psycho – Assess risk
Psych referral if risk is high, depression is severe or recurrent or no response to treatment
What is the definition of Bipolar Affective Disorder?
A chronic, episodic mood disorder characterized by at least one period of elevated mood (mania) and a further episode of mania or depression (can also be hypomania).
What are the biological symptoms of mania?
Increased appetite
Reduced sleep (*)
What are the cognitive symptoms of mania?
Increased irritability
Delusions (grandiose usually)*
Flight of ideas*
Easily distracted*
Impaired insight
What are the behavioural symptoms of mania?
Disinhibition (*) - sexually, socially, spending
Elevated mood*
TALKATIVE/Pressure of speech*
Restless*
‘marked’ sexual energy
What are the non-modifiable risk factors for BPAD?
Fix
Age (~19)
BAME Ethnicity
Neurochemical imbalances (Monoamine hypothesis)
What are the modifiable risk factors for BPAD?
Substance misuse
Stressful live events
Postpartum
What is the diagnostic criteria for BPAD?
At least TWO episodes of significantly disturbed mood
One has to be MANIA or HYPOMANIA
What is the definition of hypomania?
Mildly elevated mood/irritable for more than 4 days
Symptoms are present but to a lesser extent
Interferes with NDAs but not severely
Might still have insight
How long do symptoms have to be present for to diagnose mania?
Over 1 week
What is bipolar 1?
Periods of SEVERE mood episodes
Can be mania or depression
What is bipolar 2?
Milder form so get hypomania that alternates with periods of severe depression
What is rapid cycling?
More than 4 mood swings in a 12 month period
No asymptomatic periods in between
What investigations should be done for a patient presenting with mania/depression/bpad?
Bed - Urine drug test – illicit drugs can mimic mania
Bloods:
Baselines: U&Es (for starting Lithium), LFTs (for starting mood stabilisers), FBC
Rule out other differentials: TFTs, Calcium, Glucose
What is the short term biological management of BPAD?
An antipsychotic.
Benzos can be used for sleep/agitation
ECT can be used if severe and unresponsive
What is the long term biological management of BPAD?
Lithium 4 weeks after resolution of an acute episode
Can consider Valproate or Olanzapine if no response
What is the psychological management of BPAD?
High intensity CBT (only depression)
Psychoeducation
Self-help – recognizing symptoms of relapse
What are 3 really important things to remember when managing BPAD?
Inform DVLA as cannot drive within 3 months of an acute manic episode
Don’t use antidepressants by themselves if presenting with severe depression as can make them swing the other way
Valproate absolutely contraindicated in women of child bearing age. Lithium can be monitored during pregnancy but contraindicated in breastfeeding
What is the CALMER mnemonic for managing BPAD?
C onsider hospitalisation (section)
A typical antipsychotic
L orazepam
M ood Stabiliser (Teratogenic)
E CT
R isk
What are SSRIs? What is their indication and method of action?
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor
Block 5HT3 reuptake into pre-synaptic neurone = increasing amount of serotonin in synaptic cleft
Depression, panic disorder, social phobia,, OCD, PTSD