psych Flashcards
define mood disorder
disturbance of mood severe enough to impair ADLs, characterised by distorted excessive or inappropriate moods/emotions for a sustained period of time
define affect
transient flow of emotions in response to stimulus
define mood
sustained experienced emotional state over a period of time which can be described subjectively or objectively as dysthymic, euthymic or elated
how can primary mood disorders be classified?
unipolar - depressive disorder (mild, mod, severe, psychotic) or dysthymia
bipolar - bipolar affective disorder (1 or 2), cyclothymia
list causes of secondary mood disorder
physical - anaemia, hypothyroid, malignancy, cushings/addisons, MS, Parkinsonism
psych - schizophrenia, alcoholism, dementia, personality disorder
drug induced - interferon a, corticosteroids, digoxin, AED, b-blocker, antidepressant
define depressive disorder
mood disorder characterised by persistent low mood (2wks+), lack of energy and/or anhedonia accompanied by emotional cognitive and biological symptoms
what is the hypothesised pathophysiology underlying mood disorder?
monoamine hypothesis - depressive disorder caused by deficiency of monoamines (NA, dopamine, serotonin) - supported by use of anti-depressants which increase [monoamine] in the synaptic cleft and relieve sx
risk factors for depressive disorder?
FF, AA, PP, SS family history, female alcohol, adverse events past depression, physical comorbidity social support low, SES low
biological clinical features of depression
psychomotor retardation, EMW, diurnal variation in mood, low appetite and weightloss, loss of libido
cognitive sx of depression
suicidal ideation, poor concentration, guilt, Becks triad of negative thoughts about self/world/future
core sx depression
anhedonia, anergia, persistent low mood lasting for at least 2 weeks
How is severity of depressive disorder classified?
Mild - 2 core + 2 other sx
Moderate - 2 core + 3-4 other sx
Severe - 3 core + 4+ other sx
Depression with psychosis - presence of psychotic sx e.g. hallucinations and delusions
Ddx for depression
physical - anaemia, hypothyroidism
mood disorder - bipolar affective disorder (hx mania), schizoaffective disorder, dysthymia,
other psych - substance abuse, psychosis, anxiety, adjustment disorder, personality disorder
normal bereavement.
Ix for ?depression
PHQ9, HADS, Beck’s depression inventory
FBC, U+Es, LFTs, TFTs, calcium, glucose
atypical/?SOL = CT/MRI head
Mx of depression
Risk assess, consider psych referral if high risk suicide, severe depression, recurrent, or does not respond to rx
Mild-mod = computerised CBT + self help, support groups and exercise, only med if hx mod-sev depression/long lasting/failure of other mx.
Mod-severe = SSRI (e.g. citalopram), CBT + psychoeducation, social support group
How long should someone continue SSRI after resolution of depressive episode?
at least 6 months if first episode, 2 years if recurrence
ECT indications
treatment resistant depression/mania
psychosis features inc catatonia
rapid response required
severe depression which is life threatening
Contraindications to ECT
only absolute - raised ICP
MI <3m ago, major unstable fracture
cerebral aneurysm
stroke <1m ago, hx status epilepticus, severe anaesthetic risk
side effects of ECT
short term - cardiac arrhythmia, headache, nausea, short term memory impairment, muscle aches, status epilepticus
long term -anterograde and retrograde amnesia
define bipolar affective disorder
chronic episodic mood disorder characterised by at least 1 episode of hypo/mania and a further episode of mania/depression.
Risk factors for BPAD?
3As, 3Ss
Age early 20s, anxiety disorder, after depression
strong family hx, substance misuse, stressful life events. Also seems more common in BAME groups
Sx of mania
I DIG FASTER Irritability Distractibility/disinhibition Insight impaired/increased libido Grandiose delusions (psychotic sx) Flight of ideas Activity/appetite increased Sleep decreased Talkative (pressured speech) Energy increased/elated mood Recklessness
How does hypomania differ from mania?
Hypomania usually 3-4d, mania lasts 7d+
hypomania may still be able to function socially/work though they are elated, mania unable to function in everyday life
hypomania symptoms are generally less intense than mania, no psychosis
hypomania may retain partial insight, unlikely to require hospitalisation
What is the difference between Bipolar 1 and 2 disorder?
bipolar 1 depression and mania
bipolar 2 severe depression and hypomania
what is rapid cycling bipolar affective disorder?
at least 4 episodes of mania and depression in one year with no intervening asymptomatic periods. poor prognosis
How would you investigate ?BPAD
FBC, U&Es, LFTs, TFTs, Ca, HbA1c, glucose
urine drug test
CT head to r/o SOL if ?
Ddx for bipolar disorder
mood disorder - cyclothymia, hypomania, mixed episode
psychotic - schizophrenia, schizoaffective
medical - thyroid dysfunction, cushings, stroke, cerebral tumour. S/E corticosteroids, anti-depressants,
other psych - Illicit drug ingestion/withdrawal, histrionic/EUPD.
How would you manage BPAD
risk assess and hospitalise if risk to self/others, sig psychotic sx, impaired judgement, psychomotor agitation
Bio - acute antipsychotic (olanzapine, risperidone, quetiapine - or haloperidol), prophylaxis mood stabiliser (lithium first line); ECT if severe uncontrolled
Psych - CBT, psychoeducation
Social - support group, self-help group
Driving rules in mental health
Depression - problems with memory / concentration / agitation / behavioural disturbance or risk of suicide
Mania/psychosis - no during acute episode, well for 3/12 and on rx that does not cause S/E impairing driving
When would you start lithium in a first presentation mania?
4 weeks after resolution of acute episode/when they regain insight as want them to be on it long term, if they have insight when taking it more likely to be compliant, build up therapeutic levels so not suitable for acute mx
Baseline investigations before starting lithium
U+Es, TFTs, ECG and pregnancy test
S/E of lithium use within therapeutic window (and define that)
TW - 0.5-1mmol/l
polydipsia/polyuria, weight gain, oedema, fine tremor, hypothyroidism, impaired renal function, memory problems, teratogenic in pregnancy
sx of lithium toxicity and what level constitutes toxicity?
toxicity >1.5mmol, severe >2
coarse tremor, N+V, ataxia, muscle weakness, apathy, nystagmus, dysarthria, hyperreflexia, oliguria, hypotension, seizures, coma
how would you monitor someone on lithium therapy?
measure lithium levels 12h after first dose, then weekly until stable within therapeutic window for 4 weeks. Move to 3-monthly.
U+Es every 6months
TFTs every 12months
Schneiders first rank symptoms
Delusional perception
3rd person auditory hallucinations (usually running commentary)
Thought interference - withdrawal/broadcast/insertion
Passivity phenomenon
define delusions
fixed false belief held firmly despite evidence to the contrary, which goes against the individuals normal cultural/social belief system
define hallucination
perception in the absence of external stimuli, can be auditory/visual/olfactory/gustatory/somatic
what is thought disorder
impairment in the ability to form thoughts from logically connected ideas
How does circumstantiality differ to tangentiality
circumstantiality - provides excessive, unnecessary detail but eventually returns to the point
tangentiality - wanders from the topic when answering a question and does not return to the original point
ddx for psychosis
non-organic - schizophrenia (1m+), acute and transient episode psychosis (<1m), schizoaffective disorder, mood disorder with psychosis, delusional disorder, puerperal or post natal psychosis
organic - drug-induced psychosis, iatrogenic (steroids, levodopa/methyldopa, antimalarials), complex partial epilepsy, dementia, delirium, SLE, Huntington’s, syphilis, cushings, b12 deficiency
how does persistent delusional disorder present differently to schizophrenia?
PDD - a single/set of delusions for 3m+ is the only or most prominent sx of psychosis; other areas of thinking and functioning are well preserved, may appear well in superficial conversation until challenged on beliefs.
what is schizophrenia?
most common psychotic disorder, characterised by hallucinations delusions and formal thought disorder which lead to functional impairment, in the absence of underlying organic disease or drug/alcohol induced disorder and is not secondary to elevated/depressed mood
what is the underlying pathology of schizophrenia?
schizophrenia is secondary to the overactivity of mesolimbic dopamine pathways in the brain supported by use of D2 receptor antagonists to rx psychosis positive sx
match the dopamine pathways in the brain to the effect they are responsible for in relation to schizophrenia as hypothesised by the dopamine hypothesis
mesolimbic pathway hypothesised to cause positive sx, mesocortical pathway causes negative sx, nigrostriatial causes EPSEs and tardive dyskinesia, tuberoinfundibulnar pathway causes hyperprolactinaemia (which causes osteoporosis by suppressing oestrogen and testosterone)
Positive sx of schizophrenia
Delusions (inc ideas of reference), hallucinations, formal thought disorder (knights move thinking, tangentiality, word salad, neologism), thought interference, passivity phenomenon
Negative sx schizophrenia
6As Alogia Anhedonia Attention deficit Avolition Asocial behaviour Affect blunted
Ix ?schizophrenia
for causes - FBC (anaemia, infection), TFTs (either can cause psychosis), vit B12 and folate (deficiency), urine drug test
for baseline before rx - U+Es, LFTs, HbA1c, ECG
Mx schizophrenia
Bio - atypical antipsychotic, adjuvant - mood stabiliser/anti-depressant
Psych - CBT, psychoeducation, art rx/social skills training
Social - support groups Rethink and SANE, peer support worker, supported employment programme
In treating schizophrenia, your firstline antipsychotic doesn’t work, next step?
Consider compliance - what S/E is discouraging this and work around that, may ?need for depot
1st line - atypical
2nd line - a different atypical or a typical
3rd line - clozapine
define anxiety disorder
Anxiety = unpleasant emotional state characterised by subjective feat and somatic symptoms. Disorder when this becomes excessive or inappropriate and impacts functioning.
Most common anxiety disorders?
specific phobia > social phobia > GAD > agoraphobia > panic disorder > OCD
psychiatric sx of anxiety disorders
inappropriate/excessive worries or fears, commonly depressive sx, feeling of impending doom, increased startle response, restlessness, poor concentration and attention, irritability, depersonalisation and derealisation
physical sx of anxiety disorders
GI - ‘butterflies’, abdo pain, loose stools, nausea, dry mouth, dysphagia
resp - hyperventilation, cough, chest tightness
CVS - palpitations, chest pain
GUM - urinary frequency, ED, menstrual discomfort
neuromuscular - tremor, myalgia, headache, paraesthesia, tinnitus
How can anxiety disorders be classified?
Paroxysmal - situation dependent (phobic anxiety disorder - specific/social/agora) or independent (panic disorder)
Continuous - GAD
describe generalised anxiety disorder
persistent widespread worries about normal life events that is not triggered by a particular situation/object. patient recognises this as excessive or inappropriate. It is present most days for at least 6months
how do paroxysmal anxiety disorders tend to present (vs GAD)?
abrupt onset of severe anxiety with strong autonomic symptoms but usually short lived (typically 1hr) which may occur in response to specific threats
conditions associated with anxiety disorders
medical - any chronic condition (e.g. CCF, COPD), anaemia, hyperthyroidism, hypoglycaemia, cushings disease, phaeochromocytoma, cancer
substance related - intoxication (caffeine, alcohol, cannabis), withdrawal (caffeine, alcohol, Benzos) or side effects (steroids, thyroxine, adrenaline)
psych - ED, somatoform disorder, depression, schizophrenia, OCD, PTSD, adjustment disorder, anxious personality disorder
risk factors for GAD
female, family hx, personality type, living alone/divorced/single parent, stressful life events, unemployment, relationship problems, illness
clinical features specific to GAD
WATCHERS
Widespread + uncontrollable worry, excessive
Autonomic hyperactivity (sweating, mydriasis, tachycardia)
Tremor/tension in muscles
Concentration difficulty/chronic aches
Headache/hyperventilation
Energy loss
Restlessness
Startled easily/sleep disturbed (difficult getting to sleep, then intermittent waking + nightmares)
Ix ?anxiety disorder
FBC (infection, anaemia), TFT(hyper), glucose (hypo), ECG (arrhythmia/sinus tachycardia), GAD-2/7, Becks anxiety inventory
Mx GAD
Risk - suicide, depression, substance/alcohol misuse
Bio - 1yr+ of SSRI sertraline (antidepressant + anxiolytic); 2nd SNRI
Psych - psychoeducation, CBT and applied relaxation techniques
Social - self-help methods, support group, exercise
define phobia
intense and irrational fear of an object/place/person/situation that is recognised as excessive or unreasonable
define agoraphobia
fear of public spaces or fear of entering a public space from which immediate escape would be difficult in the event of a panic attack
define social phobia
fear of social situation which may lead to humiliation, criticism or embarrassment
clinical features which differentiate phobic anxiety disorders from GAD
specific situations
anticipatory anxiety
attempted avoidance
Mx phobic anxiety disorders
screen for substance abuse/depression/PD
agoraphobia - CBT graded exposure techniques + SSRI
social phobia - CBT with graduated exposure + SSRI/SNRI/MAOIs; psychodynamic psychotherapy
specific phobia - exposure through self help methods or more formally through CBT. May use Benzes in short term for exceptional circumstance e.g. CT + claustrophobic
what is a panic disorder?
recurrent, episodic and severe panic attacks which are unpredictable, not restricted to any particular situation or circumstance. symptoms usually peak within 10min rarely persist beyond 1hr
risk factors for panic disorders
family hx, major life events, age 20-30, recent trauma, female, other mental disorder, white, asthma, smoker, medication (e.g. benzo withdrawal)
sx of panic disorders
PANICS Disorder Palpitations Abdominal distress Numbness/nausea Intense fear of death Choking sensation/chest pain Sweating/SOB/shaking Depersonalisation/derealisation
how does the associated behaviour and cognitions differ in GAD, panic disorder and phobic anxiety disorder?
GAD = irritable, constant worry panic = escape, fear of sx phobic = avoid, fear of situation
Mx of panic disorder
SSRIs (no improvement after 12wk consider TCA)
CBT
bibliotherapy, support group, encourage exercise
what is PTSD
intense prolonged delayed reaction following exposure to an exceptionally traumatic event
what is abnormal bereavement
loss overwhelms coping capacity in a grief reaction that has delayed onset, is prolonged (6m) and more intense
risk factors for PTSD
exposure to major traumatic event, perceived threat to life
hx mental illness/trauma/childhood abuse
female
low SES, life stressors, poor social support
Clinical features of PTSD
within 6months of event -
RELIVING - persistent intrusive and involuntary flashbacks / nightmares / vivid memories when reminded of the traumatic event
AVOIDANCE - avoid reminders of trauma (assoc people locations), ruminating, unable to recall aspects of it
HYPERAROUSAL - exaggerated startle response, irritability/outbursts, difficulty concentrating/sleeping, hypervigilance
EMOTIONAL NUMBING - feeling of detachment, difficulty experiencing emotion, negative thoughts about self, giving up previously enjoyed activities
mx PTSD
RISK ASSESS
within 3/12 trauma + sx - trauma focused CBT, rx sleep disturbance. if mild sx <3/12 - could watchful waiting
3/12 after trauma + sx - CBT with eye movement desensitisation + reprocessing, ± mirtazapine/paroxetine (amitriptyline or phenelzine) if comorbid depression/severe arousal/little benefit from CBT
what is OCD
syndrome characterised by recurrent obsessional thoughts ± compulsive acts which are present most days for at least 2 weeks.
what are obsessions in the context of OCD?
recurrent, intrusive and distressing thoughts/mental images/urges that are egodystonic and recognised by the patient as a product of their own mind.
what are compulsions in the context of OCD?
repetitive and stereotyped behaviours/mental acts which may be overt or covert that the patient feels driven to perform to neutralise anxiety provoked by the obsession.
clinical features of OCD
O - most commonly contamination, C - checking/cleaning/washing. O + C must share all the following features (FORD Car)
Failure to resist
Origin of own mind
Repetitive
Distressing
Carrying out the obsessive thought or compulsive act is not in itself pleasurable but reduces anxiety
Ddx ?OCD
epilepsy, head injury, dementia
ED/anankastic PD/body dysmorphic disorder
Mainly O - anxiety/depression/hypochondria/schizophrenia
Mainly Cs - Tourettes/kleptomania