Psych Generaly Flashcards
What is Epilepsy
Brain disorder that causes recurring seizures.
Caused by shift between inhibitory GABA and excitatory glutamate, favouring glutamate.
Diagnosed after 2 seizures in a 24hour period
Conduct a suicide risk assessment on 50 yo man after suicide attempt by analgesic overdose (10)
Sex: male scores 1
Age - <19 (1pt). 19-45 (0 points), >45 (1 pt)
Depression/hopelessness: score 2 if present
Previous suicide attempt/psychiatric care (1 or 0)
Excessive etoh or drug use (1 or 0)
Rational thinking loss (2 or 0)
Separated/divorced/widowed (1 or 0)
Organised/serious attempt (2 or 0)
No social support (1 or 0)
Stated future intent (i.e. determined to repeat) (2 or 0)
Discuss the management of a pt who has attempted suicide (8)
Assess suicide risk
Need to hosp?
Treat MI
Refer to relevant HCW/professional
Liaise with relevant
Form contract w patient
Provide emergency contacts
Regular follow up
Drug treatment for someone with schizophrenia
Chlorpromazine (typical antipsychotics) and haloperidol
KZN protocol says typical antipsychotics:
chlorpromazine (200mg -600mg, max 900mg daily)and haloperidol (0.5-10mg, max 300mg daily)
[Where chlorpromazine = less EPSEs, but greater sedation, postural hypotension, antichol SEs, seizure induction, tachycardia, hepatotox, skin photosensitivity - so use in patients without medical comorbid who require sedation; haloperidol for patients with med comorbid even if they require sedation (rather “disruptive and alive”
What is mental illness as per “DSM5”
A syndrome characterized by clinically significant disturbance in an individual’s cognition, emotional regulation, or behaviour that reflects dysfunction in the psychological, biological, or developmental processes underlying neural functioning
•Usually associated with
•Significant distress or disability
•NOT an expectable or culturally approved response to a common stressor or loss
•NOT socially deviant behaviour (eg. political, religious, sexual) or conflicts between the individual and society unless this is a result of a dysfunction in the individual as described above
