Psych - Intro to Psych Flashcards
What is emotional lability?
Sudden, exaggerated changes in mood e.g. switching from laughing to crying suddenly
What is dense hemiparesis?
Inability to move your limbs on one side of your body
What is an adjustment reaction?
State of subjective distress or emotional disturbance to a point that it interferes with your social and daily functioning, usually in the presence of a life changing event or stressful event.
What is organic delusional disorder?
A disorder in which persistent or recurrent delusions dominate the clinical picture, sometimes accompanied by hallucinations
Why may organic delusional disorder be associated with schizophrenia?
It may have features suggestive of SCZ such as thought disorder or bizarre hallucinations
What are the 2 main features of post-stroke psychosis?
Hallucinations
Delusions
Strokes of which hemisphere are affected more in PSP?
Right hemisphere more than left hemisphere (5:1)
What are the main delusional themes in PSP?
Persecutory
Environmental
Jealousy
How do we treat PSP?
Treatment unknown
How may physical illness lead to mental illness?
- Disability can cause a fall in quality of life
- Steroids and other medications can cause side effects
- Certain physical illnesses may have a direct impact on mental health such as a stroke
How may mental illness lead to physical illness?
- Certain medications such as anti-psychotics can cause cardiovascular effects.
- Poor lifestyle choices in the context of mental health problems can lead to poor physical health otucomes
- Disengagement with healthcare services due to stigma
- Smoking, alcohol, drugs
- Diet and exercise (lifestyle again)
What physical disorders can lead to mental health disorder? (7)
Diabetes MSK disorders CVD Hypothyroidism Cushing's Cancer Parkinsons
COPD
Thyrotoxicosis
Infection (syphilis/HIV)
What is the disparity in life expectancy between those with chronic mental illness and the general population?
Those with chronic mental illness on average die 20 years before general population
What factors may affect the timely diagnosis of physical disorders in people with mental illness?
Illness behaviour
Lack of Resources
Stigma
Disease overshadowing
What is delirium defined as?
Organic cerebral syndrome characterised by concurrent disturbances of attention, perception, thinking, memory, psychomotor behaviour, emotion and the sleep-wake schedule.
In other words, it is the psychiatric manifestation of physical illness
What is the prevalence of delirium?
40% of over 65s on a ward will have delirium, but 50% of delirium is undetected - but it is associated with a high mortality
What are the 2 types of delirium?
Hypoactive and hyperactive
What are the causes of delirium?
Infection Change in environment Medication Alcohol withdrawal Surgery Pain Liver/renal impairment Hypoxia Hyponatraemia Stroke Encephalitis Constipation Urine retention Dehydration
What are the risk factors for delirium?
Old age Dementia Impaired ADLs/ immobility Sensory impairment Urinary catheterisation Malnutrition Alcohol Depression
How do we manage delirium?
Modify risk factors - early detection is key
Treat the underlying cause of delirium - unfortunately you never return to the same cognitive baseline
What is stigma?
The challenges faces by people with mental illness related to the knowledge, attitudes and behaviours f people they meet
What does stigma lead to?
Discrimination
What is the prevalence of stigma?
75% of people with mental illness have experienced stigma
What are the types of stigma?
Intrapersonal
Interpersonal
Structural
Examples of intrapersonal stigma
You create your own internalised stigma e.g. you don’t engage in health services
Examples of interpersonal stigma
Family, friends and colleagues treating you differently
Examples of structural stigma
NHS underfunding mental health/making mental health resources harder to access
