Psychiatry Flashcards
Define Psychosis
Acute condition where people lose contact with reality which usually includes hallucinations and delusions
Give 3 examples of pscyhoses
- Affective psychoses –> depression, bipolar
- Transient psychotic disorders –> substance misuse or withdrawal
- Due to medical disorder –> brain tumour, PD, HD, HIV/AIDS, syphilis, encephalitis
- Schizophrenia life non affective disorders –> brief psychotic disordered, delusional disorder
Give 2 positive symptoms of psychosis
- Hallucinations
- Delusions
- Thought disorder
Give 3 negative symptoms fo psychosis
- Flattened affect
- Cognitive difficulties
- Poor motivation
- Social withdrawal
- Poverty of speech
Define schizophrenia
A severe mental disorder, characterises by profound disruptions in thinking, affecting language, perception and sense of self
A type of psychosis
Briefly describe the pathophysiology of schizophrenia
Neurochemical abnormalities = excessive dopamine production
- Overactivity of neurones = mesolimibic –> hallucination/disorders (+ve Sx)
- Underactivity of neurones = mesocortical –> blunted, anhedonia, apathy (-ve Sx)
When is the onset of schizophrenia most typical?
2nd or 3rd decade
- Mostly men in adolescence
- Mostly omen in middle age
Name 3 subtypes of schizophrenia and briefly describe each
- Paranoid = most common –> paranoid delusions and auditory hallucinations
- Hebephrenic = adolescents/young adults –> mood changes, unpredictable behaviours, shallow affect, fragmentary hallucinations, outlook poor as -ve Sx rapid
- Simple = similar to hebephrenic but characterises by -ve Sx NEVER +ve Sx
- Catatonic = psychomotor features (posturing, rigidity, stupor)
- Undifferentiated = mixed Sx
- Residual = -ve Sx when +ve Sx have ‘burnt out’
What are the first rank symptoms of schizophrenia?
- Delusional perception
- 3rd person auditory hallucinations
- Thought disorder/alienation –> insertion, blocking, echo, withdrawal
- Passivity phenomena = being controlled by external energy/force
What are the second rank symptoms of schizophrenia?
- Delusions
- 2nd person auditory hallucinations
- Catatonic behaviour
- Negative symptoms
How is schizophrenia diagnosed?
ICD 10
At least 1 first rank symptom and 2 2nd rank symptoms present for over 1 month AND no other cause for psychosis (RULE OUT)
What is the non pharmacological management of schizophrenia ?
CBT
Working with families
Addressing housing, social care etc
What is the pharmacological treatment for Schizophrenia?
- 1st Line = Oral atypical (2nd gen) antipsychotics = 5HT2A and D2 agonists –> Aripiprazole, olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone
- 2nd line = Oral typical (1st get) antipsychotics = dopamine agonists –> haloperidol, chlorpromazine
- 3rd line = Clozapine (atypical antipsychotic)
What is the main side effect of olanzipine?
Weight gain –> 13.9kg in 1 year
What is a potential side effect of clozapine
Agranulocytosis –> FBC monitored regularly (neutrophil levels)
Give 3 possible side effects of antipsychotics
- QTc prolongation –> ECG
- DM/insulin resistance
- Anticholinergic SE = urinary mention, blurred vision, weight gina, hyper salivation, constipation
Give 4 extrapyramdial side effects of antipsychotics
- Acute dystonia = involuntary repetitive movements, neck, blinking, jaw –> treat with procyclidine
- Parkinsonism
- Akathisia = restlessness –> treat with propranolol and BDZs
- Tardive dyskinesia = slow movements, lip-smacking, sudden, involuntary, irreversible
EPSE more common in TYPICAL antipsychotics
What is schizoaffective disorder?
Patients experience both schizophrenia and a mood disorder (affective) at the same time (within days) with the same intensity without a medical disorder or substance misuse cause
What is Neuroleptic malignant Syndrome?
Life threatening reaction in response to neuroleptic or antipsychotic (haloperidol, chlorpromazine) medications
Give 3 clinical features of neuroleptic malignant syndrome
- Slower onset (Days to weeks)
- Fever
- Autonomic instability
- Muscle rigidity = lead pipe
- Tremor
- Seizures, coma
What would you see on investigations in someone with neuroleptic malignant syndrome?
- Raised CK
- Leucocytosis
- Metabolic acidosis
- Prolonged QT
What is the management of neuroleptic malignant syndrome?
- IV hydration
- Benzodiazepines (diazepam)
- Bromocriptine = dopamine agonist
- Dantrolene = muscle relaxants
What are affective disorders?
Illnesses which affect the way you feel and think
Most common = depression, bipolar
What are the 3 core symptoms of depression?
- Low mood
- Anhedonia = loss of enjoyment
- Anergia = low energy
Give 5 other symptoms of depression
- Sleep disturbance
- Changes in appetite
- Reduced libido
- Reduced concentration
- Negative perception self
- Diurnal variation of mood
- Feelings of guilt and worthlessness
- Psychomotor agitation/retardation
What investigations would you do for someone with suspected depression?
TFTs --> hypothyroid FBC --> anaemia Urine drug screen --> substance misuse Medication review HAD scale or PHQ-9
What is needed for a diagnosis of Depression?
2 core symptoms everyday for >2 weeks
- MILD = 2 core + 2 others
- MODERATE = 2 core + 3 others
- SEVERE = 3 core + 4 others
What are the non-pharmacological treatment of depression?
- Self help groups
- Guided sleep help
- CBT –> computerised, individualised
- Psychotherapy
- Lifestyle medications = sleep hygiene, manage anxiety, physical activity
What is the medical treatment for depression and give examples of the medications?
1st line = SSRI (sertraline for >18s, fluoxetine for <18s, citalopram, paroxetine) 2nd line = alternative SSRI 3rd line = NaSSA (mirtazipine) OR SNRI (venlafaxine, duloxetine) 4th line = TCA (amitriptyline, clomipramine) 5th line (resistant depression) = MAO-I (moclobemide, rasagiline, selegiline) Lithium, atypical antipsychotic, ECT = very severe depression
Give 2 side effects of SSRIs
- Headache
- nausea
- Insomnia
Citalopram = QT prolognation
Give 2 side effects of NaSSA
- Sedative
- Weight gain
- Can be useful in those who have lost weight due to depression or those with eating disorder
Give 2 side effects of SNRIs
- Cardiovascular effects
- Nausea
- Constipation
- Loss of appetite
- Loss of libido
Give 3 side effects of TCAs
- Anticholinergic effect = dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, drowsy
- Adrenergic = postural hypotension
- Decreased libio
- Weight gain
- CI in heart failure due to arrhythmia risk
Give 2 side effects of MAO-Is
- Weight gain
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
- Postural hypotension
- Risk of Hypertensive crisis
What should you avoid when on an MAO-I?
Tyramine containing foods –> cheese, alcohol, avocado, pickles, cured meats
What is serotonin syndrome?
Toxic serotonin poisoning, abrupt onset
Give 2 causes of serotonin syndrome?
- SSRIs
- MAO-Is
- Ecstasy
How does serotonin syndrome present?
CAN
- Cognitive changes = agitation, confusion, hallucinations
- Autonomic dysfunction = tachycardia, HTN, fever, diaphoresis, diarrhoea
- Neuromuscular abnormalities = myoclonus, tremors, hyperreflexia
What is the management of serotonin syndrome?
Benzodiazepines
Cyproheptadine = 5H2-a antagonist
Give 2 differences between serotonin syndrome and neuroleptic malignant syndrome
Serotonin = increased activity + acute onset
Neuroleptic = Reduced activity + insidious onset (4-11 days)
Similar signs = metabolic acidosis, CK, WCC, LFT
Define Bipolar Disorder
Chronic mental health disorder characterised by periods of mania and hypomania along with period of depression
How is Bipolar Disorder classified?
Type 1 = mania and depression
Type 2 = Hypomania and depression
Cyclothymia = subclinical depression and hypomania (doesn’t meet BPD criteria)
Give 3 causes/risk factors of BBipolar Disorder
- Postpartum female
- Substance misuse
- Chronic illness
- Past trauma/mental health problems
- Genetic
How does Mania present?
> 1 week
- Uncontrollable elation
- Overactivity
- Pressur elf speech
- Impaired judgement –> spending lots of money
- Risk taking
- Social disinhibition
- Grandiosity
- Psychotic symptoms
How does hypomania present?
> 4 days
- Elevated mood –> angry, irritable usually
- Increased energy/talking
- Poor concentration
- Mild reckless behaviour
- Overfamiliarity
- Increased libido and confidence
- Decreased need for sleep and eating
What is need for a diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder?
History of 2 mood disorders, at least 1 hypomania (>4days) or mania (>7 days)
What is the treatment for Bipolar Disorder?
Long term - mood stabilisers
- Lithium (1st line), sodium valproate, lamotrigine
Antipsychotics or BDZs short term
Management of depression –> talking therapies, fluoxetine is antidepressant of choice
Psychoeducation, promoting social functioning
What are the 5 main anxiety disorders?
- Generalised anxiety (GAD)
- Panic disorder
- Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Phobic disorder
What is GAD?
Anxiety not specific to environmental circumstance –> excessive worry about everyday events/problems
Give 4 risk factors for GAD
- Alcohol
- Benzodiazepines
- Stimulants (withdrawal)
- Co-existing depression
- FHx
- Child abuse
- Neglect
- Excessive pushy parents
- Life stresses
- Physical health problems
What are the clinical features of GAD?
- Restless/on edge
- Unpleasant/fearful emotional state
- Slepe disturbance
- Somatic –> tension, hyperventilation, trembling, headaches, sweating, palpitations, nausea
- Avoidance or dependence behaviours
What are the diagnostic features of GAD?
- Anxiety is heard to control
- Excessive anxiety more days than not over last 6 months (90 days at least)
- Adults 3 or more clinical features, children 1 or more
- Impairment in daily life
- No medication or drug abuse
What investigations and assessment are done for GAD?
Rule out physical illness –. TFTs, B12/folate, medication, alcohol/benzo use
Tools = GAD7 and PHQ
What is the non-pharmacological treatment for GAD?
Exercise
Relaxation training
Meditation
CBT
What is the pharmacological management of GAD?
1st line = SSRI
2nd/3rd line = SNRI (venlafaxine), pregabalin, TCA
Benzodiazepines = short term
BB for symptomatic control
What is Panic disorder?
Period of intense fear characterised by a group fo symptoms that develop readily, reach their peak at 10 mins and generally don’t last longer than 20-30 minutes
Can occur unpredictably and not in response to a stimulus