Psychiatry Flashcards
Acute stress reaction vs PTSD
Acute stress reaction within 4 weeks of traumatic event
PTSD >4 weeks since traumatic event
Features of Acute stress reaction/ PTSD
Intrusive thoughts Dissociation Negative mood Avoidance Arousal
Diagnosis of ASR/ PTSD
Clinical diagnosis - may be by specialist
Trauma screening questionnaire
If clinically significant ASR/ PTSD managemnet
Specialist referral
1st line - trauma focused CBT
2nd line (various reasons) - SSRI (sertraline or paroxetine) or venlafaxine
What is agoraphobia
Well defined cluster of phobias embracing fears of losing home etc
Avoidance prominent therefore little anxiety
Fear recognised as irrational
What is the progression of alcoholic liver disease
Alcohol related fatty liver –> Alcoholic hepatitis –> cirrhosis
Is alcoholic liver disease reversible?
Alcohol related fatty liver - usually reversible in 2 weeks if drinking stops
Alcoholic hepatitis - mild usually reversible with permanent abstinence
Cirrhosis - liver made of scar tissue - avoiding alcohol prevents further damage but can’t be reversed
Signs of alcoholic liver disease
Jaundice Hepatospenomegaly Spider naevi Gynaecomastia Bruising - due to abnormal clotting Ascites Caput medusae Asterixis
Bloods of alcoholic liver disease
FBC - raised BCV
LFT - raised GGT
AST:ALT normally >2 a ratio of >3 strongly suggestive of acute alcoholic hepatitis
Low albumin due to reduced synthetic function
Elevated bilirubin in cirrhosis
Clotting - elevated prothrombin time due to reduced synthetic function of liver
U+E - may show hepatorenal syndrome
What does a fibroscan show
Elasticity of the liver
What confirms alcoholic liver disease
Liver biopsy
Name screening tests used in assessing alcohol consumption
CAGE
FAST
AUDIT
What does cage stand for
Cut down?
Annoyed?
Guilty
Eye opener
What can be used during acute episodes of alcoholic hepatitis
Steroids
What are the guidelines on alcohol consumption
No more than 14 units per week for men and women spread over 3 days
How are the number of units in alcoholic calculated
Total volume in ml x percentage alcohol volume (ABV) / 1000
What is alcohol dependence characterised by
Strong desire or sense of compulsion to take drug
Difficulty in controlling use of substance in terms of onset, termination or level of use
Physiological withdrawal state
Evidence of tolerance
Progressive neglect of other pleasures/ interests because of use
Persistence despite clear evidence of harmful consequences
Outline features of delirium tremens
Worsening moderate symptoms plus confusion/ delirium Generalised tonic-clonic seizures Visual or tactile hallucinations Hyperthermia Subsequent to psychomotor agitation
What type of drug is chlordiazepoxide
Long acting benzodiazepine
What drug is given to prevent features of alcohol withdrawal
Benzodiazepine e.g. chlordiazepoxide
What should be given in addition to chlordiazepoxide for alcohol dependence
Thiamine prophylaxis - increase dose if wernicke’s suspected
What is the triad for wernicke’s encephalopathy
Altered mental status
Ophthalmoplegia
Ataxic gait
What is the first line drug to prevent relapse in alcoholics and what does it do
Naltrexone
Reduce reward
What drug to help alcoholics causes side effects if alcohol consumed and what are the side effects
Disulifram
Antabuse
Flushes skin, tachycardia, N+V, arrhythmia, hypotension
What makes anxiety pathological
Its extent or context causing significant impairment of social/ occupation/ other functions
What constitutes generalised anxiety
Generalised and persistent but not restricted to or event strongly predominating in any particular environmental circumstance i.e. its free floating
How long must GAD persist to meet the criteria
Most days for at least 6 months
Not controllable
Causing significant distress/ impairment in functioning
What is the treatment for GAD
- Psychoeducation
- Self help/ psychoeducation groups
- High intensity psychological intervention CBT or drug treatment SSRI
- SNRI
- Pregablin
How long may an SSRI take to work in GAD
Up to 12 weeks
How long should SSRI be continued on improvement of GAD
18 months
What are symptoms of PTSD
Intrusive thoughts Dissociation e.g. gaze Negative mood Avoidance Arousal e.g. hyper vigilance Emotional numbing
How long must the symptoms of PTSD last for a diagnosis
More than 1 month
What may show on a suffer of PTSD’s bloods
LFT derangement is alcohol a problem as a possible coping mechanism
What is the treatment of PTSD
If sub-clinical - period of watchful waiting and arrange regular review
If clinically important referral to specialist mental health service
1st line - trauma based psychological therapies - CBT focusing on exposure to. traumatic event in a controlled way and EMDR
2nd line - antidepressants SSRI (paroxetine or sertraline) or venlafaxine
What is anorexia
Fear of being fat
The person feels they are overweight despite evidence of normal or low body weight
Obsessively restricting calorie intake with the intention of losing weight
What conditions does anorexia have a strong correlation with
Personality disorders
OCD
Anxiety
Features of anorexia
Excessive weight loss Amenorrhoea Lanugo hair - fine, soft hair across most of body Changes in mood, anxiety and depression Solitude Cardiac complications - prolonged QT, cardiac atrophy and sudden cardiac death Hypotension Bradycardia Enlarged salivary glands
Anorexia nervosa blood results
Hypokalaemia Low FSH, LH, oestrogen, testosterone Low T3 Low urea - function of low protein intake Raised cholesterol and growth hormone Impaired glucose tolerance Hypercholesterolaemia Hypercarotenamia
Learning Disability/ Arrested Intellectual Development
IQ <70
Categories to meet LD
Significant impairment of intellectual functioning
Significant impairment of adaptive/ social function
Age of onset before adulthood
What test is used to measure IQ
Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Adult WAIS score
Features of Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Hyperactivity
What is the treatment of ADHD
10 week watch and wait period before referring to CAMHS
Parental and child education essential
Medication if conservative management failed
1st line - methylphenidate
If inadequate 2nd line - lisdexamfetamine
Dexamfetamine if benefit from lisdexamfetamine but can’t tolerate side effects
What is required for ADHD drugs
ECG as cardiotoxic
What is autism
Deficit in social interaction, communication and flexible behaviour
What is the treatment of autism
No cure but managed via MDT approach
What is ARFID
Avoidance and restriction of certain foods and types of food
What does ARFID often overlap with
Autism
What is the treatment of ARFID
Tailored to individual needs
If anxiety - CBT or SSRI
If comorbid ASD - help with sensory problems
Dietetic input
What are baby blues
Transient lability in mood for around 3 days after birth and usually resolve within 2 week
Features of baby blues
Irritability
Anxiety about parenting
Tearfulness
How many mothers with baby blues develop post natal depression
About 10%
What is the treatment of baby blues
Supportive
reassuring measures
What is binge eating disrder
Episodes where person excessively overeats often as an expression of underlying psychological distress
Not restrictive and patient likely to be overweight
What is bulimia nervosa
Binge eating followed by purging by inducing vomiting or taking laxatives to prevent calories being absorbed
Features of bulimia
Alkalosis - due to vomiting HCl acid from the stomach Hypokalaemia Erosion of teeth Swollen salivary glands Mouth ulcers GORD Calluses on knuckles - Russel's signs
Presenting complaint may be abdominal pain or reflux
Treatment of bulimia
Referral to specialist care
Adults - guided self help if ineffective or unacceptable –> CBTED
Child –> FBT
Pharmacological Tx limited role - high dose fluoxetine
What is complex regional pain syndrome
Condition related to continuing pain that is more severe than would be expected and lasts beyond the expected time period following an injury/ trauma
Features of complex regional pain syndrome
Usually felt in 1 limb Assoc with hyoersensitivity to area of skin affected Area may become stiff Chronic pain Radiating pain Sensitivity to non-noxious stimuli Limb weakness Oedema Radiating pain
Treatment of complex regional pain syndrome
Patient education Self-management Medical pharmacotherapy Physical rehab Psychological support
Factors assoc with deliberate self harm
Female younger chronic social and family problems May have physical illness or personality disorder Alcohol withdrawal Past DSH Impulsive
Factors assoc with suicide
Male Older Living alone Single, divorced, separated Unemployed Major psychiatric illness Physical illness Drug and alcohol abuse Special high risk groups e.g. doctors Planned
Biggest risk factor for suicide
Previous attempt/ self harm
Risk of suicide
SADPERSONS sex - male age <19 or >45 Depression or hopelessness Previous attempts Excessive alcohol or drug use Rational thinking loss - psychosis Separated/ widowed/ divorced Organised or planned attempt No social support Stated future intent
Management of deliberate self harm
Refer to hospital if considered at risk physically due to consequences of substance or risk of repetition
Minimise physical harm e.g. general supportive measures, charcoal, antidotes
Assess suicide risk
Detect and manage any assoc psychiatric disorder
Identify and manage drug/ alcohol problem
What is bipolar disease according to ICD-10
2 or more episodes in which the patient’s mood and energy levels are significantly disturbed, this consists on some occasions of hypomania or mania and on others depression
What is bipolar 1
Has to meet mania criteria, although previous episodes may have been hypomanic and/ or depressive
Bipolar 2
Current or past hypomanic episode and current or past depressive episode
What may lead to an earlier onset of Bipolar
Family history - anticipation
What are indicators of a poor bipolar outcome
Early onset Low socioeconomic status Subsyndromal mood symptoms Long duration of illness Rapid mood fluctuation Mixed presentation Psychosis Comorbid disorders Family Psychopathology
What defines hypomania
Mood elevated or irritable to a degree that is definitely abnormal for the individual concerned and sustained for at least 4 consecutive days
At least 3 of the following signs must be present leading to some interference with functioning of daily living
Increased talkativeness, difficulty concentrating, decreased need for sleep, increased sexual drive, mild spending sprees or reckless behaviour
What defines mania
Mood predominantly elevated, expansive irritable and definitely abnormal - prominent and sustained for at least 1 week (unless hospital admission)
3 of the following at least - increased talkativeness, loss of normal social inhibitions, decreased need for sleep, inflated self esteem, distractibility, constant changing in plans, behaviour reckless, marked sexual energy or sexual indiscretions
What suggests mania
Delusions
What is mania with psychosis
Typified by mood congruent content of psychotic symptoms, delusions of grandeur/ special ability, persecution, religiosity
Hallucinations - 2nd person and auditory
What is the treatment of acute mania/ hypomania
Maximise antimanic dose if patient already on maintenance
Antidepressants discontinued
If mania - hospital admission likely
What antipsychotics are used in bipolar disorder
Olanzapine
Quetiapine
Risperidone
What medication is used in bipolar maintenance
Lithium - gold standard
Other options are antipsychotics - lamotrigine (if mainly depression)
Valproate (if mainly mania)
Psychoeducation
When should antidepressants be avoided in bipolar
During mania/ hypomania
Rapid cycling
What physical health conditions is bipolar a risk factor for
2-3 times increased risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and COPD
What is delirium
Acute, transient disturbance from the person’s normal cognitive function
How long can delirium last up to
Up to 6 months
What points towards delirium over dementia
Impaired consciousness Fluctuation of symptoms - worse at night Periods of normality Abnormal perception Agitation, fear Delusions
What type of hallucinations are features of delirium
Visual hallucinations +/- auditory hallucinations (often threatening)
What are the different types of delirium
Hyperactive - agitation, restlessness, sleep disturbance and hypervigilance
Hypoactive - lethargic, reduced mobility and movemnet
Mixed - combination of signs and symptoms
What is the management of delirium
History from person and informed observer
If possible cognitive screening test
Ask about previous intellectual function
A full physical exam and infection screen
Urinalysis - infections, hyperglycaemia
Sputum culture
FBC - anaemia, infection
U+E’s - AKI or electrolyte disturbance (hyponatraemia or hypokalaemia)
HbA1c- hyperglycaemia
Calcium - hypo or hyper
LFTs - hepatic failure and rule out hepatic encephalopathy
Inflammatory markers
Drug levels
Thyroid function test s
CXRray
ECG
Treatment of delirium
Treat underlying cause
Maintain environment with good lighting and frequent reassurance
In extremely agitated patients small dose of haloperidol or olanzapine may be considered
What is delirium tremens
Life threatening alcohol withdrawal state
What causes delirium tremens
Alcohol stimulates GABA receptors in the brain – GABA relaxing effect – alcohol also inhibits glutamate receptors further inhibitory effect
Chronic alcohol use – GABA down regulated and glutamate up-regulated
When alcohol removed – GABA under functions and glutamate over functions extreme excitability with excess adrenergic activity
Features of delirium tremens
Acute confusion Severe agitation Delusions and hallucinations Tremor Tachycardia Hypertension Hyperthermia Ataxia – difficulties with coordinated movements Arrhythmia
Treatment of delirium tremens
Chlordiazepoxide – benzodiazepine used to combat effects of alcohol withdrawal
Diazepam – less commonly used alterative
Use on reducing regimen – continued for 5-7 days
IB high dose B vitamins (pabrinex) – followed by regular lower dose oral thiamine
What is dementia
Progressive irreversible impairment of intellect, memory and personality
Difficulties with activity of daily living
What is considered early onset dementia
Before 65
What is mild cognitive impairment
cognitive impairment that does not fulfil the diagnostic criteria for dementia, for example, because only 1 cognitive domain is affected or deficits do not significantly affect daily living
Most common type of Demetia
Alzheimer’s disease
Biggest risk factor for Dementia
Increasing Age
Other risk factors for dementia
Mild cognitive impairment - 1/3 develop AD within 3 years Learning disability Genetics Cardiovascular risk factors Cerebrovascular PD Smoking Anticholinergic burden
What gene is involved in early onset AD
Amyloid precursor gene APP or presenilin gene PSEN1 or PSEN2
What gene is involved in late onset AD
Apolipoprotein E
What are features of AD
Cognitive impairment
Behaviour and psychological
Difficulties with ADL