Psychiatry Flashcards
Major depressive disorder
DSM-5 criteria
Depressed mood &/or anhedonia PLUS ≥5 symptoms during the same two week period
-Sleep: Insomnia or hypersomnia
-Interest: Markedly diminished interest/pleasure in activities
-Guilt: Feeling worthless or excessive/inappropriate guilt
-Energy: Fatigue
-Concentration: Decreased concentration or indecisiveness
-Appetite: Significant weight loss/gain, or decreased/increased appetite
-Psychomotor: Psychomotor agitation or retardation
-Suicidal ideation: Recurrent thoughts of death or suicidal ideation
AND significant stress or impairment, substances and other medical & psychiatric conditions ruled out, no history of (hypo)manic episodes
Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia)
DSM-5 criteria
Depressed mood for most of the day, more days than not, for at least two years PLUS ≥2 symptoms while depressed
- Sleep: Insomnia or hypersomnia
- Energy: Fatigue
- Concentration: Poor concentration or indecisiveness
- Appetite: Poor appetite or overeating
- Low self-esteem
- Feelings of hopelessness
AND substances and other medical & psychiatric conditions ruled out, no history of (hypo)manic episodes
Seasonal affective disorder SAD
MDD with seasonal pattern
Responsive to light therapy
Post-partum depression
MDD beginning during pregnancy or within four weeks following delivery
Distinct from “baby blues,” which is short-lasting (1-2 weeks), does not interfere with daily activities, and resolves without treatment
Melancholic depression
Marked anhedonia and lack of mood reactivity, insomnia (early morning awakening), worse in the mornings
Tx: Tricyclic antidepressants
Atypical depression
Hypersomnia, hyperphagia, leaden paralysis, interpersonal rejection sensitivity
Tx: MAOIs
Depression treatment
SSRIs: Citalopram, escitalopram, sertraline, paroxetine, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine
SNRIs: Venlafaxine, duloxetine
TCAs: Amitriptyline, nortriptyline, doxepin, amoxapine, desipramine, clomipramine, imipramine
MAOIs: Selegiline, phenelzine, tranylcypromine, isocarboxazid
DNRIs: Bupropion
SRI & 5-HT-2A antagonists: Trazodone
Alpha-2 receptor antagonists: Mirtazepine**
Electroconvulsive therapy**
Treat for ≥6 mo before tapering!
Serotonergic side effects
SSRIs: Citalopram, escitalopram, sertraline, paroxetine, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine
SNRIs: Venlafaxine, duloxetine
Transient side effects upon initiation
- Jitteriness, anxiety
- GI disturbance
- Sleep disturbance
Long-term side effects
- Sexual side effects: Dose dependent, does not decrease over time***
- Weight gain
- Bleeding risk: Especially upper GI bleeds
- SIADH: Primarily in the elderly within 2 weeks of starting SSRI
Serotonin syndrome
Vitals: Fever, diaphoresis, autonomic instability
Behavior: Altered mental status, agitation
Exam: Tremors, hyperreflexia, inducible or spontaneous clonus, ocular clonus
Serotonin withdrawal
Flu-like symptoms, agitation, nausea, unsteadiness, dysphoria, electric shock sensation
Risk factors: Medication with shorter half-life, >2 months of treatment, no taper
Treat with fluoxetine
SSRI pearls
SSRIs: Citalopram, escitalopram, sertraline, paroxetine, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine
Citalopram, escitalopram
- Most pure SSRIs, least off-target side effects*
Sertraline
- Most GI side effects
Paroxetine
- Most sedation, weight gain, insomnia, and sexual side effects
- The only SSRI contraindicated in pregnancy
Fluoxetine
- Prominent insomnia, but least weight gain
The SSRIs include fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, sertraline, paroxetine, citalopram, and escitalopram. They inhibit reuptake of serotonin through inhibition of the serotonin transporter, leading to increased availability of serotonin at the postsynaptic membrane. The antidepressant and/or anxiolytic effect of SSRIs may not become apparent for several days to weeks because their mechanism of action involves pre- and postsynaptic receptor changes that are not immediate.
The SSRIs are metabolized by the hepatic cytochrome P450 system and have various drug–drug interactions, with the extent varying with each of the SSRIs. Citalopram and escitalopram have the least potential for drug–drug interactions.
SNRI pearls
SNRIs: Venlafaxine, duloxetine
Venlafaxine
- Mainly an SSRI, no NE effects until 150mg dose
- May increase BP (5%), usually mild
- Prominent discontinuation effects
Duloxetine**
- More robust evidence for neuropathic pain than depression
- FDA approved for diabetic neuropathy, fibromyalgia, and chronic musculoskeletal pain
- Rare incidence of fulminant hepatic failure
Tricyclic antidepressants
TCAs: Amitriptyline (3), nortriptyline (2), doxepin (3), amoxapine (2), desipramine (2), clomipramine (3), imipramine (3)
Mechanism
- Blocks 5-HT & NE re-uptake -> increases synaptic concentration of 5-HT & NE
- Also blocks muscarinic, alpha-1 adrenergic, and histamine-1 receptors: Most prominent in tertiary amines (3), secondary amines (2) have fever side effects, are less sedating, and are safer in overdose
Particularly useful for melancholic depression
The tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are among the oldest antidepressants and are still commonly used to treat depression. The TCAs with a tertiary amine side chain such as amitriptyline, doxepin, and imipramine inhibit reuptake of both serotonin and norepinephrine, whereas some such as clomipramine predominantly inhibit reuptake of serotonin. The TCAs do not directly inhibit reuptake of dopamine, though they may indirectly facilitate the effects of dopamine.
Tricyclic antidepressant side effects
TCAs: Amitriptyline, nortriptyline, doxepin, amoxapine, desipramine, clomipramine, imipramine
Anti-cholinergic: Blind as a bat (blurry vision), dry as a bone (dry mouth), full as a flask (urinary retention, constipation), mad as a hatter (confusion); slowed cardiac conduction (AV block, arrhythmias); lowers seizure threshold***
Anti-alpha-1 adrenergic: Orthostatic hypotension
Anti-histamine: Sedation, weight gain*
Serotonergic: Sexual dysfunction
Overdose
Can be lethal!
Cardiotoxicity: Slowed cardiac conduction (AV block, arrhythmias)
Neurotoxicity: Agitation, delirium, coma
Withdrawal
Irritability, dizziness, nausea, diaphoresis, insomnia
All TCAs have some activity at muscarinic, histaminergic, and α1-adrenergic receptors, though to varying degrees. Because of these effects at noncatecholaminergic receptors, they are used for various disorders not limited to depression and anxiety, including urinary retention and neuropathic pain.
MAOIs
MAOIs: Selegiline, phenelzine, tranylcypromine, isocarboxazid
Mechanism
Monoamine oxidase metabolizes monoamines (5-HT, NE, DA)
MAOIs irreversibly inhibit MAO-A & MAO-B: increases 5-HT, NE, DA
Also blocks alpha-1 adrenergic & histamine-1 receptors
Particularly useful for atypical depression
Side-effects
Anti-alpha-1 adrenergic: Orthostatic hypotension
Anti-histamine: Sedation, weight gain
Serotonergic: Sexual dysfunction, insomnia, myoclonus
Hepatotoxicity (rare)
Tyramine-induced hypertensive crisis: Tyramine is normally broken down in the GI tract by MAO-A. On MAOIs, it isn’t broken down, so more is absorbed into the bloodstream. Activates adrenergic pathways, precipitating catastrophic rise in BP. Must avoid high tyramine foods (wine, aged cheese, fava beans, liver).
Phenelzine and isocarboxazid are nonselective monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) and are among the oldest antidepressants, rarely used in clinical practice today due to their side effect profile. Because nonselective MAOIs block metabolism of tyramine, found in certain foods such as cheese and wine, a lethal reaction resulting from hyperadrenergic state can occur with use of MAOIs, particularly when taken with other agents that increase serotonin.
Bupropion**
DNRI
Blocks NE & DA reuptake
Avoids anti-cholinergic, anti-alpha-1 adrenergic (orthostatic hypotension), anti-histaminergic (weight gain) and serotonergic (sexual dysfunction) side effects**
Decreases seizure threshold, contraindicated in eating disorders
Also used for smoking cessation**
It inhibits reuptake of norepinephrine and dopamine and increases presynaptic release of these neurotransmitters, without direct effects on the serotonin system.
Different from busprinone: Buspirone is an anxiolytic agent without sedative–hypnotic activity. Its mechanism of action involves partial agonism at serotonergic (5-HT1A) receptors. It also has some activity at dopaminergic D2 receptors.
Trazodone
SRI & 5-HT2A receptor antagonists
Mainly blocks reuptake of serotonin
Anti-alpha-1 adrenergic: Orthostatic hypotension, priapism
Anti-histaminergic: Sedation (helpful for insomnia)
Mirtazepine**
Alpha-2 receptor antagonists
Stimulates alpha-1 receptors, blocks alpha-2 receptors, and blocks 5-HT-2A receptors, overall increasing 5-HT & NE release
Anti-histaminergic: Sedation (helpful for insomnia), weight gain (helpful for stimulating appetite)**
Mirtazapine has complex pharmacology; it acts as an antagonist at presynaptic α2-receptors, increasing release of norepinephrine and serotonin, and also acts as an antagonist at 5-HT2 and 5-HT3 receptors. Its potent antagonism at histamine receptors accounts for its sedating effects.
Mania
DSM-5 criteria
Abnormally elevated, expansive, or irritable mood & persistently goal-directed behavior or energy, lasting at least one week PLUS ≥3-4 of the following symptoms
- Distractibility
- Impulsivity
- Grandiosity
- Flight of ideas or racing thoughts
- Activity: Increase in goal-directed activity or psychomotor agitation
- Sleep: Decreased need for sleep yet feels rested
- Talkative: More talkative than usual or pressure to keep talking
AND marked impairment or psychotic features, substances and other medical conditions ruled out
Bipolar disorder I vs II
Treatment of bipolar disorder
Mood stabilizer - S/Es and pregnancy
Lithium side-effects/toxicity
S/E’s
Most common: Polyuria & thirst, weight gain, tremor*
Neuro: Decreased cognition, tremor, incoordination
Cardiac: Decreases sinoatrial node conduction (avoid in sick sinus syndrome)
Renal: Polyuria (antagonistic effect on ADH)
GI: Nausea, vomiting, anorexia, dyspepsia, diarrhea
Endo: Weight gain, hypothyroidism
Skin: Hair loss, acne, psoriasis
Heme: Benign leukocytosis
Toxicity
Narrow therapeutic index
Not metabolized; excreted in urine
Levels can become toxic due to:
- Renal insufficiency
- Dehydration (fever, excessive sweating, GI illness)**
- Decreased sodium intake (lithium reabsorption in proximal tubule)**
- Drug-drug interactions: NSAIDs, thiazide diuretics, ACE inhibitors
Acute toxicity
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea -> dehydration & compromised renal function
- Confusion, tremor, seizures (including nonconvulsive status)
- Arrhythmia (rare)
Causes of secondary mania
Neurological
- Stroke (right prefrontal),* subdural hematoma, tumor, multiple sclerosis, Huntington’s disease, dementia, seizures
Medical
- Hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, carcinoid syndrome, sleep apnea, delirium
Substance-induced
- Dopamine agonists, anabolic and corticosteroids, sympathomimetics (PCP, amphetamines, pseudoephedrine)
Catatonia
Inability to move normally with decreased reactivity to environment
- Akinetic mutism, catalepsy (waxy flexibility), echolalia, echopraxia, utilization behavior
May occur in the context of many psychiatric & medical disorders
- Most commonly bipolar disorder or psychotic depression
Treat with benzodiazepines or ECT
Avoid using dopamine blocking drugs
Generalized anxiety disorder
Excessive worrying for ≥6 months
Associated somatic symptoms: Headache, muscle tension, GI upset
Panic disorder
Recurrent panic attacks associated with one of the following: Worrying about consequences of attack, concern about additional attacks, change in behavior**
Treatment: Exposure therapy, CBT
Anxiolytics - list
SSRIs
Benzodiazepines
Buspirone
Clonidine
Antihistamines (hydroxyzine)
Anticonvulsants (gabapentin)
Beta blockers (propranolol)
Atypical antipsychotics (quetiapine, risperidone)
Benzodiazepines
Mechanism: Enhances GABA activity
Uses: PRN for situational anxiety, helpful for reducing initial SSRI-induced activation and acting as a bridge until anxiolytic onset
Buspirone
Mechanism: Partial agonist of 5-HT-1A receptors, indirect effect on DA
Benefits: Non-sedating, no potential for dependence
Drawbacks: No immediate effect on anxiety (not useful for panic disorder)
Uses: GAD, adjunctive use in MDD
Clonidine
Mechanism: Alpha 2 adrenergic agonist, feduces firing at the locus coeruleus**
Hydroxyzine
Mechanism: Primarily anti-histaminergic
Uses: GAD
Positive and negative symptoms
Positive symptoms
- Hallucinations
- Delusions
- Disorganized speech & behavior
Negative symptoms
- Flat affect
- Lack of speech
- Inability to initiate goal-directed activities
Primary vs secondary psychosis
Primary psychosis (diagnosis of exclusion)
- Schizophrenia spectrum
- Other psychiatric illnesses: Schizoaffective, MDD with psychotic features, bipolar mania, normal grief reaction with auditory hallucinations*
Secondary psychosis
- Infectious: Acute HIV, cerebral malaria, toxoplasmosis, neurocysticercosis, sleeping sickness
- Neoplastic: Anterior temporal lobe mass**
- Degenerative: Lewy body dementia
- Autoimmune: NMDAR encephalitis, Hashimoto encephalitis, SLE
- Toxins/meds: Steroids, antibiotics, toluene
- Endocrine/metabolic: Thyroid disease, B12, porphyria, Wilson’s, Tay-Sachs
Schizophrenia spectrum
Schizophrenia spectrum
- ≥2 psychotic symptoms (at least 1 must be positive), present for a significant portion of the time and disrupting normal functioning
Duration
- <1 month: brief psychotic disorder
- 1-6 months: schizophreniform disorder
- >6 months: schizophrenia: strong heritability, suicide in 10-15%
Schizoaffective disorder
Schizophrenia + MDD or bipolar mania
Psychotic symptoms in the absence of mood symptoms for ≥2 weeks
MDD with psychotic features
Psychotic symptoms only during depressive episodes
Bipolar mania
Psychotic symptoms only during manic episode
Delusional disorder
1+ non-bizarre delusions for ≥1 month
Apart from impact of delusions, daily functioning and behavior are not affected
Normal grief reactions
Can include auditory hallucinations
Capgras delusion
Belief that a loved one has been replaced by an identical imposter, usually with malevolent intent; frequently seen in neurodegenerative diseases, and occasionally in schizophrenia***
Fregoli delusion
Opposite of Capgras; sense of familiarity with strangers, but cannot recognize them because they are in disguise**
Metamorphosis
Belief that people in the environment swap identities with each other while maintaining the same appearance
Mirror sign
Belief that one’s reflection in the mirror is some other person
Subjective doubles:
Belief that there is a double of the patient carrying out independent actions*
Reduplicative paramnesia
Belief that a place or location has been duplicated, existing in 2+ places simultaneously; can occur with R frontal, temporal, or parietal lesions*
Cotard delusion
Patient believes that he is dead
Anti-D2 in different pathways+other side-effects
Anti-D2 in different pathways
Mesolimbic pathway* -> therapeutic efficacy against positive symptoms
Mesocortical pathway* -> worsens negative & cognitive symptoms
Nigrostriatal pathway -> extrapyramidal symptoms
Tuberoinfundibular pathway -> hyperprolactinemia (F amenorrhea, M gynecomastia & impotence)
OTHER
Anti-cholinergic: Blind as a bat (blurry vision), dry as a bone (dry mouth), full as a flask (urinary retention, constipation), mad as a hatter (confusion); tachycardia; lowers seizure threshold
Anti-alpha-1 adrenergic: Orthostatic hypotension
Anti-histamine-1: Sedation, weight gain
QT prolongation**
Typical vs atypical antipsychotics
Typical: greater anti-dopaminergic>other side effects
Atypical: fewer anti-dopaminergic side effects, compared to other side effects
Why? Atypical antipsychotics blocks serotonin, which blocks mesocortical, nigrostriatal, and tuberoinfundibulum pathways, so there are fewer anti-dopaminergic side-effects
EPS: extrapyramidal symptoms
Antipsychotics in Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson’s disease
1) Initial step in treating new onset psychosis is to adjust dopaminergic meds
2) Pimavanserin**: 1st line on RITE: Inverse agonist & antagonist of 5-HT-2A, avoids EPS but very expensive
3) Clozapine: 2nd line on RITE: Avoids EPS but requires intensive monitoring due to risk of agranulocytosis
4) Quetiapine: 3rd line on RITE: Relative avoidance of EPS, often used first line in reality
Antipsychotics in dementia
Increased mortality risk in those started on an antipsychotic
Dementia with Lewy bodies
Rivastigmine**
Cholinesterase inhibitors treat hallucinations & behavioral disturbances, and improve cognition
Pimavanserin is only FDA-approved antipsychotic for treatment in LBD (specifically for PD psychosis) (RITE 2021)
Antipsychotic: EPS
2/2 antidopaminergic effects in nigrostriatal pathway
Acute dystonia
- Oculogyric crisis, torticollis
- Develops within hours
- Tx: Benztropine (anti-muscarinic), diphenhydramine,** hydroxyzine (anti-histamine)
Akathisia
- Feeling of restlessness, inability to sit still
- Develops within days
- Tx: Benzodiazepines, propranolol
Parkinsonism
- Develops within weeks to months
- Tx: Benztropine (anti-muscarinic), amantadine (dopaminergic), propranolol
Tardive dyskinesia
Involuntary choreoathetoid movements; often permanent and can be debilitating
Develops within months to years
Tx: Stop offending agent, consider switching to clozapine; can try benztropine (anti-muscarinic)
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
Life-threatening condition of hyperpyrexia, autonomic instability, muscle rigidity, and delirium
Dose-dependent
Typically develops within 2 weeks of medication onset, but may develop at any time
Tx: Dantrolene (muscle relaxant), bromocriptine (dopamine agonist),** amantadine (dopaminergic)
Conversion disorder:
1+ neurological symptoms of altered voluntary motor or sensory function**
Somatic symptom disorder
Excessive thoughts, feelings, or behaviors related to 1+ somatic symptoms**
…with predominant pain: Previously pain disorder
Body dysmorphic disorder
Preoccupation with 1+ perceived flaws in physical appearance
Illness anxiety disorder
Preoccupation with having or acquiring a serious illness, mild or no somatic symptoms
Factitious disorder and malingering
Intentional falsification of physical or psychological signs or symptoms, or intentional induction of injury or disease
For primary gain (to play the sick role) = factitious disorder**
For secondary gain (money, shelter, meds, etc.) = malingering***
ADHD
Persistent pattern of inattention &/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development
Symptoms started before age 12 & present in 2+ settings
Treatment: Stimulants (1st line), atomoxetine (2nd line, NRI), bupropion (DNRI) or TCA (3rd line)**
Tourette syndrome
2+ motor tics & 1+ vocal tic, not necessarily at the same time
Tics started before age 18 & present for at least one year
Often co-morbid with ADHD, OCD, &/or mood disorders***
Treatment: Comprehensive behavioral intervention for tics (CBIT) / habit reversal training (HRT), antidopaminergic meds (tetrabenazine, fluphenazine, risperidone)**
OCD
Obsessive thoughts/impulses +/- compulsive behaviors to reduce distress
Patient usually aware that obsessions/compulsions are unreasonable
Often co-morbid with Tourette’s***
Treatment: SSRIs (1st line; fluoxetine, fluvoxamine), TCAs (clomipramine)**
PTSD
Three clusters of symptoms: Re-experiencing (flashbacks, distressing dreams), avoidance, hyperarousal**
- If these occur for <1 month, diagnosis is acute stress reaction
Treatment: Prazosin for nightmares (alpha-1 blocker),** propranolol or clonidine for hyperarousal symptoms
Dissociative identity disorder**
Amnestic episodes associated with the presence of distinct identities or personality states**
Often the result of severe emotional trauma and abuse in childhood
Behavioral manifestations of systemic disease
Cluster A personality disorder
Cluster B personality
Cluster C personality disorder
Transferance
Thoughts, feelings, emotions and behaviors of a patient towards the therapist that are based on issues specific to the patient’s life and past relationships
Countertransference
The therapist’s responses (thoughts, feelings, emotions, and behaviors) towards a patient that express the therapist’s personal background issues more that they express an appropriate response to the patient
Adaptive behaviors level defense mechanisms
– Anticipation, Affiliation, altruism, humor, self-assertion, self-observation,
– Sublimation: transfer of emotion to healthy activity- e.g. sports for aggression)
– Suppression: consciously choosing to expel thoughts/feelings from awareness
Mental inhibition level defense mechanisms
– Dissociation: breakdown in usual integrated fxns of consciousness, memory, sense of self/environment, or sensory/motor behavior
– Intellectualization: excessive use of abstract thinking or the making of generalizations to control or minimize disturbing feelings
– Isolation of affect: separations of ideas/cognition elements from the feelings associated with them
– Displacement: attributing feelings about one object to (less powerful) other
– Reaction formation: warding off thought by espousing opposite thought
– Repression: unconscious expulsion of unacceptable wishes/feelings from awareness
– Undoing: behaviors designed to symbolically negate unacceptable feelings/thoughts
Minor Image Distorting Level (regulates self-esteem) defense mechanisms
– Devaluation: attributes exaggerated negative qualities to others
– Idealization: attributes exaggerated positive qualities to others
– Omnipotence: ascribing special powers to the self/superiority to self
Disavowal Level (keeps unwanted impulses/thoughts/feelings out of awareness) defense mechanism
– Denial: refusing the acknowledge external realities or subjective experiences
– Rationalization: dealing with issues through self-assuring, but incorrect, explanations
– Projection: falsely attributing one’s own unacceptable thoughts/feelings to another
Major Image Distorting Level (gross distortion of image of self/others) defense mechanism
– Autistic fantasy: excessive daydreaming as a substitute for actual relationships or effective problem-solving
– Projective Identification: starts as projection, then the person attributes their own feelings as a justifiable response to the projected feelings. Often, this induces the projected feelings in the recipient
– Splitting: positive and negative qualities of self or others are not integrated
Action level defense mechanism
– Acting out: using actions to express internal emotional conflict
– Apathetic withdrawal: lack of participation as a way to avoid internal conflicts
– Help-rejecting complaining: requesting help for problems then rejecting all advice/help
– Passive Aggression: indirectly expressing anger
Defensive Dysregulation Level (failure of defense mechanisms leads to break with objective reality) defense mechanism
– Delusional projection
– Psychotic denial
– Psychotic distortion
Prevalence vs incidence
Prevalence: proportion of individuals in a population who have a disease at a specific instant in time (i.e. estimate of probability)
- Period prevalence
- Lifetime prevalence
Incidence: number of new events or cases of a disease that develop in a population of at-risk individuals in a specified time interval
- Cumulative incidence
- Incidence rate
Uncomplicated alcohol withdrawal
Majority of Pts with alcohol WD
Symptoms start within 6 hours after last drink
Increase BP (>140/100), pulse>90, T>101 F, nausea, sweat, insomnia, anxiety, brisk reflexes, and fine tremor
If withdrawal does not progress, usually resolves in 24 hours
Alcohol withdrawal seizure