Psychiatry Flashcards
What is the Mental Health Act?
Law used in England and wales which provides legal framework for informal and formal care/ treatment of patients with a mental disorder
What is a mental disorder?
Disorder or disability of the mind
Includes. mental illness, personality disorder, learning disability, disorder of sexual preference
Who is excluded from detainment under MHA?
Those under influence of drugs/ alcohol
What is an AMHP?
Approved mental health professional
Mental health worker who has undergone additional mental health training and is approved by local authority
What is a Section 12 approved doctor?
Medical doctor who is approved under Section 12 of the MHA to make medical recommendations to detain a patient
Usually GP or psychiatry doctors
What is section 131?
Covers informal admission
Patient can be admitted for care and treatment without formal restrictions and are free to leave anytime
What conditions need to be met to admit patient under section 131?
Patient must have capacity
Patient has given consent for admission
Patient does not resist admission
What isa Section 2?
Compulsory detention for assessment
How long does a section 2 last for?
28 days
Cannot be renewed
How is a Section 2 or 3 applied for?
Application is made by AMHP or nearest relativ supported by medical recommendation of two section 12 approved doctors
When is detention under Section 2 or 3 considered?
If patient is suffering from mental disorder that warrants detention in hospital for assessment for a limited period of time
Detention is in the interest of their own and others safety
Appropriate treatment is available
What is a Section 3?
Compulsory detention for treatment
How long does a Section 3 last for?
6 months
Can be renewed
What is a Section 4?
Admission for assessment in emergency situations
When in Section 4 used?
Outpatient services when arrangement of section 2 is not possible given time restraint
Purpose is to give time to arrange section 2
How long is a Section 4 valid for ?
72 hours
Who applies for Section 4?
AMHP with support of one doctor
What is a Section 5(2)?
Doctors holding powers where voluntary patient can be stopped from leaving to have a MHA assessment
How long does a section 5(2) last for?
72 hours
What is a section 5(4)?
Nurses holding powers allowing further assessment of patient
How long is a Section 5(4) valid for?
6 hours
Who applies for a Section 5 (4)?
Application is made by nurse
When would a 5(4) Section be needed?
Patient is suffering from mental health disorder to a degree where health or safety of individual or others is at risk
Not feasible or practical to apply for section 5(2)
What is a Section 135?
Court order allowing police to enter private property by force to remove person suffering from mental health disorder and move them to a place of safety
What is considered as a place of safety?
Emergency department
Police station
Why may a section 135 be required ?
Ill-treated or neglected
Unable to care for themselves
Living alone
How long does a section 135 last for?
72 hours
What is a section 136 ?
Detainment of patient by police if suspected to suffer from mental health illness from a public place to a place of safety without a warrant
This will allow assessment by medical practioner
How long is a Section 136 valid for?
24 hours
What is a Section 17a?
Community treatment order
Patients on Section 3 can leave hospital for treatment in community if they are well enough
Who is involved in decisions for section 17 ?
AMHP
Responsible clinical
When can section 17 be considered ?
Patient is suffering from mental illness to a degree that is appropriate for them to recieve treatment
Necessary for patients health and safety that they recieve treatment
Treatment can be provided without need to detain them
Appropriate medical treatment is available
What can happen if patient is non compliant with community treatment ?
Recalled to hospital for assessment and possible detention?
What are primary symptoms?
Symptoms arising from pathology of mental illness
What are secondary symptoms?
Symptoms arising as an understandable response to some aspect of the disordered mental state
What are objective signs?
Signs noted by external observer
What are subjective signs ?
Signs reported by patient
What are the components of a psychiatric history?
Presenting complaint
History of presenting complaint
Past psychiatric history
Past medical history
Drug history/ current medication
Substance history
Family history
Social history
Personal history
Informant history
What are the components of a MSE?
Appearance and behaviour
Speech
Mood
Thoughts
Perception
Cognition
Insight
What is a primary mood disorder?
A mood disorder that does not result from another medical or psychiatric condition
How are primary mood disorders classified?
Unipolar; depressive disorder, dysthymia
Bipolar; bipolar affective disorder, cyclothymia
What is a secondary mood disorder?
A mood disorder as a result of another medical or psychiatric condition
Causes of secondary mood disorders?
Anaemia, hypothyroidism, substance misuse
How long do symptoms of depression need to persist for diagnosis?
2 weeks
What is dysthymia?
Long standing mild depressive symptoms often associated with other psychiatric or physical illness
What is recurrent depressive disorder?
Patient has multiple episodes of a depressive disorder
What is psychotic depression?
Most severe form of depression with delusions, hallucinations, psychomotor retardation and high risk of suicide
What is atypical depression?
Symptoms of depression which respond better to MAO inhibitors compared to SSRI
What is reactive depression?
Symptoms of depression bought on by stressful life events
What is endogenous depression?
Symptoms of depression originating from the patient with no obvious external cause
Epidemiology of depressive disorders?
Lifetime risk of 15%
More common in women
Greater risk if positive family history
Mean age of onset is late 20s
Why are women more likely to suffer from depressive illness
Genetic predisposition
Sex hormone influence
Social pleasures
Greater willingness to accept symptoms of depressive nature
Aetiology of depression?
Biological
Genes
Medical condition and illness
Neurochemical changes; Monoamine abnormalities, Altered HPA axis function
Psychological
Childhood environment
Parental loss
Abuse
Abnormal cognition
Learned helplessness
Social
Life events
Unemployment
Alcohol and drug use
Pathophysiology of depression?
Hypofunction of monoamine neurotransmitter systems; serotonin and noradrenaline with altered HPA axis leads to symptoms of low mood
Risk factors for depression?
Postnatal status
Personal or family history of depressive disorder
Dementia
Corticosteroids
Interferon treatment
Oral contraceptives
Female sex
Obesity
Stressful life situations
Diagnostic criteria for depressive disorder?
Mild; 2+ from A and 2+ from B
Moderate; 2+ from A and 3+ from B
Severe; All from A and 4+ from B
Group A
Persistent low mood
Anhedonia; loss of interest or pleasure
Anergia; Fatigue or low energy
Functional impairment
Group B
Reduced concentration and attention
Reduced self esteem and self confidence
Ideas of guilt and worthlessness
Hopelessness about the future
Suicidal thoughts
Diminished appetite
Disturbed sleep
Clinical presentation of depression?
Depressed mood
Anhedonia
Functional impairment
Weight change
Sleep disturbance
Changes in movement
Low energy
Excessive guilt
Poor concentration
Suicidal ideation
Substance abuse
Loss of pleasure and libido
Difficulty maintaining relationships
Investigations to diagnose depression?
Clinical diagnosis from history and ICD diagnostic criteria, PHQ-9,
Bloods; U+E, FBC, TFT, Vit B12/ D, folic acid
Management of depression?
Mild depression
Antidepressant ; SSRI, SNRI
Psychotherapy and supportive interventions
If initial antidepressants are not working, consider switching medication
St John’s wart
Moderate depression
Antidepressant
Psychotherapy and CBT
Immediate symptoms management; Benzodiazepine and antipsychotic
Severe depression
Psychiatric referral and hospitalisation
Immediate symptoms management ; Benzodiazepine and antipsychotic
ECT
Antidepressant therapy
Acute presentation
Hospitalisation
Consider sectioning if harm to self and others
Benzodiazepine and antipsychotic for emergency symptoms management
ECT
Monitoring requirements for depression?
Follow-up 2 weeks after starting medication
8-12 weeks after initiation
Annual review
Why is it crucial to follow up patient 2 weeks after starting antidepressants?
High risk of discontinuation due to worsening of symptoms before stabilisation
High suicide risk
Complications of depression?
Sexual side effects of SSRI and SNRI
Risk of self injurious behaviour
Undesired weight gain
Agitation from medications
Unmask mania
Mania due to antidepressant withdrawal
Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome
Suicide risk with SSRI treatment
Prognosis of depression?
Once in remission patients should continue medication for a minimum of 6 months
Recurrence in 1/3 of patients
For 3 recurrent depressive episodes long term therapy is recommended
What is bipolar disorder?
Episodic mood disorder characterised by mania/ hypomania followed by period of depressed mood
What is bipolar type 1?
Manic episodes of distinct period of persistent elevated mood
Followed by period of depressed mood
What is bipolar type 2?
History of hypomania and major depressive episode but not met threshold for mania
Epidemiology of bipolar disorder?
Lifetime prevalence of 1.7%
Average age of onset between 19 and 31 years
Aetiology of bipolar disorder?
Genetic
Neurochemical abnormalities; depletion of monoamine neurotransmitters
Amphetamine and cocaine use
Organic causes
Neurological; Stroke, Alzehimers, Dementia, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, Multiple sclerosis, Epilepsy, Intracranial tumours
Endocrine; Cushing’s syndrome, Addison’s disease, Hypothyroidism, Hyperparathyroidism
Metabolic; Iron/ B12/ folate deficiency, hypercalcaemia, hypomagnesaemia
Infection; Influenza, infectious mononucleosis, hepatitis, HIV/AIDS
Neoplasia
Medication
Environmental causes
Loss of parent
Neglect as a child
Pathophysiology of bipolar disorder?
Increased dopamine activity contributes to manic behaviour
Increased dopaminergic activity leads to elevated mood, reduced need for sleep and reduced social inhibitions
DSM V classification of bipolar disorder?
Bipolar disorder type 1; atleast 1 manic episode
Bipolar disorder type 2; never had full manic episode, 1 hypomanic episode and 1 major depressive episode
Cyclothymic disorder; chronic fluctuating course of mood disorder of insufficient severity to fulfil criteria for major depressive episode
Substance/ medication induced bipolar
Bipolar disorder secondary to medical condition, e.g Hyperthyroidism, cushing’s syndrome
Risk factors for bipolar disorder?
Family history of bipolar disorder
Onset of mood disorder before age of 20
Stressful life events
Childhood trauma
Previous history of depression
Substance misuse
Presence of anxiety disorder
Obesity
Cardiovascular disease
Clinical presentation of Bipolar disorder?
Major depressive episode:
Depressed mood/ anhedonia, loss of energy
Changes in weight and libido
Difficulty concentrating
Insomnia/ hypersomnia
Psychomotor problems
Excessive guilt, feelings of worthlessness, suicidal ideation
Episode of mania/ hypomania
Inflated self esteem or grandiose thoughts
Decreased need for sleep
Flight of ideas/ racing thoughts
Distractibility
Increased goal directed activity/ psychomotor agitation
Excessive involvement in pleasurable activities ; Excessive spending, sexual indiscretions, unwise business investments
Functional impairment
Investigations to diagnose bipolar disorder?
Bloods and urine screen to rule out organic cause
Clinical diagnosis; PHQ-9, MDQ, bipolarity index
Differentials for bipolar disorder?
Mood disorder due to general medical condition
Substance induced mood disorder
Major depressive disorder
Dysthymic disorder
Cyclothymic disorder
Psychotic disorder
OCD
ADHD
Management of bipolar disorder?
Acute management of mania
Oral antipsychotics; Haloperidol, olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone
Adjunct benzodiazepines
Taper off and discontinue antidepressant
Consider hospitalisation
Acute management of depression in bipolar disorder
Standard antidepressant management options have lower efficacy and have associated risks of inducing mania or rapid cycling
Pharmacological options include; Fluoxetine + olanzapine, Quetiapine alone, Olanzapine alone, Lamotrigine alone
CBT may also be useful
Consider hospitalisation
Long term management
Mood stabilising medication; Lithium, Sodium valproate
Monitoring requirements for bipolar disorder?
Lifelong treatment and monitoring
See patients weekly following recent discharge
Complications of bipolar disorder?
Valproate induced hyperammonemic encephalopathy, hepatotoxicity, pancreatitis
Lamotrigine induced rash
Cognitive dysfunction
Weight gain
Lithium nephrotoxicity
Suicide
Disability
What is cyclothymia?
Mood disorder characterised by episodes of elevated mood but not severe enough to meet threshold of bipolar diagnosis
Epidemiology of cyclothymia?
More common in teenage years and young adulthood
Affects males and females equally
Aetiology of cyclothymia?
Genetic
Neurochemical and neurophysiological changes
Environmental issues; Traumatic experiences, prolonged periods of stress
Clinical presentation of cyclothymia?
Hypomania symptoms;
Exaggerated feelings of euphoria
Extreme optimism
Inflated self esteem
Talking more than usual
Poor judgement
Racing thoughts
Irritable/ agitated behaviour
Excessive physical activity
Increased drive to perform or achieve goals
Decreased need for sleep
Tendency to be distracted easily
Inability to concentrate
Depressive symptoms;
Feeling sad, hopeless or empty
Tearfulness
Irritability
Anhedonia
Changes in weight
Feeling of worthlessness and guilt
Sleep problems
Restlessness
Fatigue
Problems concentrating
Suicidal
Investigations to diagnose cyclothymia?
Physical exam
Psychological examination
Mood diary
Differentials for cyclothymia?
Major depressive disorder
Bipolar disorder
Generalised anxiety
Neurodevelopmental disorder
Personality disorder
Management for cyclothymia?
Psychotherapy, support groups
Social support
CBT
Medications;
Mood stabilisers;
Lithium, sodium valproate, carbamazepine
Antidepressants
Complications of cyclothymia?
Progression to bipolar disorder
Substance misuse
Anxiety disorder
Suicidal
Prognosis of cyclothymia?
Some patients go onto to develop bipolar disorder
Some continue with chronic illness
What is peurpeural depression?
Mood problems following childbirth and tend to be unipolar in nature
How long after childbirth can peurpeural depression occur?
12 months
Risk factors for peurpaural mood problems?
Psychosocial; poor support, obstetric complications, domestic abuse, low income, migration status
Psychiatric illness
Personality trait; Type A, low self esteem
Family History
Young maternal age
Sleep deprivation
Pathophysiology of peurpeural mood problems?
Hormonal changes and adverse obstetric events trigger mood problems
Neurochemical changes triggered by labour and delivery result in symptoms
Classification of peurpeural mood problems?
Minor mood disturbance; symptoms of insomnia, anxiety, irritability usually resolve in a few weeks
Postnatal depression; episodes of clinical depression following delivery causing significant disturbance to woman and family
Postnatal psychosis; most severe form with acute onset mania and is a psychiatric emergency
Clinical presentation of puerperal mood problems?
Depressed mood
Anhedonia
Decrease energy or increased fatigability
Loss of confidence and self-esteem
Excessive and inappropriate guilt
Poor concentration
Change in sleep, appetite, weight
Differentials for puerperal mood problems?
Minor mood disorder
OCD
Bipolar disorder
Thyroid dysfunction
Anaemia
Organic brain dysfunction
Post natal symptoms unrelated to depression
Management of puerperal mood problems?
Facilitated self help groups
CBT
Admission to psychiatric unit
Antidepressants; caution with breastfeeding
Monitoring requirements for puerperal mood problems?
Regular follow-up to assess symptoms and current mental state
Monitor babies if mother is breastfeeding and on medication
Complications of puerperal mood problems?
- Impaired bonding with infant
- Neglect of baby or infanticide
- Suicide
- Bipolar disorder in mother
Prognosis of puerperal mood problems?
Higher risk of post natal depression in future pregnancies
14% can have conversion to bipolar
What is OCD?
Mental health disorder characterised by obsessions and compulsions
What is an obsession in OCD?
Recurrent/ persistent thoughts, urges or images experience as intrusive and unwanted resulting in marked anxiety or distress which patient tries to ignore/ suppress with compulsive thoughts/ actions
What is a compulsion in OCD?
Repetitive behaviors or mental acts that a person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession or according to rules that must be applied rigidly to reduce anxiety
Epidemiology of OCD?
Affects 2% of population
4th most common mental illness
Equal prevalance in males and females, but males develop symptoms before females
Typical age of onset is late teens, early 20s
Aetiology of OCD?
Genetics; Autosomal dominant
Obstetrics events
Childhood adversity
Pathophysiology of OCD?
Dopaminergic and Glutamatergic overactivity in frontostraital pathwa and reduced serotonergic and GABAergic neurotransmission in fronto limbic system
Can be induced by brain lesion or stroke so symptoms can be localised to specific lesion
Risk factors for OCD?
Family history of OCD
PANDAS
Male gender
Pregnancy adversity
Childhood adversity
Clinical presentation of OCD?
Obsessions; Intrusive, unwanted, anxiogenic, thoughts
Compulsions
Poor motor coordination
Difficulty in sequencing of complex motor tasks
Sensory perceptual difficulties
Investigations for OCD?
Clinical diagnosis
Yale-Brown obsessive compulsive scale
Clinical global impression
Differentials for OCD?
Obsessive compulsive personality disorder
Body dismorphic disorder
Somatic symptom disorder
Delusional disorder
Severe social phobia
Panic disorder
Autism spectrum disorder
Management of OCD?
CBT
Pharmacotherapy; SSRI, clomipramine, antipsychotics
What is treatment resistant OCD?
Patients who have failed to respond to atleast 2 adequet trials of clomipramine or SSRI for atleast 12 weeks
Monitoring requirements for OCD?
Yale-Brown obsessive compulsive scale repeated periodically
Patients on psychotropic drugs should have levels checked every 6 months
Complications of OCD?
20% chance of developing tics
7% risk of developing tourette syndrome
Suicidal ideation
Features associated with treatment resistant OCD?
High frequency of compulsions
Early age of onset
Previous hospitalisation
Male gender