Psychiatry Flashcards
What are mood disorders?
Disorders of mental status and function where altered mood is the major feature
List three important mood disorders
Depression
Mania
Bipolar disorder
A useful mnemonic for the diagnosis of depression is DEADSWAMP. It outlines the major depression criteria.
Depression Energy (low)/Fatigue Anhedonia Death thoughts (self-harm or suicide) Sleep (insomnia or hypersomnia
Depression can be transient (not abnormal) or it can be the principal sign of an abnormal mood disorder. How do psychiatrists determine abnormal depression from normal variation in emotion?
Psychiatry emphasises:
- Persistence of symptoms
- Pervasiveness of symptoms
- Degree of impairment
- Presence of specific symptoms or signs ( other diagnostic features)
Symptoms of depression occur in three distinct categories. List some psychological symptoms
Change in mood: Depression, anxiety, perplexity, anhedonia
Change in thought content: guilt, hopelessness, worthlessness, delusions/hallucinations
Symptoms of depression occur in three distinct categories. List some physical symptoms
Change in bodily function: energy, sleep, appetite, libido, constipation, pain
Change in psychomotor function: agitation, retardation
Symptoms of depression occur in three distinct categories. List some social symptoms
Loss of interests Irritability Apathy Withdrawal Loss of confidence Indecisiveness Loss of concentration/memory
What is the definition of agitation?
A state of restless overactivity, aimless ineffective
What is the definition of anhedonia?
Loss of ability to derive pleasure from experience
What is the definition of apathy?
Loss of interest in own surroundings
What is the definition of anxiety?
An unpleasant emotion in which thoughts of apprehension or fear predominate
What is the definition of depression?
An unpleasant emotion in which sadness or unhappiness predominates
What is the definition of retardation?
A slowing of motor responses including speech
What is the definition of stupor?
A state of extreme retardation in which consciousness is intact.
The patient stops moving, speaking, eating and drinking.
On recovery can describe clearly events which occurred whilst
stuporous
Outline the general criteria for the diagnosis of depression
Symptoms lasting for at least two weeks
No episodes of mania/hypomania in lifetime
Not attributable to psychoactive substance or organic mental disorder
Exclusion of psychotic disorders e.g. schizophrenia
What is somatic syndrome?
A form of depression with a predominance of physical symptoms (e.g. loss of appetite, weight loss, loss of libido, anhedonia, psychomotor retardation/agitation
How is the severity of depression characterised?
General criteria with additional major and minor criteria
Mild depression requires general criteria, two major criteria and four minor ones.
Moderate requires additional two more criteria
Severe requires all criteria to be met
List some differential diagnoses of depression
Normal reaction to life event Bipolar Hypothyroidism Addison's disease Infections (infectious mononucleosis, hepatitis, HIV/AIDS) Drugs
How is depression treated?
Antidepressants - SSRIs, TCAs, MAOIs
Psychological treatments - CBT, IPT
Physical treatments - ECT, Psychosurgery, DBS
List some tools for measuring/screening for depression
SCID (Structured interview for DSM Disorders)
SCAN (Schedules for clinical assessment in neuropsychiatry)
HDRS (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale)
BDI-II (Beck Depression Inventory-II)
HADS (Hospital anxiety and depression scale)
PHQ-9 (Patient health questionaire-9)
What is mania?
A term used to describe a state of feeling, or mood, that can range from near-normal to severe and life-threatening illness
How is mania measured?
SCID (Structured interview for DSM Disorders)
SCAN (Schedules for clinical assessment in neuropsychiatry)
YMRS (Young Mania Rating Scale)
How is mania treated?
Antipsychotics (olanzapine, risperidone, quetipine)
Mood stabilisers (sodium valproate, lamotrigine, carbamazepine)
Lithium
ECT
What is bipolar disorder?
A disorder consisting of repeated episodes of depression and mania/hypomania
How long does the typical major depression episode last for?
4-6 months
What percentage of major depressive patients recover at 26 weeks?
54%
What percentage of major depression patients don’t recover?
12%
What percentage of major depression patients go on to have another episode?
> 80%
What percentage of major depressive patients die y suicide?
15%
Outline cognitive behavioural therapy
Short-term, problem-based and goal orientated therapy which looks at the relationship between thoughts and feelings and how these affect behaviour.
Outline behavioural activation therapy
Focuses on avoided activities. Patients are taught to analyse unintended consequences of their way of responding.
Outline interpersonal therapy
Useful for the treatment of depression and anxiety
Focuses on an area(s) where the depressive symptoms link to an interpersonal event(s) - works to reduce symptomology
Outline motivational interviewing
Promotes behaviour change in a wide range of healthcare settings
Used where behaviour change is being considered, when a patient may be unmotivated or ambivalent to change
Outline the five stages of change
- Pre-contemplation - no desire to change
- Contemplation - thinking about change
- Planning/determination - options for change/building confidence
- Action - implement strategies
- Maintenance - coping strategies, address weak points etc.