Psychiatry Flashcards
Which drugs can be used for augmentation if SSRI/SNRI was ineffective?
Atypical antipsychotic (e.g. quetiapine)
Lithium
Thyroxine
Buspirone
What guides the prescription of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors for patients with Alzheimer’s dementia?
MMSE 10-20 (moderately severe)
What is the optimum dose of venlfaxine recommended for GAD?
75 mg
By what age does autism start to impair function/manifest as abnormal development?
3 years
Outline the risks of SSRIs in pregnancy.
1st trimester: congenital heart defects
3rd trimester: persistent pulmonary hypertension
Paroxetine has an increased risk of congenital malformations, particularly in the 1st trimester
Sertraline, fluoxetine and citalopram are generally considered safe
Which agent is often used for rapid tranquillisation of an agitated patient?
Lorazepam
Alternative: olanzapine, haloperidol
How long do high-intensity psychological interventions go on for?
16-20 sessions over 3-4 months
What proportion of patients diagnosed with anorexia nervosa will make a full recovery?
20%
Name a tool used to assess the severity of alcohol withdrawal.
Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol (CIWA-Ar)
What is a particularly important aspect of the management of depression in the elderly?
Problem-solving
Increased socialisation and day-time activities
How long do low-intensity psychosocial interventions go on for?
Roughly 9-12 weeks with follow-up
Describe how you should switch from citalopram, escitalopram, sertraline or paroxetine to another SSRI.
First should be withdrawn before the alternative is started
How long do symptoms of depression need to be present to be diagnostic?
2 weeks
How is the MMSE score interpreted?
24 or more = normal
18-23 = mild
10-17 = moderate
< 9 = severe
NOTE: raw score should be corrected based on educational attainment and age
Outline the behavioural management approach for delirium.
Frequent reorientation (clocks, calendars)
Good lighting
Address sensory problems (e.g. hearing aids)
Minimise change (don’t keep moving the patient, one staff member per shift, establish routine)
Allow safe and supervised wandering
How should delirium tremens be managed?
Reducing benzodiazepine (chlordiazepoxide) regime IV pabrinex
NOTE: lorazepam may be used in hepatic failure
How are conversion disorders managed?
Encourage a return to normal activities and avoid reinforcing symptoms
Provide support for addressing stressors
What are some medical management options for preventing relapse in alcohol abuse?
Acamprosate (anti-craving)
Disulfiram
What is the FAST screening tool?
Consists of a subset of questions from AUDIT
A score of 3 or more is FAST positive
Which service should be involved in the care of a young person with first episode psychosis?
Early intervention service (EIS)
What is a major side-effect of chlorpromazine?
Skin photosensitivity (requires sunscreen)
What is treatment resistance schizophrenia?
Failure to respond to two or more antipsychotics, at least one of which is atypical, each given at a therapeutic dose for at least 6 weeks
State the duration of the following types of section. 2 3 4 5(2) 5(4) 35 37 135 136
2 - 28 days 3 - 6 months 4 - 72 hours 5(2) - 72 hours 5(4) - 6 hours 35 - 28 days 37 - 6 months 135 - 24 hours (up to 36) 136 - 24 hours (up to 36)
Which SSRI has a long half-life?
Fluoxetine
Define somatisation disorder.
• The main features are multiple, recurrent and frequently changing physical symptoms of at least 2 YEARS duration.
NOTE: if it has been going on for < 2 years, it is an undifferentiated somatoform disorder
What are the components of an AMTS?
How old are you?
What is the time to the nearest hour?
Give an address and ask them to recall it at the end
What is the year?
What is the name of the hospital or place you are currently at?
Can you recognise two people (doctor and nurse)?
What is your date of birth (day and month)?
In which year did WW2 begin?
Name the current prime minister.
Count backwards from 20 to 1
What is the first-line SSRI used for generalised anxiety disorder?
Sertraline
Paroxetine is the only licensed SSRI for GAD
List some transcultural psychiatric disorders.
Amox - Malaysia - frenzied killing spree
Koro - Asian - fear of penis disappearing
Piblokto - Inuits - sudden-onset hysteria (screaming)
Dhat - Indian - semen lost in urine
Latah - North Africa/Far East - exaggerated startle, echolalia or obeying commands, amnesia
Susto - South America - severe depressive episode after a traumatic event (often accompanied by diarrhoea and tics)
Windigo - North America - body is possessed by spirit that craves human flesh
List some physical/pharmacological treatments for erectile dysfunction.
Sildenafil
Intracavernosal prostaglandin self-injection
Vacuum pumps
How long do symptoms of PTSD have to last to be diagnostic?
> 1 month
Which benzodiazepine has the shortest half-life and what are the clinical implications?
Lorazepam - leads to worse withdrawal symptoms
Patients withdrawing may be switched from lorazepam to diazepam
Which medication can be used to prevent relapse in patients with opiate misuse?
Naltrexone
Which SSRI would be best to use in anorexia nervosa?
Fluoxetine (stable in terms of weight)
NOTE: you don’t want to give these patients anything that will make them gain weight too rapidly
Which tools are used to distinguish dementia from delirium?
Long Confusion Assessment Method (CAM)
Observational Scale of Level of Arousal (OSLA)
Which medications can be used for alcohol detoxification?
Chlordiazepoxide
Diazepam
NOTE: lorazepam can be used in cases of liver failure
What are the treatment approaches for emotionally unstable personality disorder?
Dialectical behavioural therapy Mentalisation-based therapy Therapeutic communities Arts therapy Transference focused therapy
Which social aspects of a patient with schizophrenia require management?
Social skill training Education, training and employment Skills (e.g. cooking, budgeting) Housing Accessing social activities Developing personal skills (e.g. creative writing)
List some triggers for lithium toxicity.
Salt balance changes (e.g. dehydration, D&V)
Drugs interfering with lithium excretion (e.g. diuretics)
Accidental or deliberate overdose
What is the Young Mania Rating Scale?
Uses 11 questions with a total score of 60
Scores
Outline the aspects of managing autism spectrum disorder.
Support and advice for families (National Autistic Society)
Behaviour therapy
Speech and language therapy
Special education
Treat comorbid problems (e.g. epilepsy)
Antipsychotics and mood stabilisers are occasionally used
List some side-effects of clozapine.
- Agranulocytosis, neutropaenia
- Reduced seizure threshold
- Constipation
- Myocarditis (baseline ECG should be taken before starting treatment)
- Hypersalivation
List the side-effects of SNRIs.
Constipation
Hypertension
Raised cholesterol
They also have all the SSRI side-effects
If a patient with postnatal depression required admission, where should she be admitted?
Mother and Baby Unit
Which investigations/further management should a GP recommend for a patient with suspected Alzheimer’s disease?
Physical examination
Blood tests
Refer to old age psychiatry outpatient clinic (memory clinic)
How should benzodiazepines be withdrawn?
Reduce by 1/8 of the dose every fortnight
List some symptoms of refeeding syndrome.
Weakness Fatigue Rhabdomyolysis Leucocyte dysfunction Respiratory failure Cardiac failure Hypotension Arrhythmia Seizure Coma This phenomenon usually occurs within four days of starting to feed again.
Which receptors are blocked by typical and atypical antipsychotics?
Typical = dopamine (D2) Atypical = dopamine and 5HT2
What is overshadowing?
When a patient’s presenting symptoms are assumed to be due to an underlying learning disability rather than another, potentially treatable, cause
Which forms of psychological therapy may be useful in schizophrenia?
CBT (for all patients)
Family therapy (particularly useful if high expressed emotion)
Concordance therapy
Describe the features of benzodiazepine withdrawal.
Nausea and vomiting Autonomic hyperactivity insomnia Delirium Seizures
How long do features of conduct disorder need to occur to be diagnostic?
6 months
How long does postnatal depression and puerperal psychosis usually take to recover?
Depression: 1 month
Psychosis: 6-12 weeks
What counts as a ‘brief intervention’ for alcohol dependence?
5-10 mins of information
2-3 sessions of motivational interviewing
What are the aspects of management of learning disabilities?
Treat physical comorbidity
Treat psychological comorbidity
Statement of Special Educational Needs (maximise potential)
Psychological therapy (group therapy, counselling)
What is the oestrogen hypothesis?
Potential explanation for why women respond better to TYPICAL antipsychotics (like haloperidol)
Describe the features of amphetamine withdrawal.
Dysphoric mood
Fatigue
Agitation
What criteria need to be fulfilled to be able to discharge a patient with puerperal psychosis?
Developed some insight into the nature of the illness and is adherent with medication
No longer a risk to herself or the baby
Outline the interpretation of the HAD.
7 questions for anxiety and 7 for depression (maximum 21 points for each)
Normal: 0-7
Borderline: 8-10
Anxiety/Depression: 11-14
What counts as mild, moderate and severe depression?
Mild
• 2 or 3 core symptoms
• At least 2 other symptoms
• The patient is distressed about the symptoms but can still continue with most activities
Moderate
• 2 or 3 core symptoms
• At least 3 other symptoms
• The patient has considerable difficulty continuing with ordinary activities and social functioning
Severe
• All 3 core symptoms
• At least 4 other symptoms, some of which are intense
• Major impact on quality of life and social functioning
• May show distress and/or agitation
NOTE: All symptoms must be present for at least 2 weeks
How should depression in BPAD be managed?
Antidepressant + mood stabiliser OR antipsychotic
Risk of precipitating mania
What are the features of alcohol withdrawal syndrome and how long after the last drink will it occur?
4-12 hours after the last drink Coarse tremor Sweating Insomnia Tachycardia Nausea and vomiting Psychomotor agitation Generalised anxiety
Where can detoxification for alcohol be given?
Inpatient detox
Community detox
What are the risks of using benzodiazepines in pregnancy?
1st trimester exposure is associated with cleft palette
Outline how a score from AUDIT is interpreted.
20+ = possible dependence 16-19 = high risk 8-15 = moderate risk 0-7 = low risk
Max = 40
What are the aspects of management of medically unexplained symptoms?
Reattribution model Avoid unnecessary investigations Emotional support Antidepressants CBT Graded exercise
What is the difference between Fregoli and Capgras syndromes?
Fregoli: delusion that a persecutor is able to change into many forms and disguise themselves to look like different people
Capgras: delusional belief that a close acquaintance has been replaced by an identical double
Which psychological therapies are available for patients with dementia?
Reminiscence therapy
Validation therapy
Multisensory therapy
Cognitive stimulation therapy (memory training)
What are the stages of change model?
Pre-contemplation Contemplation Preparation Action Maintenance Relapse
What are some psychological therapy options for alcohol abuse?
CBT
Problem-solving therapies
Group therapy (alcoholics anonymous)
Which mood stabiliser is considered safest to use in pregnancy?
Lamotrigine
Lithium –> Ebstein anomaly
Valproate and Carbamazepine –> NTD
Which SSRIs are associated with a dose-dependent increase in QTc?
Citalopram
Escitalopram
Which SSRIs have a high propensity for drug interactions?
Fluoxetine and paroxetine
What is an IMHA?
Independent Mental Health Advocate
Advocate who helps the patient find out their rights under the MHA and provide support whilst detained
NOTE: patients on section 4, 5, 135 and 136 cannot have an IMHA
Which agents may be used as substitutes in opiate misuse?
Methadone (liquid, full agonist) or buprenorphine (sublingual tablet, partial agonist)
NOTE: these are taken in a supervised environment
Buprenorphine causes less sedation so allows patients to work better, but taking heroin with buprenorphine is dangerous so it’s preferred for patients with mild/moderate dependence
What is the antidepressant of choice to treat the depressive phase of BPAD?
Fluoxetine
List some indications for ECT.
Catatonia
Prolonged or severe manic episode
Severe depression that is life-threatening
Which treatment option is best for children with eating disorders?
Family therapy (eating disorder-focused)
Which features distinguish personality disorders from personality traits?
Pervasive: occurs in all/most areas of life
Persistent: evident in adolescence and continues through adulthood
Pathological: causes distress to self or others, impairs function
List some clinical signs of anorexia nervosa.
Constipation
Bradycardia
Hypothermia
Sensitivity to the cold
What are two psychological therapies that are used to treat PTSD?
Trauma Focused CBT
EMDR (eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing)
Describe how you would switch from fluoxetine to venlfaxine.
Withdraw then start venlafaxine at 37.5 mg OD and increase very slowly
What is the most common cause of maternal death during pregnancy and the 1st year postpartum?
Suicide
NOTE: within 6 weeks postpartum it is VTE
Describe the features of benzodiazepine use.
Loss of coordination Slurred speech Decreased attention and memory Disinhibition Aggression Hypotension Respiratory depression
How is tardive dyskinesia treated?
Tetrabenzene