Psychiatry Flashcards
What is ADHD
Multifactorial (genetic, environmental, neurological factors) contributing to a triad of hyperactivity, inattention, impulsivity.
Presents in childhood and MAY continue to adulthood, but does not present as adult without childhood.
DSM-V criteria used. Symptoms must be persistent. 6 features <16, 5 features >16.
Twice as common as autism and affects boys more.
Diagnostic features of ADHD
Inattention
- Cant follow through instruction
- Reluctant to engage in mentally taxing tasks
- Difficult to sustain tasks
- Unorganised, forgetful in ADL
- Loses things
Hyperactivity/impulsivity
- Unable to sit still, or quietly
- Excessive talking
- Spontaneously leaves seat
- On the go
- Interrupts/intrusive
- Run and climb and answer questions before finishing question
Management of ADHD
Methylphenidate - first line in children (>5 only). 6 week trial, after considering non-pharm options.
- Lisdexamfetamine, followed by dexamfetamine.
Monitor child’s height, weight, blood pressure, ECG.
Side effects: Tachycardia, hypertension, abdo pain, nausea, dyspepsia. Reduced appetite can cause stunted growth
All drugs cardiotoxic.
Non pharm ADHD management
Healthy diet
Exercise
Parental and child education
School adjustments and interventions
Define Psychosis, Delusions and Hallucinations
Psychosis - Loss of contact with reality. Affects a person’s ability to distinguish what’s real and what’s not.
Delusions - Fixed false belief, held despite clear evidence to the contrary. Typically illogical, and not shared by those within person’s social or cultural group.
Hallucinations - Sensory perceptions that appear real but are not. Occur in absence of external stimuli
Types of delusion
- Persecutory delusions: Belief that one is being plotted against or harmed
- Grandiose delusions: Belief in having exceptional abilities, wealth, fame
- Delusions of reference: Belief that insignificant events or remarks are directed at the person
Types of hallucination
- Auditory (most common in psychosis)
- Visual hallucinations
- Tactile, olfactory, gustatory (less common)
Psychotic features
Hallucinations
Delusions
Thought disorganisation
- Alogia (little information conveyed)
- Tangentiality
- Clanging (rhyming or similar sounds)
- Word salad (Linking real wrods incoherently)
Associated features with psychosis
Agitation/aggression
Neurocognitive impairment (memory, attention, executive function)
Depression
Self harm thoughts
Give some conditions that may present with psychosis
- Schizophrenia (Most common)
- Depression
- BPD
- Puerperal psychosis
- Illicit drug use
- Neurological conditions (parkinson, huntington)
When does first episode psychosis normally occur
15-30 years
What is schizophrenia and whats its main risk factor
Severe long term mental health disorder characterised by psychosis. Presents most between 15-30. Earlier in men than women. Must have symptoms for >6 months to diagnose.
Family history
- 50% if twin
- 10-15% if parent
- 10% if sibling
Black caribbean have relative risk of 5.4
What are 2 other types of schizophrenia
Schizoaffective disorder combines symptoms of schizophrenia with bipolar. Psychosis + mania + depression
Schizofphreniform disorder - Lasts less than 6 months
How does psychosis present
Psychosis normally preceded by prodrome phase. May have subtle memory loss, concentration, mood swings etc.
Key features of psychosis (positive symptoms)
- Delusions
- Hallucinations
- Thought disorder (Disorganised thoughts, causing abnormal speech and behaviour)
Lack of insight
How does schizophrenia present (positive symptoms)
Key positive symptoms
- Auditory hallucinations
- Somatic passivity (believing an external entity is controlling them)
- Thought broadcasting (believing others are overhearing their thoughts)
- Persecutory delusions (fasle belief people will harm them)
- Delusional perception (ordinary/unremarkable perception triggers delusion)
What are some negative symptoms of schizophrenia
4As
- Affective flattening (minimal emotional reactions to events)
- Alogia (Poverty of speech)
- Anhedonia (lack of interest in activities)
- Avolition (lack of motivation to complete goals)
Reduced functioning (social, productivity, selfcare) also important
What are patterns of schizophrenia
Continuous
Episodic (relapsing/remitting)
Single episode
Management of schizophrenia
Oral atypical antipsychotics first line
- Aripiprazole
- Olanzapine
- Risperidone
- Quetiapine
Offer CBT and WATCH for CVD risk factors, high rates of CVD in schizophrenia patients
Side effects of antipsychotics
Weight gain
Diabetes
Prolonged QT
Raised prolactin
Extrapyramidal
- Akathisia (psychomotor restlessness)
- Dystonia (abnormal muscle tone and postures)
- Pseudo-parkinsonism
- Tardive dyskinesia (abnormal movements)
Features associated with poor prognosis in schizophrenia
- Family history
- Gradual onset
- Low IQ
- Prodromal phase of social withdrawal
- Lack of obvious precipitant
What are typical antipsychotics
Dopamine D2 receptor antagonists, block dopaminergic transmission in mesolimbic pathways
- Haloperidol
- Chlorpromazine
Side effects of typical antipsychotics
Hyperprolactinaemia and Extrapyramidal symptoms
- Akathisia (psychomotor restlessness)
- Dystonia (abnormal muscle tone and postures)
- Pseudo-parkinsonism
- Tardive dyskinesia (abnormal, involuntary movements “chewing and pouting of jaw”, excessive blinking)
What are atypical antipsychotics
Atypical (Second gen) created due to extrapyramidal and prolactin side effects.
Act on variety of receptors (D2, D3, D4, 5-HT)
E.g.
- Clozapine (most effective - only indicated after all else tried)
- Risperidone
- Olanzapine
Which antipsychotic is most likely to result in a long QT
Haloperidol
What are some other side effects of antipsychotics
Antimuscarinic - Dry mouth, blurred vision, urinary retention, constipation
- Sedation and weight gain
- Impaired glucose tolerance
- Reduced seizure threshold
- Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
What are some atypical antipsychotics and some side effects
- Clozapine
- Olanzapine (obesity and dyslipidaemia)
- Risperidone
- Aripiprazole (good side effect profile)
Weight gain
hyperprolactinaemia
Clozapine associated with agranulocytosis
Metabolic Syndrome!
What monitoring is required with antipsychotics
- FBC, U&E, LFT at start of therapy and annually
- Lipids and weight at start and 3 months
- Fasting blood glucose and prolactin: at start of therapy, 6 months and annually
- Baseline and frequently while titrating dose
- ECG baseline
- CVD risk assessment annually
ALCOHOL WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS and the hours at which they present
Alcohol withdrawal
symptoms: 6-12 hours
seizures: 36 hours
delirium tremens: 72 hours
Explain difference between circumstantiality, tangentiality and derailment
A circle comes back around eventually (Circumstantiality)
A Tangent goes off forever in another direction (Tangentiality)
A derailed train goes off the track after a little while and needs to be nudged back on (Derailment)
How is acute dystonia due to haloperidol treated
Procyclidine (prepare dose just in case)
What is bipolar
Chronic periods of depression + episodes of mania (type 1) or hypomania (type 2)
Typically develops in late teen/early 20s
What is the difference between hypomania and mania, and what are some features of mania
Both relate to abnormally elevated mood or irritability
- Hypo: Decreased/increased function >4 days, but less than 7
- Mania: Significant functional impairment or psychotic symptoms for at least 7 days
Features of mania:
- Abnormally elevated mood
- Significant irritability
- Increased energy
- Decreased sleep (sometimes going days without sleeping)
- Grandiosity, ambitious plans, excessive spending and risk-taking behaviours
- Disinhibition and sexually inappropriate behaviour
- Flight of ideas (rapidly generating and jumping between ideas)
- Pressured speech (rapid and unrelenting speech)
- Psychosis (delusions and hallucinations - more suggestive of mania)
How is bipolar diagnosed
By a specialist using DSM-5 criteria
Other differentials:
Cyclothymia involves milder symptoms of hypomania and low mood.
Unipolar depression is when the person has only 1 episode of depression +- mania
How is bipolar managed long term
Lithium
- Serum lithium levels have to be taken 12 hours after most recent dose, initial target range 0.6-0.8mmol/L. Lithium toxicity if gets too high!
Alternatives: Sodium valproate, olanzapine. Dont forget that valproates proper fuckin teratogenic
Depression - Talking therapies and SSRI (Fluoxetine antidepressant of choice)
Address comorbities (2-3x risk of Diabetes, CVD, COPD)
How should Bipolar primary care referrals be carried out
Hypomania - Routine referral to community mental health(CMHT)
Mania or severe depression - Urgent referral
Acute episode management in bipolar
Manic episode
- Antipsychotic (e.g. haloperidol)
- Lithium/sodium valproate
- Taper and stop existing antidepressants
Depressive episode
- Olanzapine + Fluoxetine
- Antipsychotic (olanzapine)
- Lamotrigine
What are some adverse effects of lithium
- Nausea/vomiting, diarrhoea
- Benign leucocytosis
- Fine tremor
- Nephrotoxicity (polyuria, secondary nephrogenic diabetes insipidus)
- Thyroid enlargement (Goitre) causing hypothyroidism
- ECG: T wave flattening/inversion
- Weight gain
- Idiopathic intracranial hypertension
- Hyperparathyroidism and hypercalcaemia!
How should patients on lithium be monitored
- Sample taken 12 hours post dose
- Lithium levels weekly and after each dose change until stable
- Once on stable dose, check every 3 months
- If dose change, check after 1 week, and weekly again until levels stable
- Thyroid and renal function every 6 months
What is lithium toxicity, and how is it normally precipitated
Lithium has narrow therapeutic range (0.4-1 mmol/L) and long plasma half-life, primarily excreted by kidneys. Toxicity normally occurs >1.5mmol/L
- Dehydration
- Renal failure
- Diuretics(thiazides), ACEi/ARB, NSAID, metronidazole
How does lithium toxicity present
- Coarse tremor (whatever the fuck that is)
- Hyperreflexia
- Confusion
- Polyuria
- Seizure
- Coma
How is lithium toxicity managed
Mild-Moderate: Fluid resuscitation with saline
Haemodialysis if severe
Sodium bicarbonate sometimes used, alkalinity of urine promotes lithium excretion
Give me the definitions of these thought disorders:
- Circumstantiality
- Tangentiality
- Neologisms
- Clang associations
- Word salad
- Knights move thinking
- Flight of ideas
- Perserveration
- Echolalia
- Circumstantiality: Inability to answer without excessive, unnecessary detail. Go on massive tangent BUT do return to original point.
- Tangentiality: Wander from topic without ever returning to point.
- Neologisms: New word formations, maybe combining 2 words
- Clang associations: Ideas related to each other only because they sound the same or rhyme
- Word salad: Completely incoherent speech made up of real words that make no sense together
- Knights move thinking: Severe loosening of associations. Unexpected and illogical leaps from one idea to another.
- Flight of ideas: Feature of mania, leaps from one idea to another, but with discernable links between the 2. Super fast.
- Perseveration: repetition of ideas or words, despite attempting to change subject
- Echolalia: repeating someone else’s speech, including asked question
Symptoms common to both hypomania and mania
The following symptoms are common to both hypomania and mania
Mood
predominately elevated
irritable
Speech and thought
pressured
flight of ideas: characterised by rapid speech with frequent changes in topic based on associations, distractions or word play
poor attention
Behaviour
insomnia
loss of inhibitions: sexual promiscuity, overspending, risk-taking
increased appetite
Hypomania vs mania
Mania >7 days, psychotic symptoms, severe impairment in social or work setting, may need admission
Hypomania <7 days, 3-4 days usually, high functioning - no significant impairment, unlikely to require hospital, no psychosis
What is Generalised anxiety disorder, and what are some non GAD causes of anxiety
Excessive worry about a number of events associated with heightened tension, that significantly impact patients life. Symptoms persist most days for at least 6 months, with no other cause.
- Hyperthyroidism
- Cardiac disease
- Medication (salbutamol, theophylline, corticosteroids, antidepressants, caffeine)
- Phaeochromocytoma
- Alcohol, benzodiazepine withdrawal
How does GAD present
Emotionally:
- Excessive, uncontrollable worrying
- Restlessness
- Difficulty relaxing and concentrating
- Easily/Hard to be tired
Physical (sympathetic nervous system overactivity):
- Muscle tension
- Palpitations
- GI symptoms
- Headaches
- Sleep disturbance
- Sweating/tremor
How is anxiety diagnosed
Clinical diagnosis (GAD-7 can help)
- 5-9 mild
- 10-14 moderate
- 15-21 severe
What are panic attacks and how do they present
Sudden onset physical/emotion symptoms of anxiety that come on quickly for a short while then gradually fade. Can be isolated events or panic disorder (diagnosed symptoms present for a month)
Physical:
- Tension
- Palpitations
- Tremor
- Sweating
- Dry mouth
- Chest pain/SOB
- Dizziness/Nausea
Emotional:
- Panic
- Fear/danger
- Depersonalisation (detached)
- Loss of control
What are risk factors for panic disorder
Living alone
Early parental loss
History of abuse
Poor educational history
Urban living
Family history
How is anxiety managed
Step-wise
1 - Education + monitoring
2 - Self referral to low intensity psych intervention
3 - High intensity intervention (CBT, applied relaxation) or drugs
- Sertraline (SSRI) first line
- Then, alternative SSRI or SNRI (duloxetine/venlafexine)
- Pregabalin if cant manage SSRI/SNRI
- If under 30, advise increased risk of suicide/self harm ideation!
How is panic disorder managed
Stepwise again, common sense pathway really.
Then:
- CBT
- Drugs (SSRI first line, imipramine or clomipramine if not!)
What do benzodiazepines do and what are their side effects
Enhance inhibitory GABA by increasing frequency of chloride channels. Range of effects:
- Sedation, hypnosis, anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, muscle relaxant
Side effects:
- Tolerance/dependance - only prescribe for short time (2-4 weeks)
- Withdrawals, up to 3 weeks after stopping, if they come off abruptly.
- Withdrawal symptoms: insomnia, irritability, anxiety, tremors, tinnitus, perceptual disturbance, seizures
How are beta blockers used in anxiety
non selective beta blocker reduces sympathetic nervous system effects, treating physical symptoms. (Tremors, palpitations, sweating etc). Contraindication is asthma (bronchoconstriction/bronchospasms)
What is OCD
Obsessions - unwanted intrusive thought, image, urge, repeatedly entering persons mind
Compulsions - repetitive behaviours or mental acts that person feels driven to perform. Can be overt (checking a door is closed) or covert (mentally repeating a phrase)
Usually a combination of both
Risk factors for OCD
- Family history
- Age 10-20 at onset
- Pregnancy/postnatal
- History of abuse, bullying, neglect
What is the OCD cycle
Obsessions
Anxiety
Compulsion
Temporary relief
Becomes more ingrained each cycle
How is OCD diagnosed
DSM-5 and/or ICD 11 scoring
Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) is used to assess severity of symptoms
Management of OCD
Mild:
- Low intensity psych treatments (CBT including exposure and response prevention (ERP))
Moderate or mild ineffective:
- SSRI (Any fine but fluoxetine specifically for body dysmorphic disorder) or more intense CBT with ERP
- Clomipramine (TCA) if SSRI not wanted
Severe
- Secondary care referral with SSRI and CBT with ERP in meantime.
*ERP = Exposing patient to anxiety provoking situation without allowing compulsion.
2 considerations when prescribing SSRIs in OCD
- Requires longer than depression (at least 12 weeks) for initial response
- If effective, continue for at least 12 months to prevent relapse
What is PTSD
Mental health condition resulting from traumatic experiences. Affects any age, and increases risk of depression, anxiety, substance misuse, and suicide. Symptoms last longer than 1 month (DSM-5)
Can arise from witnessing or experiencing:
- Violence (domestic, sexual, abuse or physical attacks)
- Major car accidents
- Major health events
- War
- Natural disasters
How does PTSD present
Re-experiencing: flashbacks, nightmares, repetitive and disturbing intrusive thoughts/images.
Avoidance: avoiding people, situations, circumstances associated with the event
Hyperarousal: Hypervigilance for threat, exaggerated startle response, sleep problems, irritability, difficulty concentrating
Emotional numbing - lack of feeling, feeling detached, derealisation (world isnt real)
Also:
- Substance misuse
- Anger
- Depression
- Unexplained physical symptoms
- Negative beliefs and emotions
How is PTSD Diagnosed
Trauma Screening Questionnaire
Diagnosis based off:
- ICD-11 or
- DSM-5