Psychiatry Flashcards
Another word for ‘mood’ disorders
Affective
Rough prevalence of dementia in uk?
830,000
Risk factors for alzheimer’s disease
Family hx Genetics Downs syndrome Vascular risk factors Low physical activity Low mental activity Depression Loneliness Smoking
Gene often mutated in Alzheimer’s
Apolipoprotein E (ApoE)
Define dementia
Progressive
Decline in cognitive function
Especially effecting memory
Usually global
What are the 7 A’s of dementia? What do they mean?
Apathy - not initiating things
Aphasia - decreased language, both spoken and written
Agnosia - lack of recognition
Amnesia - lack of memory
Apraxia - lack of ability to coordinate movements despite understanding and adequate muscle strength
Altered perception - misinterpretation of events and visiospacial
Anosognosia - lack of insight
What are the two core pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease. What is the effect on the cell signalling in the brain?
Deposition of extracellular beta amaloid
Formation of neurofibrillary tangles of tau proteins destabilising microtubules.
Results in cell apoptosis and low ACh, NA and 5HT
What brain regions does alzheimers mainly effect. Where is usually effected later
Temporal, parietal and hipocampus
Later frontal
How does alzheimers present on head imaging? What features of the scan suggest this?
Global atrophy +
Hippocampal atrophy +++
Suggested by increased ventricle size and sulci size
Other than imaging, what other test may show a change associated with alzheimers?
CSF - raised tau proteins.
What are the characteristics of vascular dementia?
Sudden onset
Stepped progression
Often memory and cognition but can effect where ever there are lesions
4 main causes of dementia
7 minor ones
Alzheimers, vascular, lewy body, frontotemporal
Parkinsons, huntingtons, progressive supranuclear palsy, cjd, wilsons, ms, hiv
What are the mental features of frontotemporal dementia?
Behaviour change
Language problems
Loss of world knowledge
What is largely preserved in frontotemporal dementia?
Praxis
Episodic memory
Spatial skills
Perception
What clinical signs may suggest frontotemporal dementia? (Group and specific)
Primitive reflexes
- grasp
- tap forehead and eyelids blink
- oral reflexes - sucking related
What is the term for excessive blinking on tapping the forehead? What diseases is it related too?
Gabella tap
Frontotemporal dementia
Parkinsons
What drugs are used in altzheimers
Example
Side effects
Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors
Donazepil
Bradycardia, constipation, nausea and vomiting
What drug is useful in lewy body dementia to control behavioural issues?
Rivastigmine
On what chromosome is the genetic change that is linked to frontotemporal dementia found?
9
How is frontotemoral see on a CT?
Atrophy of the frontotemporal lobes only
What reaction may occur in a patient with lewy body dementia who is given an antipsychotic?
Severe extrapyramidal side effects
What specific imaging can be used in lewy body dementia? What is it? What other condition can it be used in?
DAT Scan - radioactive iodine with high affinity for presynaptic dopamine transporters
Parkinsons
What should be checked for in cognitive impairment?
Fbc, u+e, bm, lfts, b12+folate, tfts, hiv, syphallis, serum copper,
Cxr, ct head
What general pharmocological interventions may help in dementia and complications thereof?
Memantine
Depressed - SSRIs/mirtazapine
Agitation/aggression (if not manageable and no reversible cause) - lorazepam/haliperidol
What is the definition of psychosis? What are the four cardinal symptoms of psychosis?
Experiencing a different reality to the majority of people without insight. Hallucinations Delusions Formal thought disorders Disorders of the self
What are hallucinations?
Perception in the absence of stimuli
What is the definition of delusions?
A firm belief that is held despite a lack of evidence and contradictory evidence out of keeping with the individuals social and cultural norms.
Some types of delusion
Grandiose Persecutory Guilt Reference Hypochodriacal
Types of auditory hallucination
Second order - people speaking directly too the patient
Third order - people speaking to other people often about the patient
How would a patient with formal thought disorder present?
Rapidly changing incoherent speech. One sentence/word does not necessarily follow the last
What are disorders of the self? Two examples?
Difficulty in distinguishing self from non-self.
Thought broadcast
Thought insertion
Give three functional causes of psychosis with they typical psychiatric abnormality
Schizophrenia (auditory hallucinations) Severe depression (derisory hallucinations or delusions) Mania (delusions of grandiose)
Some examples of organic causes of psychosis
Dementia Delirium Infections SOL Endocrine disease Epilepsy Drugs (stimulants, levodopa, cannabis) Alcohol withdrawal Nutritional deficiencies Electrolyte imbalances
What are the core symptoms of depression?
Low mood for 2 or more weeks
Anhedonia
Lack of energy
What are somatic symptoms of depression?
Decreased appetite
Weight loss
Decreased libido
Early morning wakening
What are mental symptoms of depression?
Low self esteem Guilt Hopelessness Diurnal variation in mood Decreased attention Hypochondriasis Suicidal thoughts
What features can complicate depression and make diagnosis hard?
Psychosis Cognitive impairment (depressive pseudodementia)
What are the criteria for the classification of depression as mild, moderate and severe?
Mild - 2 core symptoms and 2 other
Mod - 2 core and 3 other
Severe - 3 core and more than three other
What types of psycosis typically occur with depression?
Hallucinations - second person auditory - derisory and suggestions of suicide
Delusions - nihilsm (poverty and non-existence)
Risk factors for depression
Excessive alcohol Female Chronic illness Social stress Lack of support
What three categories can predisposing factors for mood disorders be divided into? Give some examples
Bio - genetics, physical health
Psycho - personality trait/disorder
Social - housing, relationships, finance
Biological treatments of depression?
Pharmacological - antidepressants
ECT
Psychological treatments of depression
CBT IPT (interpersonal psychotherapy)
Social treatments for depression
Helping sort finance, life etc!
General coping strategies
What physical health conditions may cause depression?
Hypothyroid
Cushings
Hyperparathyroidism (hypercalcaemia)
Brain tumours
What 2 types of sleep disturbance are there?
Initiation
Maintainance
What benzodiazapines are short acting?
Lorazepam, temazepam
What benzodiazapines are long acting?
Diazepam, nitrazepam
What is are issues with long term benzodiazepam use for insomnia?
Tolerance
Dependancy
withdrawal
What factors of benzodiazepams prescriptions would increase dependancy?
Short acting Long prescription Strong dose Alcoholism Drug dependancy Personality disorders
Other than dependance what are the disadvantages of using hypnotics to aid sleeping?
Falls Confusion Psychosis Day time drowsiness Nightmares Amnesia Dizzyness Depression
Definition of schizophrenia
A group of disorders causing distortion of thinking and perception with inappropriate or blunted affects.
What are the subtypes of schizophrenia?
Paranoid schizophrenia - large paranoid delusions
Catatonic schizophrenia - psychomotor disturbance both hyperkinesis and stupor
Hebephrenic schizophrenia - large affect changes and behaviour problems - disorganised speech, behaviour and emotions
Undifferentiated schizophrenia
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia
Apathy
Social withdrawal
Lack of motivation
None first rank positive schizophrenia symptoms
Other hallucination types
Behaviour disturbance
Secondary delusions
Prognosis of schizophrenia
1/3rd single psychotic episode
1/3rd multiple psychotic episodes
1/3rd multiple psychotic episodes with personality change
Treatments of schizophrenia
Bio - antipsychotics
Psycho - type a psychotherapy (opportunistic informal) and cbt
Social - family therapy, sheltered work, treatment adherence
What are the first rank symptoms of schizophrenia?
3rd person auditory hallucinations
Thought withdrawal, insertion or broadcast
Primary delusions
Delusional perception
Thoughs feelings or acts are controlled by others
What are schizotypal disorders?
Eccentric behaviour and anomalies of thinking like schizophrenia but not making the diagnosis
What are schizoaffective disorders?
Episodic affective and schizophrenic symptoms that do not justify a diagnosis of either schizophrenia or affective disorder (mania, depression, anxiety)
Essentially both schizophrenia and affective disorder together
What is a major theory of causation of depression?
What is a major flaw with it?
Monoamine theory of depression
Why do drugs eg. TCAs which rapidly raise NA and 5HT not rapidly resolve the depression
What is the proposed mechanism of ssris. How long can they take to have an effect? Why may this be?
Block serotonin reuptake
3-6 weeks
Increased cleft serotonin has negative feedback reducing serotonin release. With time presynaptic receptors desensitise and release returns to normal whilst serotonin still remains in cleft for longer
What percentage of patients respond to antidepressants?
70%
How long should antidepressants be continued past recovery from depression?
1 episode of depression in 5 years - 6 months
>1 episode of depression in 5 years - 2 years
What advice should be given to someone about stopping antidepressants? Why? What features?
Slow discontinuation
Risk of discontinuation syndrome - dizzyness, headache, lethargy, extrapyramidal effects, mania. Rapid onset within days, rapid resolution when drug restarted.
What are side effects of SSRIs?
N+V Diarrheoa and consitpation Sexual dysfunction Bleeding risk Suicidal ideation Hyponatraemia Loss of appetite
Give four examples of TCAs
Amitriptyline
Imipramine
Nortriptyline
Dosulapin
How do TCAs effect NA?
Stimulate 5HT neurones which in turn stimulate NA neurones
Desensitise alpha 2 receptors on presynaptic membrane
What unwanted receptors do TCAs effect? What side effects associated with each?
Muscurinic - blurred vision, dry mouth, constipation, urinary retention, st/svt
Alpha adrenoceptors - postural hypotension
Histamine receptors - confusion
Myocardial Na channels - decreased Na influx so prolongs QRS and arrhythmia
Which TCA is most cardiotoxic?
Dosulepin (dothiapin)
Examples of SNRIs
Venlafaxine
Duloxetine
What differs in the side effect profile of SNRIs vs SSRIs - one positive and one negative.
Positive - less sexual dysfunction
Negative - hypo or hypertension
How does mirtazapine work?
Blocks alpha 2 adrenoceptors increasing amount of NA and 5HT in synaptic cleft
Additional benefits of mirtazapine?
Increases appetite
Sedative
Side effects of mirtazapine
Weight gain Postural hypotension Urinary retention Dry mouth Fatigue Mania Blood disorders Hyponatremia
Other than mirtazapine what other antidepressant is involved in blocking receptors? Which does it block?
Trazodone
Blocks presynaptic 5HT and H1
Increases 5HT and NA
What can MAOIs interact with broadly?
Drugs - amine containing e.g. Cough mixtures or decongestants, other antidepressants
Drugs - also metabolised e.g. Opiates, barbiturates, alcohol
Foods - tyramine containing - e.g. Cheese, game, alcohol
Examples of MAOIs
Phenelzine
Isocarboxazid
Why is tyramine dangerous in MOAIs?
Usually metabolised by MAOIs
Acts as an indirect sympathomimetic causing release of NA
Hypertensive crisis
Why is lithium used?
Mania
Bipolar
Recurrent depression
Side effects of lithium
Huge number Arrhythmia, AV block, QT prolongation Hypothyroidism Intercranial hypertension GI disturbance Renal disturbance inc. polydipsia and polyuria
What is the proposed mechanism of action of lithium?
Interaction with second messanger system
What is the core mechanism of action of antipsychotics?
Suppression of the mesolimbic and mesocortical dopaminergic pathways by antagonising dopamine receptors
What unwanted pathways do antipsychotics effect? With what effects?
Nigrostriatal - EPSE - parkinsonism, acute dystonic reactions, akathisia, tardative dyskinesia
Tubero-infundibular - hyperprolactiemia, gynecomastia, galactorrhlea, menstrual irregularities, impotence
What other categories of side effects are there for antipsychotics other than effecting the dopamine pathways?
Autonomic
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
QT prolongation
What side effects of antipsychotics occur due to blockage of the desired dopamine pathway?
Impaired performance
Sedation
What autonomic receptors may be blocked by antipsychotics? What side effects do each cause?
Muscurinic - dry mouth, blurred vision, urinary retention, constipation
Alpha adrenoceptor blockade - postural hypotension, hypothermia
Histamine - sedation, weight gain, diabetes (unsure how on latter 2)
5HT - sedation
What is neuroleptic malignant syndrome?
A rare reaction to antipsychotics
Causes hyperthermia and muscle rigidity
Treat with cooling and dopaminergic agonists like bromocryptine
What are some examples of typical antipsychotics?
Haliperidol
Chlorpromazine
What side effects predominate in typical antipsychotics?
EPSEs
What are the major side effects of chlorpromazine?
Sedation
Agranulocytosis
Haemolytic anaemia
What are the major side effects of haloperidol?
Movement disorders
Prolonged qt
Examples (6) of atypical antipsychotics
Clozapine Risperidone Olanzapine Quetiapine Amisulpride Aripriprazole
What atypical antipsychotic is especially useful in refractory patients? What are its major side effects? What side effects does it not tend to cause? Why?
Clozapine
Neutropenia, agranulocytosis, antimuscurinic
Low incidence of EPSE maybe due to 5HT blockage
Which antipsychotics are most likely to cause hyperprolactinaemia?
Typical
Risperidone
Which antipsychotic doesnt cause hyperprolacinaemia? Why?
Aripriprazole
Partial dopamine agonist
Which antipsychotics are most likely to prolong QT
Haloperidol
Which antipsychotics are most likely to cause weight gain and diabetes mellitus?
Clozapine and olanzapine
Which antipsychotics can be used in depot?
Haloperidol
Risperidone
What are disadvantages of use of depot injections of antipsychotics?
Increased risk of movement disorders
Cant stop quickly if side effects occur
What should be monitored in antipsychotic therapy GENERALLY?
FBC, U+Es, LFTs annually ECG Lipids and weight at 3 months then yearly. BM at 6 months then yearly Prolactin 6 months then yearly
Which antipsychotic requires more intensive monitoring?
Clozapine
What are the four extrapyramidal side effects?
Which is. Irreversible on. Withdrawal of drug
What is a possible treatment
Dystonia - abnormal contraction Akatheisa - restlessness Parkinsonism - tremor Tarditive dyskinesia - rhythmic contraction - irriversible Procyclidine
What teratogenic fetature results from lithium? What is it?
Ebsteins anomaly
Tricuspid valve deplaced towards apex decreasing right ventricular size
Features of lithium toxicity
Tremor Ataxia Dysarthria Coma Convulsions Death
What monitoring is required in a patient on lithium?
Litium levels
Tfts
Renal function
Other than lithium what other mood stabilisers are available?
Sodium valporate
Carbamezapine
Lamotragine
Psychiatric causes of anxiety as a mental health problem
Phobia Generalised Panic OCD PTSD Secondary to depression, bipolar, shizophrenia
Physical causes of anxiety as a mental health problem
Tumour
Hormonal
Infections
Symptoms of a state of anxiety
Cognitive - constant worry, hyperarousal, difficulty sleeping, irritiability, hard to concentrate, rumination
Somatic - shaking, sweating, palpitations, hyperventilation (with paraesthesia and carpopedal spasm)
How do people with anxiety disorders try to cope?
Avoidance
Self medication - e.g. Alcohol
What is a phobic anxiety
Examples
Intense and irrational fear of a specific situation, event or thing
- social phobia
- specific phobias (agoraphobia, needles, spiders)
What subcategories of social phobia are there?
Generalised
Specific (e.g. Public speaking)
What is a panic disorder?
Discrete episodes of intense fear accompanied by >4 anxiety symptoms more than twice a month with anxiety between attacks
Catastrophic misinterpretation of symptoms
What are the treatment options for phobic disorders?
SSRI
CBT
Treatment options for panic disorders (long term)
SSRI
Group therapy
CBT
Imipramine (tca)
What is generalised anxiety disorder?
Primary anxiety symptoms most days for several weeks or months. Worry is out of proportion to risk and regards multiple stimuli.
Pharmocological treatments for GAD?
Ssris
Tcas
Pregabalin
Psycological treatment for gad
CBT
Group therapy
Social treatment for gad
Self help
Exercise
Avoid caffine smoking and alcohol
What are the diagnositic criteria for OCD?
Repetitive and unpleasant obsessive or compulsive symptoms
Most days for >2 weeks
Has tried to stop and failed
Good insight
Treatment options for OCD
CBT SSRI Clomipramine (TCA) MDT Antipsychotic
Diagnostic criteria for ptsd
Delayed and protracted response
To exceptional threatening incident to self or loved one
Within 6 months
Signs and symptoms of ptsd
Reliving - nightmares, triggers, hypervigilance, startle reaction
Avoidance
Personality - blunting, anhedonia, detachment,
Treatment of ptsd
Bio - severe disease only - paroxetine, mirtazapine, amitriptyline
Psycho - trauma focussed CBT, EMDR (eye movement therapy)
Social - reduce alcohol, caffine, drug use etc.
Parts of the mental state exam?
Appearence/behaviour Speech Mood Thoughts Perceptions Cognition Insight
Parts of full cognition assessment?
General (alertness) Orientation Attention Concentration Language Calculation Abstraction Memory Praxis (copying) Gnosis (making sense of sensory information) Right hemisphere function (visiospatial)
What is delirium?
Global impairment of cognition, disturbed attention and conscious level with abnormal psychomotor, affect and sleep patterns
What features are typical of delirium timing?
Acute onset
Fluctuating
Worse at night
What are the subtypes of delirium, how may they present?
Hyperactive - arousal, restless, irritable, wandering
Hypoactive - quiet, sleepy, inactive, unmotivated
What are the core symptoms of delirium on top of the subtype behaviour?
Disturbed consciousness from alert to coma
Attention deficit
Visual hallucinations
Global cognitive impairment (orientation, speech, memory)
Labile mood
Disturbed sleep wake cycle
What are the features of delirium mediated hallucinations?
Fragmented or transient
Illusionary (misinterpretation)
Causes of delirium?
Acute CNS insult - cva, trauma, infection, epilepsy
Acute systemic illness - sepsis, infection, MI,
Drugs - recreational, prescribed
Withdrawal - e.g. Alcohol, benzos
Hypoxia
What drugs raise delirium risk?
Diuretics Sedatives Opiates Anticholinergics Antidepressants Antipsychotics Antiparkinson
Risk factors for delirium? Inc specific condition with very high risk!
Age
Pre existing mental health problem
Severe illness
Hip fracture
How does delirium change patient outcome?
Worsens prognosis
Increases length of stay (3 fold!)
Increases mortality
Increases readmissions
Management ideas for delirium
Bio - antipsychotics (haloperidol or orlanzapine)
Psycho -
Social - food and drink, calm environment, moderate lighting, music, sensory aids, consistent staff, avoid intervention, promote sleep patterns (do they need 30min obs overnight!?)
What drugs to avoid prescribing to manage delirium?
Long acting benzos (e.g. Diazepam)
Multiple side effects e.g. Chlorpromazine
What are the types of memory?
Short term
Long term
- explicit (episodic, semantic)
- implicit (procedural, priming)