Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Neurology and psychiatry > Psychiatry > Flashcards

Psychiatry Flashcards

1
Q

Whats the difference between functional and organic psychiatry?

A

functional: neurotic disorders (depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar etc)
organic: physical disorders (dementia, epilepsy, huntingdons, parkinsons, brain injury etc)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Give 4 ways in which psychiatric disorders can be thought about?

A
  • psychoanalytical
  • behaviourist reinforcement
  • cognitive theorists- irrational thinking
  • biology- structural deficits
  • stress venerability model- biological predisposition to disoder
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is anxiety?

A

When the stress response becomes excessive, persistent and unreasonable.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What system in the brain mediates the normal stress response?

A

The limbic system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is the limbic system made up of?

A

hippocampus, septal area, amygdala, prefontal cortex and cingulate gyrus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Describe how the limbic system activates the stress response?

A

Hippocampus activated-> activates limbic system-> causes motor response (run) and sympathetic activation. Amygdala also important in drive related behaviours, emotions and traumatic memory processing. Hypothalamus also releases CRH which causes ACTH and so cortisol release which increases metabolism, mobilises energy, suppresses immune system and inhibits inflammation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is the result of prolonged stress response due to prolonged cortisol release?

A

exhaustion, muscle wasting, immune system surpression, hyperglyaemia, hypertension

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Give 4 signs and symptoms of anxiety?

A
  • irritability
  • edginess + restlessness
  • chronic fatigue
  • difficulty sleeping
  • muscle tension
  • unease
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Give 5 signs and symptoms of a panic attack

A
  • hyperventilation
  • dizziness
  • SOB
  • numbness
  • fear of death
  • chocking feeling
  • nausea
  • sweating
  • chills
  • palpitations and chest pain
  • trembling
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is social anxiety disorder?

A

Fear of judgement in social situations, made worse by fact that they’re aware of their anxiety and that other people will notice it due to trembling, flushing etc

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is generalised anxiety disorder?

A

Excessive, persistant and unreasonable anxiety about everyday stressors eg social situations, money, jobs.They know their stress is unreasonable but they cannot control it. May be mild and can have job or very debilitating.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is panic disorder?

A

repeated episodes of panic, which is unpredictable. They may develop anticipatory anxiety which can lead to avoidance of places which may trigger attacks or avoid public places all together (agoraphobia) to minimise impact

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Explain two theories for what causes panic disorders?

A
  • Reduced GABA - less inhibition= more panic. Generally thought to be how benzodiazepams are anxiolytic
  • reduced serotonin- increasing serotonin with SSRIs stimulates serotonin receptors in the hippocampus and can help reduce anxiety
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is an obsession?

A

A thought that persists and dominates an individuals thinking despite their awareness that the thought is entirely without purpose, or has persisted and dominated their thinking beyond the point of relevance or usefulness. Eg ‘i might harm the baby’ ‘i might be a paedophile’ ‘god doesnt exist’

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is a compulsion?

A

Motor acts of obsessions- may be due to obsessional impulse directly leading to an action or may be mediated by obsessional mental image or fear. Eg ‘i need to turn the light on and off 10 times or my familly dies’. May be mental compulsions- repeating phrases.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Describe the criteria for diagnosis of OCD?

A
  • obsessions, compulsions or both present most days for at least 2 weeks
  • must originate in mind of pt
  • must be repetative and unpleasant
  • pt must acknowldge them as unreasonable (lack of insight= psychosis)
  • carrying out compulsion not pleasurable
  • must be distressing/ interfere with pts social or individual functioning
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

when does ODC tend to start?

A

adolescence or early adulthood

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Give 3 theories for the cause of OCD?

A
  • re- entry circuit in basal ganglia meaning you cant let go of thoughts, making them obsessional or acts- complusions
  • reduced serotonin (SSRI treatment helps)
  • PANDAS: Paed autoimmune neuropsych disorder associated w/ strep infection. Sudden onset tics due to cross reaction with antibodies in basal ganglia. Responds to antibiotics and normal OCD management
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

How is OCD treated? (6)

A
  • CBT
  • exposure response prevention (expose them and dont let them carry out response)
  • high dose SSRIs
  • anti psychotics
  • TCAs
  • deep brain stimulation- stimulate STN which stimulates GPi and SNr, leading to inhibition of thalamus so reduction in OCD.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What is PTSD?

A

Repetitive, intrusive recollection or re- enactment of a traumatic event of exceptional severity in memories, daytime imagery or dreams. Emotional detachment, numbness of feeling and avoidance of stimuli follows.

21
Q

Give 2 possible theories on PTSD?

A
  • hyperactivity of amygdala

- lower cortisol levels-> which normally inhibits traumatic memory retreival

22
Q

How can PTSD be treated? (non pharmacological)

A

CBT, eye movement desensitisation reprocessing

23
Q

What pharmacological interventions are used to treat anxiety?

A
  • SSRIs
  • benzodiazepam (acute)
  • pregablin (GABA analogue)
  • TCAs (OCD and panic disorder)
24
Q

What is psychosis?

A

Presence of hallucinations (perception without a stimulus, can be normally when going to sleep or waking up) or delusions (unshakable abnormal beliefs outside cultural norms, lack of acceptance that they arnt true)

25
Q

Describe causes of psychosis? (11)

A
  • delirium due to infection (elderly)
  • delirium tremens (alcohol withdrawal)
  • acute drug/ alcohol intoxication
  • post ictal states
  • encephalitis
  • hypercalaemia
  • lupus
  • steroids
  • L DOPA
  • hyperthyroidism
  • schizophrenia
26
Q

Give 7 1st rank/ positive symptoms of schizophrenia?

A
  • Auditory hallicinations (thought echo, running commentary, talking about pt)
  • Passivity experiences (actions or feelings controlled by external force (MI5))
  • Thought withdrawal (thoughts are taken out of the mind)
  • Thought insertion (thoughts put into head by others)
  • Though broadcasting (thoughts are being made known to others)
  • Delusional perceptions (attributing new meaning to normal object- light turns red= aliens coming)
  • Somatic hallucinations (something happening within body)
27
Q

Give 3 negative symptoms of schizophrenia?

A

under activity, low motivation, social withdrawal, emotional flattening, self neglect

28
Q

What is paranoid schizophrenia?

A

Where the delusions or hallucinations are most prominent features

29
Q

What is undifferentiated schizophrenia?

A

insufficient symptoms to meet one subtype or if fits >1 subtype

30
Q

What is simple schizophrenia?

A

Where negative symptoms dominate, may be no positive symptoms. Often mistaken for depression but the withdrawal is more prominent than the mood change.

31
Q

What is hebephrenic schizophrenia?

A

loss of inhibition and perceptions of appropriateness. Tend to act weird and childlike.

32
Q

What is catatonic schizophrenia?

A

Mutism, excitement, posturing, waxy flexibility, rigidity +/- command automatism (repeats command over and over). This may arise from depression, untreated schizophrenia or as a type of schizophrenia (rare). There are a few other causes.

33
Q

Describe the dopamine pathway changes in schizophrenia?

A

Mesolimbic pathway from ventral tegmental area to amygdala and hippocampus is overactive. Mesocortical pathway from ventral tegmental area to frontal cortex and cingulate cortex is underactive.

34
Q

Other than dopamine pathway changes, what else has been implicated in schizophrenia?

A
  • ventricle enlargement in most pts
  • reduced hippocampus, amygdala, parahippocampalgyrus, prefrontal cortex
  • limbic structures may be involved due to involvement in regulating emotion and behaviour
  • basal ganglia may be involved due to motor symptoms in untreated pts
35
Q

How can teratomas lead to schizophrenia?

A

Cross reactivity of antibodies with the brain- called anti NMDA encephalitis. Is curable so schizophrenic ppl need screening for it.

36
Q

How can schizophrenia be treated?

A 
Typical antipsychotics (chlorpromazine, haloperidol)- block D2 receptors with high affinity, lots of side effects. 
Atypical antipsychotics (clozapine, resperidone)- lower affinity for D2, fewer side effects
37
Q

Which drugs can induce schizophrenia?

A

methamphetamines, cannabis, cocaine, amphetamines, LSD, ket (anything really). Symptoms start within 2 weeks of drug use, last longer than 48 hrs but dont exceed 6 months)

38
Q

What is affective psychosis?

A

Psychotic experiences are congruent with mood, seen in those with severe mood or emotion disorders. Eg manic pts may feel like god, depressed pts have delusions about guilt or unpleasant things.

39
Q

What is post partum psychosis?

A

affects 1/1000 women, onset of psychosis within days- weeks of delivery.

40
Q

Describe the three main and three other features of depression

A

Low mood, lack of energy, lack of enjoyment and interest continually for 2 weeks.
Also: depressive thoughts (unworthy, suicide, guilt), sleep changes (classically early morning wakening) and weight loss due to eating less.

41
Q

How is depression different from an adjustment reaction? (7)

A

In depression:

  • symptoms appear slowly (not sudden after event)
  • symptoms continuous and last two weeks minimum
  • lack of interest (as opposed to preoccupation with an event)
  • low energy
  • sleep distubances + EMW
  • loss of appetite and weight
  • low self esteem (as opposed to feelings or anger/ fustration)
42
Q

Give 5 physical disorders which can cause depression?

A
  • hypothyroidism and other hormone disorders
  • B12 deficiency
  • heart and lung disease
  • vascular disease (esp cerebrovasular disease)
  • kidney disease
  • liver disease
  • alcoholism
  • recreational drug habits
43
Q

Which brain structures have been implicated in depression? (3)

A
  • limbic system (due to role in emotions, motivation and memory)
  • frontal lobe (due to role in goal directed behaviours, attention, memory, mood, behaviours)
  • Basal ganglia (emotion, cognition, behaviour functions)
    It is though there are abnormal circuits between these areas in depression but this cannot be proved till functional imaging improves.
44
Q

Which neurotransmitters have been implicated in depression? (2)

A
  • Low Noradrenaline (AMPT inhibits NA synthesis and increases depressive symptoms, TCAs and SNRIs increase it and help w/ depression)
  • Low Serotonin (ppl w/ depression have less 5HIAA (metabolite of serotonin) in CSF, typtophan depletion (precursor to 5HT) causes depression, PET and SPET studies and SSRIs working also suggest involvement)
45
Q

What is thought to cause depression?

A

Mixture of predisposing, precipitating and perpetuating (maintaining) factors. May not need all/ any of these factors though.

46
Q

Give 2 examples of predisposing, precipitating and perpetuating factors causing depression?

A

Predisposing: Genetics, childhood exp (quality of attachment, loss of carer, loss of parent, bullying), female gender (may be due to child care role, men tend to ruminate less and taken on fewer stressors- but also les likely to admit depression.
Precipitating: Loss of child/ loved on, loss of health, relationship break up.
Perpetuating: stressful job, relationship difficulties, substance misuse, financial strain, unemployment, isolation

47
Q

How is depression treated?

A

SSRIs:(citalopram, fluoxetine, sertraline) and lithium good for moderate to severe depression.
Talking therapies and CBT good if traumatic childhood or depressive thoughts dominate.
Getting them back to work early, encouraging them todo things they used to enjoy even though they dont want to will help.

48
Q

Give 3 side effects of SSRIs and explain why they occur

A

Fever and tachycardia due to sertonergic projections to sympathetic NS.
Vomiting due to sertonergic projections to vomiting center.

Neurology and psychiatry (8 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions