Psychiatry Flashcards
Key features of Generalised Anxiety Disorder
- Anxiety >6 months not restricated to a particular circumstance.
- Aetiology - genetics, life stressor, F>M, brain damage, reduced ANS response, more in 45-59y
- Dx= 4 of: (*including 1 ANS hyperstimulation)
- Palpitations*
- Sweating*
- Shaking*
- Dry mouth*
- Dizzy
- Derealisation/ depersonalisation
- Fear of losing control
- Fear of dying
- ‘On edge’
- Difficulty concentrating
- Difficulty going to sleep
- SOB
- Lump in throat
- Chest pain
- N+V
- Hot flushes/ chills
- Numbness/ tingling
- Muscle tension
- Restlessness
- Irritability
- Tx:
- Education
- CBT/ pscyhotherapy
- Medical - 1st line= SSRI eg citalopram
- BDZ in acute eg lorazepma
Key features of panic disorder
- Panic disorder= recurrent panic attacks.
- Panic attack= period of intense fear. Rapid onset, peak 10 mins, lasts <30 mins. Spont. + situational.
- Aetiology: F>M, esp teens/ middle age. More post-synaptic response to seratonin.
- Presentation: ANS hyperstimulation
- Tremor
- Tachycardia
- Tachypnoea
- Hyertension
- Sweating
- GI upset
- Tx:
- CBT
- 1st line: SSRI
- 2nd line - TCA, SNRI, MAOi
Key features of phobic disorder
- Recurrent Sx on anxiety in presence of specific object –> avoidance.
- Eg acoraphobia, social phobia
- Aetiology- F>M, onset 7-20y, conditioned theory.
- Tx:
- Behavioural - graded exposure
- Cognitive - educational + coping strategies
- Medication if severe - SSRI (?PRN BDZ eg flying)
Key features of obsessive compulsive disorder
- Obsessionsal thoughts and/or compulsive acts. Repeated rituals interfere with functioning.
- Aetiology- F>M, esp 20s. Dysregulation of seratonin.
- Tx:
- CBT, psychotherapy
- 1st line= SSRI –> alt SSRI –> clomipramine
- ECT
Key features of PTSD
- Severe psychological disturbance <6m after traumatic even –> re-experiencing of elements of event + ++arousal, avoidance, emotional numbing, interfering with functioning.
- ICD-10:
- >2 persistent Sx of increased pscyhological sensitivity + arounsal, difficulty sleeping, irritability, anger, poor concentration, hypervigillance, increased startle response.
- Persistent reliving of stressor - flashbacks, dreams, memories.
- Avoidance.
- Inability to recall.
- Tx:
- 1st line= Rapid eye movement desensitisation
- CBT
- Exposure therapy
- Meds - SSRIs eg paroxetine, amitrptylline
Key features of somatoform disorder
- = Repeated presentation of physical Sx + requests for medical Ix despite -ve results + reassurance.
- At least 6 Sx in 2 different body systems.
- Hypochondrical disorder= >6m preoccupation with having >1 serious dosrder
- Tx:
- Ix - rule out DDx
- Try to avoid meds. Only effective when co-morbid anxiety.
State and Trait anxiety
- State= Temp. Condition due to percieved threat
- Trait= Personality characteristic
Anxiety management
- Dx - rule out physical condition, meds, co-morbidities
- Low intensity CBT, pscyhoeducation
- 1st line - high intensity psychological intervention. 2nd line drugs
- Psychological Tx + drugs
- Drugs:
- 1st line = SSRI
- 2nd line GAD - pregabalin
- BDZ short term
Key features of Mental Health Act 2007
- Part 1 = Mental disorder (not substances or LD) and at risk to self or others
- Part 2= Sections + holding orders
- Section 2= 28d. MD + risk. No capacity/ consent. AMHP, section 12 doctor + other doctor
- Section 3= 6 months. Same + nearest relative agreement.
- Section 4= emergency. 72h. 1 doctor + 1 AMHP.
- Holding powers - already admitted. 5(2)= 72h, awaiting assessment. 5(4)= 6h - by nurses.
- Police powers - 135 inside home, 136 outside house –> place of safety for 48h
- S17= approved leave
Key features of the Mental Capacity Act
- Capacity= situational
- Assessing capacity:
- Understand the consequences
- Retain and repeat information
- Weigh up the options
- Communicate
- –> Lack any one of these –> act in best interests.
- Assume a person has the capacity to make a decision themselves, unless it’s proved otherwise
- Wherever possible, help people to make their own decisions
- Don’t treat a person as lacking the capacity to make a decision just because they make an unwise decision
- If you make a decision for someone who doesn’t have capacity, it must be in their best interests
- Treatment and care provided to someone who lacks capacity should be the least restrictive of their basic rights and freedoms
Definition of delirium and causes
- = Acute onset of fluctuating cognitive impairment
- Types:
- Hyperactive - agitation, arousal. Risk of falls
- Hypoactive - Lethargy, psychomotor retardation. Risk of sores, dehydration
- Mixed- variable.
- Causes= PINCH ME
- Pain
- Infection/ Intracranial
- Neoplasm/ Nutrition
- Constipation
- Hydration
- Medications - psychoactive, sedating, steroids, L-dopa, opiates, alcohol.
- Metabolic - Electrolytes, thyroid, glucose
- Environment - esp sensory impairment
Presentation of delirium
- Incoherent speech
- Disorganised thinking
- Impaired consciousness
- Impaired cognitions
- Reduced attention
- Impaired sleep-wake cycle
- Drowsy
- Agitation/ retardation
- Emotional lability
- Anxiety/ depression
- Delusions - paranoid, persecutory
- Hallucinations es pvisual
Ix an Tx of delirium
- Ix:
- 4-AT (delirium test), MMSE, AMTS, CAM (confusion assessment method)
- Bedside - o2, BM, ECG, urine dip, sputum
- Bloods - FBC, U+Es, glucose
- Imaging- CXR
- Tx:
- ID + Tx cause
- Optimise condition - hydration, nutrition, elimination, pain
- Optimise environment - lighting, clocks, pics
- Support and involve family - re-orientation
- Avoid sedation - quiet room. If needed- Haloperidol or clozapine in PD
Bloods in confusion screen
- FBC
- U+Es
- LFTs
- TFTs
- B12
- Folate
- HbA1c
- Vit D
- Calcium, phosphate, magnesium
- CRP
Confusion Assessment Method - Identification of delirium
- Confusion - acute and fluctuating
- Inattention
- Either:
- Disorganised thinking - disorganised, incoherent, illolgical
- Altered level of consciousness - lethargy, stupor, comatose, hypervigilant
- Either:
Dementia - what is it, presentation, Ix and Tx
- = Progressive global cognitive deficits with functional impairment. DDx excluded. Sx at least 6m.
- Presentation:
- Hallucinations + deliusions
- Anxiety/ depression
- Personality changed
- Reduced cognition
- Pathological emotion
- Seizures
- Functional impairment
- Memory loss
- Ix:
- Bedside - ECG, MMSE, Adden-Brookes, EEG
- Bloods - FBC, LFTs, U+Es, glucose, ESR, TFTs, calcium, Mg, phosphate, B12, folate, CRP, cultures
- Imaging - CT/ MRI head, CXR
- Tx: Bio-Psycho-Social!
- Cons - support, OT, physio, NB driving
- Meds- SSRI for depression/ anxiety. Cognitive enhancement based on type of dementia
Key features of Alzheimer’s Disease
- RF: Age, Downs, head injury.
- Pathophysiology- Plaques and tangles. Reduced ACh
- Presentation;
- Early - Memory loss, disorientation, behaviour change (agression, wandering, temper, sexual disinhibition)
- Middle - Loss of intellect, aphasia, apraxia, agnosia, loss of executive function
- Late - Declining physical condition, change in gait, spasticity, weight loss, seizures
- Tx:
- AChEi - Donepezil (urinary incontinence), rivastigmine, galantamine
- NMDA - memantine
Key features of dementia with Lewy Bodies
- Mixed pathology - lewy bodies, plaques, tangles, vascular
- Presentation:
- Dementia
- Depression
- Falls + syncope
- Visual hallucinations
- REM sleep disorder
- Parkinsonism
- Fluctuating cognition
- Ix: CT, DAT, MRI, SPECT
- Tx:
- Avoid antipsychotics
- AChEi/ memantine trial
- AntiPD for motor Sx
- Clonazepam for motor Sx
Key features of fronto-temporal dementia
- Early onset 45-65y. Slow decline.
- Presentation:
- Disinhibition - overeating, sexual etc
- Speech - mutisms
- Reduced cognition
- Poor personal hygiene
- Loss of insight
- Blunted emotion
- Wandering
- Ix: MRI, SPECT. Loss of fronto-temporal. Spared memory!
- Tx: non-specific
Key features of vasacular dementia
- Cause= thromboembolism/ infarction
- Presentation:
- ?Prev stroke
- Depression
- Behaviour slowing
- Seizures
- Neuro - rigid, brisk reflexes
- Stepwise
- Focal neurology and signs
- Early emotional + personality change
- Ix: cholesterol, clotting, ?ECHO, carotid doppler
- Tx: x smoking, Anticoagulation, HTN control
Key features of alcohol dependence
- Reccommended= <14 units/w
- Assessment:
- Bedside - CAGE, AUDIT, breathalyser
- Bloods- FBC, U+Es, LFTs, coags, refeeding (calcium, phosphate), vit B12, folate, HbA1c, magnesium, glucose
- Affects:
- Bio - seizures, wernicke’s/ korsikoffs, gout, cirrhoesis, cancer, HTN, pancreatitis
- Psycho- anxiety, depression, psychosis, self-harm
- Social - empolyment, family, forensic
- Tx:
- CBT
- Assisted withdrawal- community. Inpatient if >30units/d, epilepsy, LD, vulnerable. Withdrawal Sx 4-12h later
- BDZ - chlordiazepoxide based on CIWA
- Thiamine
- Tx after withdrawal:
- Acamprosate, naltrexone - less cravings
- Disulfiram - unpleasant SE
Management of opiod dependence
- Drug testing - urine/ saliva
- Assess bio-psycho-social
- Opiate substitute:
- Methadone - Sedating. Liquid. Detox 28d.
- Buprenorphine - no high. Tabelet.
Definition of dependence
- 3 or more present at some time in prev year:
- Strong desire/ compulsion
- Difficulty controlling use
- Withdrawal
- Tolerance
- Neglect of other interests
- Persistence despite clear evidence of harm
- Harmful use= actuall damage to mental/physical health
- Hazardous use= More risk of harmful consequences. Pattern of use.
Diagnostic criteria for depression
- Dx: Sx for 2 weeks
- Mild= 2 core + 2 others
- Mod= 2 core + 4 others
- Severe= 3 core + 6 others
- * = Core
- Depression*
- Interest - loss of*
- Tiredness*
- Suicide*
- Sleep
- Concentration
- Confidence
- Guilt
- Appetite
- Pyschomotor retardation
- Other Sx - Loss of libido, psychosis, constipation, amenorrhoea, retardation
- Hx- RISK!!! NB to screen for anxiety, mania, psychosis
Depression - RF, subtypes, organic causes
- RF:
- F>M
- Genetic
- Childhood abuse
- Personality traits eg neuroticism
- Relationshiop/ employment status
- Adverse life event
- Organic causes - Med, hypothyroid, Addison’s, Cancer
- Subtypes:
- Without somatic Sx
- With somatic Sx
- With Psychotic Sx
- 80% recurrent depressive disorder
- Dysthymia= chronically depressed mood
- Monamine oxidase theory - due to less monoamines - seratonin, dopamine, noradrenaline
Depression - Ix and Tx
- Ix:
- Screening - PHQ-9. “During the last month have you felt down/ had loss of interest?”
- Bloods - U+Es, TSH, FBC, LFTs, B12/folate, calcium, CRP
- Tx:
- Mild - Stop precipitating factors, CBT
- Mod-severe- CBT, psychodynamic therapy, drugs
- Severe - ECT
- Drugs:
- SSRIs - sertraline, citalopram, fluoxetine, paroxetine
- SNRIs - Venlafaxine
- NaSSAs- Mirtazapine
- TCAs - Amitryptylline, imipramide
- MAOi - Macobemide, phenelezine
Causes of dementia
- Neurodegenerative - AD, frontotemporal, PD, Huntington’s
- Cerebrovascular disease
- SOL
- Head injury
- Infection - CJD, HIV related, neurosyphilis, meningitis
- Drugs + alcohol - BDZs, barbituates
- Inflamm - MS, SLE
- Nutritional - thiamine, B12
- Normal pressure hydrocephalus
- Metabolic/ endocrine:
- Liver failure
- Wilson’s
- Thyroid
- Cushings
- Addisons
Definition of Bipolar affective disorder and mania
- Bipolar= at least 2 episodes, 1 of which must be manic/ hypomanic/ mixed. Complete recovery between eps.
- Mania= 3/9 of: For at least 1 week
- Elated mood
- More activity/ energy
- Pressure of speech
- Flight of ideas
- Less need for sleep
- Disinhibition
- Distractability
- Reckless bahaviour
- Marked sexual behaviour
- Severe mania + psychotic Sx= grandiose, persecutory, delusions, pressured speech, catatonia, loss of insight.
- Hypomania - >3Sx >4 days not severe enough to interfere with functioning.
Management of bipolar affective disorder
- Promote routine
- Antipsychotics - olanzapine, quetiapine, haloperidol
- Mood stabilisers - lithium, sodium valproate
- Anti-depressant mood stabiliser - lamotrigine
- Rapid cyclers - carbamazepine
Behaviours associated with eating disorders
- Starvation, calorie counting
- Denial of weight loss
- Change in habits eg veganism
- Wearing bagging clothes
- Rituals/ obsessions
- Rules on eating
- Socially isolated
- Low mood
- More exercise
- Self-harm
- Bathroom after meals
Difference between mood and affect
- Mood= climate
- Affect= weather
Key features of anorexia nervosa
- Weight loss 15% or more below expected
- BMI <17.5
- 2 types: restrictive, binge-purging type
- +/- other features - appetite suppressants, excessive exercise, diuretics.
- Obsession with being thin, fear of gaining weight
- Endocrine disturbance –> amenorrhoea, loss of libido, impotence in men, raised growth hormone/ cortisol, reduced T3
- Atypical AN - BMI >17.5, some insight
Key features of bulimia nervosa
- Craving + recurrent binges (>2/w) –> guilt + compensatory behaviour (vomiting, laxatives, exercising)
- Other compensatory behaviour - misuse of thyroid drugs, not administering insulin)
- BMI almost normal
ICD-10 for anorexia nervosa
All of the following:
- Low BMI <17.5 kg/m2
- Self-induced weight loss
- Overvalued ideas: dread of fatness, low target weight, self-perception of being fat
- Endocrine disturbance - amenorrhoea, raised cortisol, growth hormone
- Pre-pubertal - failure to make expected weight gains, delayed pubertal events
ICD-10 of bulimia nervosa
All of following:
- Bing eating
- Strong cravings for food
- Methods to counteract weight gain - vomiting, laxatives, fasting, exercise
- Overvalued ideas
What is EDNOS?
- = Eating disorder not otherwise specified
- Residual mild/ chronic forms of AN + BN
Medical complications of eating disorders
- Related to starvation:
- Emaciation
- Amenorrhoea + infertility
- Cardiomyopathy
- Constipation
- Cold intolerance
- Bradycardia
- Lanugo - fine, downy hair
- Dry and brittle skin
- Peripheral oedema
- Proximal myopathy + muscle wasting
- Osteoporosis
- Seizures
- Electrolyte disturbance - NB hypokalaemia!
- Related to vomiting:
- Permenant erosion dental enamel
- Enlargement of salivary glands
- Calluses on back of hands
- Oesophageal rupture
Eating disorder - Ix and Tx
- Ix:
- Bedside - SCOFF questionaire, ECG (*QTC*), BMI, pulse, proximal muscle strength
- Bloods - FBC, U+Es, LFTs, glucose, cortisol, TFTs, FSH, LH, cholesterol. Refeeding bloods- calcium, phosphate
- Tx:
- Cons - support groups, psychoeducation, weight restoration, CBT
- Med- correct electrolyte disturbance, cautiously re-introduce food (refer + follow protocol)
What is psychosis and what disorders might you get it in?
- = Perceive reality in a very different way from those around you. Characteristically:
- Hallucinations - abnormal perception
- Delusions - fixed, false beliefs outside cultural norm
- +/- Disorganised thinking
- May get in schizophrenia, delusional disorder
Schizophrenia ICD-10 criteria
- 1 of:
- Thought alienation
- 3rd person auditory hallucinations
- Delusions of control/ passivity
- Persistent delusions
- 2 of:
- Persistent hallucinations
- Breaks in speech (poverty)
- Catatonic behaviour
- -ve Sx eg apathy, blunted affect
- Significant + persistent change in overall quality of some aspects of personal behaviour
Types of schizophrenia + DDx
- Parnoid
- Catatonic - ++ psychomotor disturbance
- Simple - oddity of conduct
- Undifferentiated
- Post-schizophrenic depression
- Residual - chronic
- Hebephrenic - ++ change in affect (flattened/ incongruent). Less delusions and hallucinations
- DDx- depression, mania, alcohol/ drugs, organic brain
Dopamine theory of schizophrenia
- Cauesed by ++ dopamine.
- Proven as antipsychotics are dopamine antagonists
Management of schizophrenia
- CBT, family therapy
- Social care and housing
- MDT- CPN, social work, OT
- Antipsychotics:
- Typical/ 1st generation - Haloperidol. CI- PD, LBD
- Atypical/ 2nd generation - Respiradol, olanzapine, clozapine, quetiapine, aripiprazole. Wider therapeutic range, less EPSE
- SE of antipsychotics - EPSE, neuroleptic malignant syndrome (fever, muscular rigidity, change in mental state) –> tx= procyclidine
What is delusional disorder? Different types + Tx
- = Long-standing (>3m) delusions are the only characteristic. Organic, affective and schizophrenic causes eexcluded.
- Subtypes:
- Grandiose
- Persecutory
- Somatic
- Capras syndrome - someone they know is replaced by an imposter
- Fregoli syndrome - believe stranger is a loved one
- Erotomania - delusion that a person of higher social standing is inlove with them.
- Foli a deux - delusion shared by 2 people in close association
- Orthello syndrome- delusion that spouse is unfaithful
- Tx:
- Psychoeducation
- Antipsychotics
Key features of post-natal depression
- Develops <3m of delivery. Lasts 2-6m.
- Screening tool= Edinburgh
- Depressive Sx +:
- Anxious preoccupation with baby’s health
- Less affection and bonding with baby
- Obsessional phenomena eg harming baby
- Infanticidal thoughts
- Often feelings of guilt/inadequacy
- Tx:
- Cons- mother-baby groups, relationship councelling, health visitors
- Med- antidepressants
- Severe - hosp + ECT
- Post-natal blues - eps of tearfullness, mild depression, irritability, emotional lability. Self-limiting
Key features of puerperal psychosis
- Rapid onset 4d-3w
- 1 in 500 births. RF: PMH/Fhx of bipolar/ puerperal psychosis, primip, traumatic delivery
- Presentation:
- Insomnia
- Restlessness
- Perplexity
- Suspiciousness
- Marked pschotic Sx
- Polymorphic/ fluctuating Sx
- Affective + psychotic thoughts may occur at separate times
- RISK!! Thoughts of self-harm/ harm to baby, thoughts baby should be dead, command hallucinations
- Tx:
- Hospital in mother-baby unit
- Meds- antipsychotics, anti-depressants, mood stabilisers, BDZ (acute)
- ECT
Biological causes of depression
- Medications:
- Beta blockers
- L-dopa
- Steroids
- Antipsychotics
- Opiates
- Neuro- MS, PD, Huntington’s
- Thyroid
- Cushing’s
- Addison’s
- LTC/ chronic pain
What are personality disorders?
- Personality= Traits/ characteristics –> attitude, thoughts, behaviour
- PD= Enduring, persistent + pervasive –> distress and impaired functioning
- Start childhood
- Manifest as problems in cognition, affect, behaviour
- Outkeeping with cultural norms
- Not attributed to other mental health disorders
Types of personality disorders
- Paranoid - sensitive, distrust
- Schizoid - emotionally cold, introspection
- Dissocial - agression, callous, can’t maintain relationships
- EUPD- unable to control affect, self-harm, umpulse, unstable relationships, substances
- Dependent - clingy, need care, helpless when not in relationships
- Anxious - timid, insecure, self-conscious
- Anakastic- indecisive, cautious, perfectionism
- Histrionic - craves attention, self-damatication
Aetiology and management of personality disorders
- Aetiology - Genetic, lower seratonin, poor childhood development, dysfunctional environment, maladaptive environment
- Management:
- Support groups
- CBT
- No admission - only crisis
- No meds (unless co-morbid)
Key features of self-harm
- = Intentional act done with the knowledge that it is potentially harmful Eg overdose, self-injury (cutting, burning, hitting)
- Motives- emotional relied, self-punishment, attention seeking
- Patients with self-harm at 100-fold greater chance of completing suicide. NB risk assessment.
- Associated mental health disorders - depression, bi-polar, schizophrenia, alcohol dependent, personality disorders, eating disorders
- Assessment
- Thorough risk assessment - pre-morbid, triggers, protective
- Medically stabilise
- Recent adverse events/ triggers?
- Planning/ spontaneous
- Precautions to avoid discovery
- Help soughts after?
- Protective factors?