Psychiatry Flashcards
What are the components of the Mental State Examination (MSE)
- Appearance
- Behaviour
- Cooperation and attitude
- Affect and Mood
- Affect is patients observed emotions
- Congruency - is the emotion appropriate?
- Range - broad (manic), flat, constricted (depressed)
- Reactivity - constricted, flat or blunted
- Mobility - changes to stimuli
- Mood - sustained emotion present over a long time
- Affect is patients observed emotions
- Speech
- Rate, volume, quantity, quality
- Thought form and content
- Form - how is it delivered
- Flow - linear, incoherent, tangential, circumstantial, derailment, flight of ideas
- Content
- Themes, preocuppations, overvalued ideas
- Ideations - self-harm, suicide, violent thoughts
- Delusions
- Posession - thought insertion, withdrawal, broadcasting
- Form - how is it delivered
- Perception
- hallucinations, illusions, derealisation, dissociation
- Cognition
- level of consciousness
- memory, concentration
- orientation
- Insight - awareness of their illness
- Judgement - ability to assess situations and act appropriately
- Risk - suicide, self-harm, homicide, relationships, finance, neglect
Symptoms of Depression (SIG E CAPS)
*Requires >=5 symptoms, for at least 2 weeks, with at least one of the symptoms being depressed mood or anhedonia
- Sleep disorders
- Interest loss
- Guilt/ worthlessness
- Energy depleted
- Concentration diminished
- Appetitie changes
- Psychomotor agitation
- Suicidal thoughts
What is the prevelance of depression in the community
- Lifetime prevelance of 20%
- Females > males (2:1)
- 5% of the population at any one time
- Peak onset in the 20s
What are some screening tools to assess depression
- PHQ-9
- DASS-21
- K-10
- Edinburgh depression score for postnatal depression
- Geriatric depression scale
Treatment for depression
First line
- SSRI’s (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor)
- E.g. Sertraline (Zoloft), Citalopram (Clexa), Esclitopram (Lexapro), Paroxetine (paxil), Fluoxetine (Prozac)
- Modulation of the 5-HT transporter SERT
- SE – GI (nausea, diarrhea), Sexual (deceased libido), weight gain, fever
- SNRI’s (Selective Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitor)
- Venlafaxine (Effexor), Duoxetine
- Blocking of SERT and NA transporter (NAT)
- SE - Nausea, anorexia, constipation, dizzy, insomnia, dry mouth, sexual dysfunction, hypertension
- NaSSA (Noradrenaline Serotonin Specific Antidepressants)
- Mirtazapine
- Antagonism of inhibitory presynaptic alpha2-adrenoceptors on NA and 5-HT
- SE – weight gain, drowsy, dizzy, dry mouth, constipation
It may take 2-6 weeks to see a clinical response. if there is no initial or only a partial response then consider increasing the dose. If there is no or partial response consider switching to a different first line medication.
Second line
- RIMA (Reversible Inhibitor of Monoamine Oxidase A)
- E.g. Moclobemide
- Decreases interneuronal breakdown of NA and 5-HT
-
NRI (NA Reuptake Inhibitor)
* Reboxetine -
NDRI (NA Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitor)
* Bupropion
Third line
-
MAOI (Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors)
* E.g. Selegiline (Zelpar), Phenelzine (Nardil), Tranylcypromine (:arnate) - TCA (Tricyclic Antidepressants)
- E.g. Amitryptyline (endep), Nortriptyline (allegron), Imipramine (tofranil)
- Negative allosteric modulators of NA and 5-HT transporters
- Many side effects, can be highly toxic, overdoses lethal
If psychosis is also present, then antipsychotics should be added to Tx
Other
-
Mood Stabilization Augmentation
* Lithium, sodium valproate, lamotrigine + SSRI & TCA -
ECT
* Response rate 50-80%
iii. CBT
What is dysthymia?
Symptoms of depression are present most of the day, for the majority of the days, lasting at least 2 years. It is less severe than MMD
Subtypes
- Pure dysthymia (low-grade chronic depression), without full criteria for major depression during the preceding 2 years
- Persistent Major depressive episode
- Intermittent major depressive episodes with current major depression
- Intermittent major depressive episodes without current major depressive disorder episode
Criteria
- Depressed mood for most of the day, more days than not for > 2 years
- Presence, while depressed of 2 or more of the following:
- Appetite Disorder
- Concentration deficit
- Hopelessness
- Energy deficit
- Worthlessness
- Sleep Disorder
- During 2 years patient hasn’t been without symptoms in criteria A and B for more than 2 months at a time
- Criteria for a major depressive disorder may be continuously present for 2 years
- There has never been a manic episode, a hypomanic episode, or criteria met for cyclothymic disorder
- Disturbance is not better explained by a persistent schizoaffective disorder, schizophrenia
- The symptoms are not attributable to physiological effects of a substance
- Symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in functioning
Difference between Premenstral Syndrome (PMS) and Premenstrual Dystrophic Disorder
PMS is characterized by cyclic, physical and behavioral symptoms occurring in the luteal phase of the normal menstrual cycle. Symptoms must not be present at other times through the cycle, must cause significant impairment and must not represent an exacerbation of another disorder. PMS is not classified as a mental illness.
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is the more severe form of the disorder and classified as a mental illness in the DSM-5. The criteria for PMDD require that the woman experience at least 5 of 11 cognitive-affective, behavioural, and physical symptoms during the final week of the luteal phase that resolve with or near the onset of menses.
Treatment of PMS and Premenstrual Dystrophic Disorder
Fluoxetine (Lovan) - 2 weeks before period
What are the baby blues and how common is it?
Mother typically presents with mood swings ranging from elation to sadness, insomnia, tearfulness, crying spells, irritability, anxiety and decreased concentration. Symptoms develop within 2-3 days postnatal, peak on the fifth day and resolve within 2 weeks
It does NOT impact on the ability of the mother to function in ADLs or care for herself or the baby.
- Occurs in 30-80% of pregnancies (Very common)
- No treatment necessary
Define postpartum depression and risk factors
- Major depressive episode with onset in pregnancy or within 4 weeks of delivery
- 7-19% of women
Risk factors
- Psychosocial - stress, poor support, abuse, low SES
- Psychiatric - Hx depression, FHx, personality disorder
- Other - sleep deprivation, complicaitons of pregnancy, unwanted pregnancy, youn maternal age
Classifications of bipolar affective disorder
- Bipolar I: One or more manic episodes (lasting >=1 week) with or without major depressive episodes
- Bipolar II: One episode of hypomania + one episode of major depressive episode + no episodes of mania
Symptoms of Mania (DIGFAST)
Abnormally persistently elevated or irritable mood & increased goal-directed activity or energy. Lasting most of the day for at least 1 week, nearly every day. Includes greater than 3 of the following:
- Distractibility
- Indiscretion
- Grandiosity
- Flight of ideas
- Activity Increase
- Sleep deficit
- Talkativeness
*If psychotic symptoms are present, the episode is, by definition manic and not hypomanic
What makes an episode hypomanic as opposed to manic
- Most of the day for at least 4 consecutive days
- Same as symptoms for mania
- Episode is not severe enough to cause marked impairment in functioning
- No psychotic symptoms
Risk factors for Suicide attempt (SAD PERSONS)
- Sex (Male)
- Age (Older than 45)
- Depression
- Previous suicide attempt
- Ethanol abuse
- Rational thinking loss
- Sick (chonic disease)
- Organised plan (access to means)
- No spouse
- Social support lacking
5 Important questions regarding suicidal thoughts
- Ideation
- Intent
- Plan
- Access to means
- Previous attempt
Classification of Anxiety Disorders
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Social Anxiety Disorder
- Panic Disorder
- Phobia
- Agoraphobia
- Separation Anxiety Disorder
- Selective Mutism
*PTSD and OCD
Risk factors for developing anxiety disorders
- Female sex
- Family history of mental health conditions
- Personality traits (behavioral inhibition)
- Perfectionist, timid, low self-esteem, inhibited, easily flustered, want to control everything
1. Physical illness - Diabetes, asthma, hypertension, health disease
1. Co-morbid mental health conditions - Mood disorders, substance use disorders
- Substance use
- Environmental and development factors
- Stress
- Smoking (risk for panic disorder and panic attacks)
- Psychological trauma, esp. during childhood
how many Australians have experienced Anxiety disorder in the past 12 months?
14.4%
Anxiety disorder is the most common class of mental disorders
higher rates in females (17.9%) vs males (10.8%)
Whats the difference between normal anxiety (stress) and abnormal anxiety?
Normal Anxiety:
- occurs in response to a stressful event
- can be beneficial to improve performance in stressful events
- goes away when the stimulus is removed
Abnormal anxiety:
- excessive and ongoing worry. Anxiety doesn’t subside when the stressor is removed. Anxiety may occur without an obvious cause, or may be disproportionate to a stressor.
- interferes with daily functioning
- causes significant physical and emotional distress
Symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Excessive anxiety and worry, occuring more days than not forat least 6 months, about a number of events or activites
- the individual finds it difficult to control the worry
- three of the following symptoms
- Worry
- Anxiety
- Tension in muscles
- Concentration difficulty
- Hyperarousal (irritable)
- Energy loss
- Restelessness
- Sleep disturbances
+ significant distress
+ no substance triggers
Screening tool used for generalised anxiety disorder and its questions
GAD-7
Over last 2 weeks, how often have you been bothered by any of the following symptoms
- Feeling nervous, anxious or on edge
- Not being able to stop or control worrying
- Worrying too much about different things
- Trouble relaxing
- Being so restless that it’s hard to sit still
- Becoming easily annoyed or irritable
- Feeling afraid as if something awful might happen
Treatment for GAD (Plus, what is CBT)
First line
-
CBT
* CBT can be used for anxiety or depression. It aims to help a person identify and challenge unhelpful thoughts and to learn practical self-help strategies. These strategies are designed to bring about positive and immediate changes in the person’s quality of life. CBT aims to show people how their thinking affects their mood and to teach them to think in a less negative way about life and themselves. It is based on the understanding that thinking negatively is a habit that, like any other habit, can be broken. - SNRI/ SSRI’s
- Buspirone (anxiolytic)
Benzodiazepines can be used until SSRIs take effect but should never be used for long-term management
What is Social anxiety Disorder and the treatment
-
SAD:
* Fear/anxiety out of proportion to a social situation where one may be scrutinized by others (e.g. meeting new people at a party, eating in public, using public restrooms) -
Performance-only SAD:
* Symptoms of fear/ anxiety restricted only to public speaking or performing in front of crowds - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Pharmacology
- First line pharmacotherapy: SSRI/ SNRI
- No/ partial response to SSRI and no history of a substance - clonazepam (benzo)
- No/ partial response to SSRI and history of substance abuse - phenelzine (MAOI)
- For performance-only SAD: propanalol (beta-blocker)
DSM-5 criteria for Social anxiety disorder
- Marked fear or anxiety in one or more social or performance situations in which the person is exposed to possible scrutiny by others
- Fear that they will act in a way that will be humiliating, embarrassing, or they will be rejected by others
- Exposure to the feared social situation almost invariable provokes anxiety or panic attack
- Anticipatory anxiety
- Avoidance or fear interferes significantly with the person’s normal routine
- The duration of the symptoms must be at least 6 months
- Not due to substance or general medical conditions

