Psychiatry Flashcards
Define depressive disorders.
A mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest.
What are the risk factors for depressive disorders?
o Being Female
o Past history of depression
o Significant physical illness causing disability or pain
o Other mental health problems (e.g. dementia)
o Being part of a refugee community
What are the presenting signs and symptoms of depressive disorders?
o Being Female
o Past history of depression
o Significant physical illness causing disability or pain
o Other mental health problems (e.g. dementia)
o Being part of a refugee community
What are the appropriate investigations for depressive disorder?
o Consider organic causes to the depression (e.g. hypothyroidism, hypercalcaemia, Addison’s disease, Cushing’s disease)
- Investigations for other causes = Blood glucose, U&Es, TFTs, Calcium, FBC, MRI/CT
o Assessment Tools = Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) Scale, Beck’s Depression Inventory
Define substance misuse.
The harmful use of substances (like drugs and alcohol) for non-medical purposes.
What are the signs and symptoms of substance dependence?
o Strong desire or compulsion the use
o Difficulty controlling use/amount/recidivism (goes back after stopping)
o Tolerance to the effects of the drug
o Neglect of other activities
o Persistent use despite adverse consequences – only one needed to define harmful use
o Withdrawal symptoms
o Narrowing of repertoire
What is the management plan for substance misuse?
O Withdrawal management = chlordiazepoxide (alcohol), nictotine patches/gum/etc (cigarettes)
o Counselling/Therapy/Support groups
o Side effect management
o Monitoring of underlying conditions
