Psychiatry - drugs & alcohol

Question 1

How would you treat heroin overdose?

Answer 1

ABCDE
naloxone
long term - methadone, buprenorphine, naltroxone

Question 2

What is the triad of symptoms for Wernicke’s?

Answer 2

confusion
ataxia
opthalmoplegia - nystagmus, diplopia

Question 3

How would you assess level of alcohol dependance?

Answer 3

Edwards criteria >/=3

1. desire
2. difficulties controlling
3. dependance
4. withdrawal
5. neglect of other interests
6. persisting

Question 4

What are the treatments in detox for alcohol abuse?

Answer 4

clordiazepoxide/benzodiazepine medalzelam (for seizures)

anatbuse (terrible hangovers) and pabrinex (vit B and C including thymine)

Question 5

What is problem gambling?

Answer 5

Gambling that disrupts or damages personal, family or recreational pursuits
Can also develop into pathological gambling - affects every part of life

Question 6

How common is problem gambling and who is more likely to get it?

Answer 6

9/1,000
men, teenagers and young adults, if another family member is a problem gambler, work somewhere of risk, drink heavily or use drugs, depression, anxiety, bipolar

Question 7

What are some factors that can cause gambling to be problem?

Answer 7

gambling to:
forget responsibilites, to feel better, to fill time, when drinking or using drugs, when you get angry
starting gambling early, never been able to control gambling, parents are problem gamblers

Question 8

Name 4 harms that can come from problem gathering

Answer 8

financial, family, health, school/college/work

Question 9

What are some steps to reduce gambling?

Answer 9

Limit amount of money you spend on gambling
Reduce amount of time and days that you gamble
Don’t view gambling as a way of making money
Spend time doing other activities

Question 10

How would you treat problem gambling?

Answer 10

CBT - change some of the thought processes to reduce gambling
12 step programmes (Gamblers Anonymous)
Antidepressants - only to help with low mood, not gambling

Question 11

What is dependance?

Answer 11

Being abnormally tolerant to and dependant on x

Question 12

What is tolerance?

Answer 12

capacity of body to endure or become less responsive to a substance

Question 13

What is withdrawal?

Answer 13

Abnormal physical or psychological features that follow the abrupt discontinuation of a drug that has the capability of producing physical dependence

Question 14

What are some symptoms of alcohol dependence syndrome?

Answer 14

Craving
loss of control
physical dependence - withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, sweating or shakiness
tolerance