Psychiatry - Level 3 Flashcards
Definition of Huntington’s Disease?
- Autosomal dominant with 100% penetration, combination of progressive dementia and worsening chorea
Epidemiology of Huntington’s Disease?
- Males : Females
- Age of onset 30-40
Pathology of Huntington’s Disease?
o Trinucleotide repeat CAG expansion on c4
o Decreased GABA neurons in basal ganglia
o Increase in stimulation of thalamus and cortex of globus pallidus
Symptoms of Huntington’s Disease?
- Onset of symptoms usually after reproductive age
- Insidious onset
- Involuntary choreiform movements
o Typically start in face, hands, shoulders, gait (ataxia)
o Slurring of speech, extrapyramidal rigidity and epilepsy - Psychiatric symptoms
o Depression, risk of suicide, delusional, schizophrenia
o Subcortical dementia – slowing, apathy, amnesia
Investigations of Huntington’s Disease?
- Pre-symptomatic diagnostic test o CAG repeats – Over 40 abnormal - EEG slowing - CT/MRI o Atrophy of basal ganglia o Boxing of caudate - PET scan – decreased metabolism
Management of Huntington’s Disease?
- No curative treatment
o Haloperidol (or other antipsychotics) may reduce abnormal movements
o Depression treated with SSRIs - Emotional and physical support
Definition of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease?
- Progressive dementia transmitted by infection with prion – a glycoprotein viral sub-particle lacking RNA
- New variant CJD
o Transmitted via food chain – neuropathologically related bovine disease (bovine spongiform encephalopathy)
o Disease affects younger people (20 year)
o Anxiety and depression followed by personality changes and then dementia
Epidemiology of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease?
- Rare
- 50-70 years old
- Male : Female
Transmission of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease?
o 85% spontaneous , 10% genetic mutation, 5% iatrogenic
o Infected humans through corneal transplantation, depth EEG with contaminated electrodes, neurosurgery with contaminated needles
Histology of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease?
o Neuronal degeneration without inflammation
o Astrocytic proliferation
o Vacuoles in grey matter – status spongiosus
Symptoms and signs of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease?
- Rapidly deteriorating dementia, cerebellar and extrapyramidal signs o Memory impairment o Personality change o Fatigue o Depression o Progressive spastic paralysis of limbs o Tremor, rigidity, choreoathetoid movements - Myoclonus and death within a year
Investigations of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease?
- EEG shows triphasic, periodic complexes
- CT atrophy of cortex and cerebellum, ventricular dilatation
Management of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease?
- No cure
- Supportive treatment
Prognosis of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease?
- Death usually within 1-2 years
Defintion of AIDS related dementia?
- Histological evidence of brain damage
- Picomolar concentrations on HIV surface is neurotoxic
Symptoms of AIDS related dementia?
- Insidious concentration and memory affected
- Apathy, social withdrawal
- Increasing motor problems and affecting ADLs
o Psychomotor retardation – progressive and severe
Management of AIDS related dementia?
- No treatment
- ART used to prevent progression of HIV/AIDs
Definition of learning disability?
o IQ < 70, significant impairment of social or adaptive functioning and onset in childhood
Classification of learning disability?
o Mild – 50-69
o Moderate – 35-49
o Severe – 20-34
o Profound - <20
Risk factors of learning disability?
o Chromosomal anomalies – Down’s, William’s, Rhett, Fragile X
o Congenital malformations – spina bifida, hydrocephalus, microcephaly
o Prenatal exposure – alcohol, sodium valproate, congenital rubella infection, zika virus
o Birth – Hypoxic brain injury, cerebral palsy
o Prematurity (<33 weeks)
o Meningitis, encephalitis, measles
o Childhood neglect
Associations with learning disability?
o ASD
o ADHD
Symptoms of learning disability?
o Mild - some learning difficulties in school, many will be able to work and maintain good social relationships
o Moderate – marked developmental delays, most can learn some independence in self-care and adequate communication and academic skills, may need support to live and work
o Severe – continuous support
o Profound – severe limitation in self-care, continence, communication and mobility
How to interact with people of learning disability?
o Use straight-forward language
o Accommodate sensory impairments
o Different communication methods
Management of suspected learning disability?
o Referral to local community learning disability service/team
o Other referrals: clinical psychologist, mental health service, clinical genetics, safeguarding
Management of confirmed learning disability?
o Annual health check with paediatrician or GP
Standardised Cardiff health check template
General health – weight, height, BMI, BP, cholesterol, urine analysis, smoking status, alcohol intake
Record vaccination status and offer any outstanding
Physical examination
Review mental health, medications
o Information
Access to social and support services
Formal carer’s assessment of needs
Respite care
Definition of PTSD?
- Severe psychological disturbance following a traumatic event characterised by involuntary re-experiencing of elements of the event, with symptoms of hyperarousal, avoidance, emotional numbing
Common traumatic events in PTSD?
- Major traumatic event is stressful event or situation of an exceptionally threatening or catastrophic nature, which would cause pervasive distress Serious accidents Military combat Violent personal assault Terrorist attack Being prisoner-of-war Torture