Psychiatry (rotation To Come) Flashcards
Which drugs can we use to treat PTSD?
An SSRI e.g. escitalopram, fluoxetine, or venlafaxine
Define psychosis.
Loss of connection with reality.
Hallucinations and delusions
What is the difference between hallucination and illusion?
Illusion = there IS an external stimulus. Hallucination = no external stimulus.
Define delusion
False unshakeable belief even where there is evidence showing the contrary.
Which are the 3 causes of organic psychosis?
Drug-induced
Delirium
Dementia
What is the cause of a patient with dementia who sees little figures walking around them.
Organic psychosis - organic cause is the dementia not neccessarily Psychosis itself.
What is schizophrenia?
Disorder of thinking, perceiving and motivation.
Male = female
Lifetime prevalence = 1%
What causes schizophrenia?
Genetic = increased risk in first degree relatives Neuro-chemical = dopamine 'hypothesis', serotonin 'hypothesis'
General findings: reduced brain mass, increased ventricular size - very non specific findings in psychiatry.
name three positive symptoms in schizophrenia
Delusions
Hallucinations
Sense of being controlled
name three negative symptoms of schizophrenia
Loss of motivation
Paucity of thought (just pause thinking)
Loosening of association i.e. scattered thoughts.
What is the cause of depression?
15% genetic prevalence
Neurochemical: Monoamine ‘hypothesis’ = altered function of NA.
What is Beck’s triad?
Self - the future - experiences
What are the core symptoms of depression?
Low mood
Low energy
Inability to enjoy oneself (anhedonia)
Name some biological symptoms of depression.
Poor sleep (can be too little, too much)
Poor appetite (can be too little, too much).
Poor concentration
Poor motivation
How likely is it that someone treated with depression will experience an episode again?
80%
What are the suicide rates in men vs. women with depression?
Males = 7% Females = 1%
What is bipolar affective disorder?
Must have episodes of mania and depression.
same as manic-depressive disorder
Name some characteristics of mania
Elevated mood Reduced need for sleep Reduced appetite Highly motivated Lots of new interests May have grandiose delusions Increased libido - risky activities
(Often these patients do very well so wouldn’t necessarily seek help immediately).
What is somatisation?
Process of converting psychological into physical symptoms.
What is conversion disorder?
Loss of function as a result of extreme psychological distress.
e.g. can lose sensation, movement in a limb.
In Obsessive compulsive disorder, what is the difference between obsession and compulsion?
Obsession = ruminating, circular throughs. Very intrusive. Recognised as absurd. Compulsion = rituals.
What is Personality disorder?
Becomes a disorder when behaviours impact on everyday life. Marked difficulties with interpersonal relationships.
Define delirium
Acute fluctuating confusional state with clouding of consciousness and psychotic symptoms.
(bear in mind can be hypoactive)
Differentiate between psychosis and schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia is a form of a psychotic disorder.
Name the aspects of the mental state exam.
Appearance and behaviour Speech Mood Thought content Cognition Insight Perception
Which are the three core symptoms of depression?
Low mood
Anhedonia
Reduced energy/ fatigue.
Which are the two hallmark signs of psychosis?
Halluciantions and/or delusions.
What is the ICD-10 criteria for Bipolar affective disorder?
At least two episodes - one of which must be hypomania/ manic or mixed.
What is the difference between bipolar affective disorder 1 and 2?
BAD 1 = one episode of mania +/- depression
BAD 2 = one episode of hypomania +/- depression
Define a manic episode
Elevated mood, or irritable. Sustained for 1 week Some signs: - increased talkativeness - increased activity - increased self esteem - decreased need for sleep - increased sexual energy
What is the difference between hypomania and mania?
Hypomania - 4 days
Mania - 1 week+ consecutive episode
Mania - more severe, longer history.
What is Beck’s triad?
View of self, future and the world
Which person is associated with CBT?
Beck
Name two cognitive distortions
Shoulds and Musts
Mental filter
Give 3 biological symptoms of depression.
Loss of libido
Loss of appetite
Early morning awakening
How do most antidepressants work?
Aim to increase monoamine neurotransmitters i.e. serotonin, noradrenaline, adrenaline.
Which percentage of patients with depression recover with placebo?
30%
What is the last consideration of treatment with depression?
Considering the addition of ECT.
How many weeks should you wait to see if an SSRI is effective?
2 weeks - increase dose if no improvement by week 4.
Consider switch after 6 weeks.
Name two mood stabilisers.
Lithium and lamotrigine.
Name x3 SSRIs
Citalopram, sertraline, fluoxetine.
Which drug class is mirtazapine?
NASSA - Noradrenergic and specific serotonergic antidepressants.
Name x2 TCAs
Amitriptyline, Clomipramine.
Name one SNRI. What is this?
Duloxetine - Serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors.
Serotonin is also known as which chemical?
5 hydroxytryptamine.
Synthesis of serotonin starts with which chemical?
Tryptophan.
Which enzyme stops serotonin action?
Monoamine oxidase (MAO).
Which form of Monoamine oxidase A has the strongest affinity for serotonin?
MAO-A.
Citalopram is which kind of drug?
SSRI.
Which are the two main SSRIs?
Citalopram, fluoxetine.
Why may we see nausea and vomiting with SSRIs?
There are many serotonin receptors in the gut.
Which ECG change can be seen with citalopram?
QTc prolongation (escitalopram has less cardiac interactions).
Duloxetine is what type of drug class?
SNRI - serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor.
What is a key benefit of SNRIs?
Dopamine has a similar chemical affinity to noradrenaline so the noradrenaline reuptake transporter can take it up too.
What type of drug class is Mirtazapine?
NASSA
An alpha 2 receptor antagonist
How do TCAs work?
Block the reuptake of noradrenaline via NET inhibition. (noradrenaline reuptake transporter).
Give an example of a TCA
amitriptyline.
MAO-B is mainly used for which condition?
Parkinson’s disease; raises dopamine = raises levodopa
What is the cheese reaction?
Tyramine interaction from the diet.
If you are on MAOI = raises too much tyramine = risk of hypertensive crisis. (because tyramine increases the release of noradrenaline).
Which antidepressant is most likely to cause withdrawal symptoms?
Paroxetine.
What is St John’s wort?
Plant - hypericum perforatum
herbal remedy that is actually effective!
Binds to serotonin and noradrenline reuptake transporters.
Disadvantage: MANY side effects e.g. increase risk of bleeding, potent hepatic enzyme inducer (affects metabolism heavily).
Generally how long do antidepressants take to work?
2-6 weeks
Antidepressants are addictive. True or false.
No; they change dopamine levels in the mesolimbic reward pathway.
What is the first line medication in someone with bipolar disorder?
Mood stabilisers NOT antidepressants - as can push into mania.
What is the difference between section 2 and section 5(2)?
What is the difference between section 2 and 3?
Which are the three signs of ADHD?
Inattention
Impulsivity
Hyperactivity
The SNAP Questionnaire assesses which mental health condition?
ADHD.
What is psychosis?
Disorders of perception, belief and functioning. Hallucinations and delusions.
Define hallucination.
Perception in the absence of an external sensory stimulus.
Define delusion
Fixed, unshakeable beliefs out of keeping with socio-cultural context.
Name 3 types of schizophrenia
- Paranoid schizophrenia
- Catatonic schizophrenia - hyperkinetic psychomotor disturbance
- Residual schizophrenia - Chronic negative symptoms with poor self care and social performance.
Name two positive and two negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
Hallucinations and delusions
Anhedonia, Alogia (without speech), FTD - formal thought disorder
Name some ‘first rank symptoms’ of schizophrenia.
- Auditory hallucinations (third person commentaries i.e. hearing voices)
- Thought withdrawal - thoughts being taken out of head.
- Delusional perception - I saw a red car and I knew I had 2 souls.
Name some negative symptoms in schizophrenia.
Social withdrawal, anhedonia, attention control, apathy
What do we mean when we say ‘affective’ psychosis?
Congruent affect i.e. depressed/elated with emotions - appropriate for that situation.
Name the investigations for psychosis
History and mental state examination. Physical examination. Urine drug screen, blood tests, EEG.
Which neural pathways are associated with schizophrenia?
Mesocortical and mesolimbic pathways - dopamine
What is the likely response in giving schizophrenic patients dopamine?
Hallucinations and psychotic symptoms.
How do we first treat schizophrenia?
1st generation antipsychotic: chlorpromazine, haloperidol.
2nd generation include olanzapine.
Loss of touch with reality associated with delusions and hallucinations. Definition?
Psychosis
Give 3 negative symptoms of psychosis
Clue: 3As.
Alogia, apathy, avolition
Chlorpromazine is what type of drug?
Anti-psychotic
What is the dopamine theory of psychosis?
Lowered dopamine = helps with psychosis.
Dopamine increase in the mesolimbic pathway can cause the positive psychotic symptoms.
Positive psychotic symptoms are associated with which pathway?
Mesolimbic pathway
Negative psychotic symptoms are associated with which pathway?
Mesocortical pathway
What is the nigrostriatal pathway?
Projects from dopaminergic cell bodies in substantia nigra (midbrain) to axons in the basal ganglia.
Which main neurotransmitter do anti-psychotics work to block?
Dopamine
Name two examples of first generation antipsychotics.
Chlorpromazine and Haloperidol.
Aripiprazole and risperidone are examples of which kind of drugs?
2nd generation anti-psychotic medications.
Which percentage of dopamine receptors usually need to be blocked to see antipsychotic effect without major side effects?
60-80%
Which drugs are most commonly used as rapid tranquilisation?
Haloperidol and Olanzapine.
What is the impact on prolactin of antipsychotics?
Hyperprolactinaemia; dopamine antagonists.
Why does Aripiprazole not cause QT prolongation?
Does not bind to sodium channels in the heart.
Which areas are involved in the extra-pyramidal pathway?
Outside of corticospinal tracts in the medulla pyramids.
Refers to basal ganglia, cerebellum and motor cortex.
Which extra-pyramidal effects can we see as an affect of anti-psychotics?
Dystonia
Akathisia
Parkinsonism
Define dystonia
Involuntary muscle spasm/ contraction.
Eyes rolling upward into head. Medical term?
Oculogyric crisis
What is Akathisia?
Internal restlessness.