PSYCHOSIS Flashcards
What is the definition of psychosis?
Difficulty perceiving and interpreting reality
Caused by many disorders
What are the 3 symptom domains of psychosis?
Positive symptoms
Negative symptoms
Disorganisation
What are the +ve symptoms of psychosis?
Hallucinations
Delusions
What are the -ve symptoms of psychosis?
Alogia - poverty of speech
Anhedonia/asociality
Avolition/apathy (poor self-care, lack of motivation…)
Affective flattening (unchanging facial expressions…)
What are the disorganisation symptoms of psychosis?
Bizarre behaviour
Thought disorder
What does the mental state examination examine?
Appearance and behaviour Speech Mood Thoughts Perceptions Cognition Insight
What qualities of speech should you look out for in a patient suspected with psychosis?
Quantity
Rate
Spontaneity
Volume
What qualities of thoughts should you look out for in a patient suspected with psychosis?
Stream
Form
Content (preoccupations, morbid thoughts, delusions, obsessions)
What are the types of perceptions seen in a patient with psychosis?
Illusions - misperception of real stimulus
Hallucinations - perception in absence of stimulus
Distortions - size, properties of an object
How are hallucinations classified?
True perception + coming from outside the head
Pseudohallucination - only one of the above
What are hypnagogic/hypnopompic hallucinations?
Hypnagogic - when your falling asleep
Hypnopompic - when you’re waking up
What is Charles Bonnet syndrome?
Hallucinations in people who are blind
What are the treatment options for psychosis?
Pharmacological:
- Antipsychotics
Psychological:
- CBT
- Avatar therapy
Social support
Which NTs do antipsychotics act on?
Mainly dopamine but also serotonin, acetylcholine, histamine
What are some side effects of antipsychotics?
Extra-pyramidal side effects (EPSEs)
Sedation
Agranulocytosis
Neutropenia
Increased appetite
Weight gain
Diabetes
Constipation
Increased prolactin (if dopamine supressed)
Dysrhythmia
Long QTc
