Schizo Flashcards
What is the DSM-5 Criteria for Schizophrenia?
1) ≥ 2 symptoms, each persisting for a significant portion of at least 1 month period
* Positive Symptoms: (symptoms that normal person without schizophrenia also has, but just amplified in schizo patients)
o (1) Delusions
o (2) Hallucinations
o (3) Disorganized speech
o (4) Grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior
* (5) Negative symptoms (symptoms that normal person without schizophrenia also has, but just diminished or absent in schizo patients)
o i.e. Affective flattening (no emotion), Avolition (no interest)]
2) Social or occupational dysfunction
* For a significant portion of the time since onset of the disorder, one or more major areas of functioning such as work, interpersonal relations, or self-care are significantly below the level prior to onset.
3) Duration of symptoms ≥ 6 months continuously
* Inclusive of at least 1 month of symptoms fulfilling criterion A (unless successfully treated). This 6 months may include prodromal or residual symptoms.
4) Schizoaffective or mood disorder has been excluded.
5) Disorder is NOT due to a medical disorder or substance use
6) If a history of a pervasive developmental disorder is present, there must be symptoms of hallucinations or delusions present for at least 1 month.
(only 1st five are impt)
What are the 2 most important therapeutic goals for ACUTE stabilisation phase for Schizo?
- Minimize threat to self and others
- Minimize acute symptoms
Others:
* Improve role functioning
* Identify appropriate psychosocial interventions
* Collaborate with family and caregivers; Support for Carers
What are the treatment goals for the stabilisation phase? (3)
- Minimize/ prevent relapse -> the more relapses that occur, the more likely that the same treatment used before will not be useful
- Promote medication adherence
- Optimize dose and manage adverse effects
What is the most important goal of treatment for maintenance/ stable phase?
- Improve functioning & quality of life
Others:
* Maintain baseline functioning
* Optimize dose vs. Adverse effects
* Monitor for prodromal symptoms of Relapse
* Monitor and manage adverse effects
What are some methods to overcome poor adherence to antipsychotic therapies? (3)
1) IM long acting injections
2) Community Psychiatric Nurse -> home visit and administer long acting injection regularly
3) Patient and Family (Caregiver) Education
State the role of Antipsychotics in Schizo, whether treatment is long term/short term and whether relapse will be delayed with cessation (3)
o Antipsychotics relieve symptoms of psychosis such as thought disorder, hallucinations and delusions, and prevent relapse
o Long term treatment often necessary
o Relapse often delayed for several weeks after cessation of treatment (due to deposition of lipophilic drug into adipose tissue with chronic use)
State the effects of blocking each of the dopaminergic pathways:
a) Mesolimbic tract
b) Mesocortical tract
c) Nigrostriatal tract
d) Tuberoinfundular tract
a) Mesolimbic tract = decrease in positive symptoms of Schizo
b) Mesocortical tract = causes negative symptoms
c) Nigrostriatal tract = causes extrapyrimidal Side Effects
d) Tuberoinfundular tract = causes hyperprolactinemia
State the duration of an “adequate” trial of antipsychotic and state which drug is the exception to this duration and that drug’s duration for adequate trial
2-6 weeks at optimal therapeutic dose.
Exception is Clozapine and adequate trial of Clozapine is up to 3 months
State when Clozapine is considered to be used in Schizo
Consider Clozapine in those who are Treatment Resistant , i.e. those had failed
≥ 2 adequate trials of different antipsychotics (at least 1 should be a SGA).
State the DOC for Acute Agitation if Patient is cooperative
PO Lorazepam 1-2mg
State what to do for Acute Agitation if Patient is uncooperative
Restrain + IM Lorazepam 1-2mg
State alternative therapy for Acute Agitation if Patient is cooperative but Benzodiazepine cannot be used (4)
PO Risperidone 1-2mg
Also possible:
* Haloperidol* (tab, solution) 2-5mg with pre-treatment ECG (can be difficult to do)
* Quetiapine 50-100mg (tab, immediate release), or
* Olanzapine (tab, orodispersible) 5-10mg, or
State alternative therapy for Acute Agitation if Patient is uncooperative but Benzodiazepine cannot be used (4)
- IM Olanzapine (immediate release) 5-10mg; 2nd dose ≥2h after 1st dose; 3rd dose ≥ 4h after 2nd dose.
- IM Olanzapine and IM Lorazepam must not be given within 1h of each other (risk of cardiorespiratory fatality).
- IM Aripiprazole (immediate release) 9.75mg: less hypotensive than IM Olanzapine option
- IM Haloperidol* 2.5-10mg, with pre treatment ECG (but can be difficult to do), or
- IM Promethazine 25-50mg
What is DOC for Catatonia
PO/IM Benzodiazepine
What is the dosing range of PO Haloperidol?
5-15mg
What is the maximum daily dose of PO Clozapine?
900 mg (450mg BD)
What is maximum daily dose of PO Quetiapine?
800mg
What is dosing range of PO Risperidone?
6mg/day in 1-2 divided doses
