Schizophrenia Flashcards
What is psychosis?
- Acute & severe episode of mental condition
- Being out of touch with reality
- Lack of insight
Schizophrenia is one of the more common forms of ______?
Protracted psychosis
Schizophrenia represents ___ ?
Heterogenous syndrome of disorganised and bizarre thoughts, delusions, hallucinations, impaired psychosocial functioning
What forms do hallucinations come in?
Auditory
Visual
Tactile
Olfactory
Gustatory
Average age of onset
23.1 years old in SG
2 notable organic disorders with associated psychotic symptoms
Iatrogenic causes
Psychosis related to alcohol & psychoactive substance misuse
Risk factors of schizophrenia (predisposing)
Genetics
Environment in utero
Neurodevelopmental effects
Personality
Physical, pscyhological & social factors in infancy & early childhood
Risk factors of schizophrenia (precipitating)
Cerebral tumours or injury
Drugs/substance-induced psychosis***
Personal misfortune
Environment of high expressed emotion
Risk factors of schizophrenia (perpetuating)
Secondary demoralisation
Social withdrawal
Lack of support/poor SES or environment
Poor adherence with antipsychotic medications***
DSM-5 for schizophrenia (A)
2 or more (each persisting for significant portion of at least 1 month period)
1. delusions
2. hallucinations
3. disorganised speech
4. grossly disorganised or catatonic behaviour
5. negative symptoms (affective flattening, avolition)
DSM-5 for schizophrenia (B)
Social/occupational dysfunction
DSM-5 for schizophrenia (C)
Duration:
Continuous signs of disorder for at least 6 months (inclusive of at least 1 month of symptoms fulfilling criterion A)
DSM-5 for schizophrenia (D)
schizoaffective or mood disorder has been excluded
DSM-5 for schizophrenia (E)
Disorder is NOT due to medical disorder or substance use
DSM-5 for schizophrenia (F)
If a history of a pervasive developmental disorder is present, there must be symptoms of
hallucinations or delusions present for at least 1 month.
Assessments prior to diagnosis & treatment (1)
History of present illness
Assessments prior to diagnosis & treatment (2)
Psychiatric history - any history of neurosis or psychosis
Assessments prior to diagnosis & treatment (3)
Substance use history - any past/current use of cigarettes/ETOH/substance
Assessments prior to diagnosis & treatment (4)
Complete medical/medication history
Reassess medication adherence every visit
Assessments prior to diagnosis & treatment (5)
Family, social, forensic, developmental & occupational history - 1st degree family history of illness, treatment & response, psychosocial conditions
Assessments prior to diagnosis & treatment (6)
Physical & neurological exam - any injury?
Assessments prior to diagnosis & treatment (7)
Mental State Exam (MSE)
- Assess for suicidal/homicidal ideations & risks**
- Reassess MSE on every interview to evaluate efficacy & tolerability
Assessments prior to diagnosis & treatment (8)
Labs
Vital signs, weight/BMI, FBC, U/E/Cr, LFTs, TFTs, ECG, fast blood glucose, lipid panel, urine toxicology
Assessments prior to diagnosis & treatment (9)
Other investigations - to exclude general medical conditions or substance-induced/withdrawal (e.g. psychosis, depression, mania, anxiety, insomnia)
Non-pharmacological management (individual)
Supportive/counselling
Personal therapy
Social skills therapy
Vocational sheltered*: employment, rehabilitation
Non-pharmacological management (group)
Interactive/social
Non-pharmacological management (cognitive behavioural)
CBT
Compliance theory
What is individual CBT useful for?
Preventing psychosis in “at risk” group
1st episode psychosis (need to assess for PTSD0
Schizophrenia
Place in therapy: neurostimulation
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) - reserved for treatment-resistant Schizophrenia
rTMS - may reduce auditory hallucinations
Place in therapy: psychosocial rehabilitation programmes
Improving patient’s adaptive functioning
What are the therapeutic goals in acute stabilisation?
a. Minimize threat to self and others**
b. Minimize acute symptoms**
c. Improve role functioning
d. Identify appropriate psychosocial interventions
e. Collaborate with family and caregivers; Support for Carers
What are the therapeutic goals in stabilisation phase?
a. Minimise/prevent relapse
b. Promote medication adherence
c. Optimise dose and manage AEs
What are the therapeutic goals for stable/maintenance phase?
a. Improving functioning and QOL
b. Maintain baseline functioning
c. Optimising dose vs AEs
d. Monitor for prodromal symptoms of relapse
e. Monitor and manage AEs
Functions of antipsychotics
- Tranquillise without impairing consciousness & causing paradoxical excitement
- Useful to calm disturbed patients in the ST
Common indications of antipsychotic
- Schizophrenia and related psychoses
- ST adjunctive management for severe anxiety or psychomotor agitation
- Acute mania
- Adjunct with antidepressant for major depression
How is antipsychotics useful for schizophrenia?
- Relieve symptoms such as thought disorder, hallucinations and delusions
- Prevent relapse
Duration of antipsychotics for schizophrenia
Long term treatment often necessary after 1st episode of psychosis, prevent illness from becoming chronic
Why is maintenance therapy important for schizophrenia?
High risk of relapse if antipsychotic treatment is withdrawn inappropriately
When will relapse happen after cessation of treatment?
Relapse often delayed for several weeks
- Adipose tissues act as depot reservoir after chronic regular usage of antipsychotics
How to overcome poor treatment adherence?
- IM long-acting injections
- Community psychiatric nurse - home visit and administer LAI regularly
- Patient and family (caregiver) education
Positive symptoms
- Suspiciousness
- Delusions
- Hallucinations
- Conceptual disorganisation
Negative symptoms
- Affective flattening (lack of response)
- Alogia (lack of conversation)
- Anhedonia (lack of pleasure)
- Avolition (lack of motivation0
What are the dopamine pathways of the brain?
- Mesolimbic tract
- Mesocortical (MC) tract
- Nigrostrital (NS) tract
- Tuberoinflundibular (TI) tract
What is the mesolimbic tract responsible for?
Reward and emotion
Which pathway is the most common MOA for all antipsychotics? Why?
Mesolimbic. Overactivity in this region is responsible for positive symptoms of schizophrenia.
What is the overall MOA of antipsychotics?
All antipsychotics are D2 antagonist! Blockade of dopamine receptors.
Neurochemical (dopamine, serotonin, glutamate) theory are primarily theories of _______.
Positive symptoms
What is the mesocortical (MC) tract responsible for?
Cognition (higher-order thinking) and attention
What is the nigrostriatal tract responsible for?
Extrapyramidal motor system - modulates body movement
What is the tuberoinfundibular tract responsible for?
Pathway from hypothalamus to anterior pituitary regulates prolactin secretion into blood circulation
What AEs do dopamine blockade in MC tract cause?
Dopamine blockade or hypo function results in NEGATIVE symptoms
What AEs do dopamine blockade in NS tract cause?
Extrapyramidal Side Effects (EPSE)
What AEs do dopamine blockade in TI tract cause?
Hyperprolactinemia (osteoporosis, sexual dysfunction etc)