Schizophrenia Flashcards
Schizophrenia sns
A) Two or more of the following, each persisting for a significant portion of at least a 1-month period:
(1) delusions
(2) hallucinations
(3) disorganized speech
(4) grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior
(5) negative symptoms
(e. g. Affective flattening, Alogia, Anhedonia, Avolition)
B) Social/occupational dysfunction
one or more major areas of functioning such as work
C)Continuous signs of the disorder for at least 6 months.
D. Schizoaffective or mood disorder has been EXCLUDED.
E. Disorder is NOT due to a medical disorder or substance use.
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.
Non-Pharmacological Treatment
Individual Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
– Used in conjunction with medications and family Intervention
- First Episode Psychosis: Assess for PTSD
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) – Reserved for treatment-resistant Schizophrenia
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) – Effective for reducing auditory hallucinations in Schizophrenia
Psychosocial rehabilitation programs:
- improving patient’s adaptive functioning
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) – Reserved for treatment-resistant Schizophrenia
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) – Reserved for treatment-resistant Schizophrenia
Effective for reducing auditory hallucinations in Schizophrenia
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) – Effective for reducing auditory hallucinations in Schizophrenia
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) –
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) – Effective for reducing auditory hallucinations in Schizophrenia
Pharmacological Treatment:
Establishing Therapeutic Goals
- Acute Stabilization
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 - Stabilization
a. Minimize/prevent relapse
b. Promote medication adherence
c. Optimize dose vs. adverse effects - Stable/maintenance phase
a. Improve functioning & quality of life
b. Maintain baseline functioning
c. Optimize dose vs. Adverse effects
d. Monitor for prodromal Sx of Relapse
e. Monitor for Adverse effects (e.g. Tardive Dyskinesia)
Pharmacological Treatment
Class
Function
Duration
when will Relapse
Antipsychotic Medications”
– Also known as “Neuroleptics”
• Generally tranquilize without impairing consciousness and without causing paradoxical excitement.
In the short term, they are used to calm disturbed patients whatever the underlying psychopathology which may be. • E.g. schizophrenia, mania, toxic delirium, or agitated depression.
Antipsychotics relieve symptoms of psychosis such as thought disorder, hallucinations and delusions, and prevent relapse.
- Usually less effective in apathetic withdrawn patients.
- Patients with acute symptoms of schizophrenia generally respond better than those with chronic
symptoms.
Long-term treatment often necessary after the first episode of psychosis and prevent illness from becoming chronic.
may relapse if treatment is withdrawn inappropriately.
Relapse is often delayed for several weeks after cessation of treatment.
- Adipose tissues act as depot reservoir after chronic regular usage of antipsychotics.
– The antipsychotic (stored in fat cells) then diffuses back into blood stream after treatment cessation, until depletion
Methods to overcome poor treatment adherence
Methods to overcome poor treatment adherence
• Community Psychiatric Nurse
• IM long-acting injections
• Patient and Family (Caregiver) Education
Mechanism of Action - Antipsychotics
The central dopamine systems is composed of the following 4 tracts:
(1) Mesolimbic Tract: Blockade of the dopamine receptors in this tract is probably the common mechanism of action for all antipsychotics, because overactivity in this region is responsible for positive symptoms of Schizophrenia.
Blockade of the remaining 3 dopamine tracts causes adverse effects.
(2) Mesocortical (MC) Tract: This tract is responsible for higher-order thinking and executive functions. Dopamine blockade or hypofunction in this region results in negative symptoms.
(3) Nigrostriatal (NS) Tract: This tract modulates body movement. Antipsychotic-induced dopamine blockade in this region causes Extrapyramidal Side Effects (EPSE).
(4) Tuberoinfundibular (TI) Tract: Dopamine blockade in this region of the anterior pituitary leads to hyperprolactinemia.
D2 antagonism clinical implication
D2 Antagonism:
improve (+)ve Sx
causes EPSE, Hyperprolactinaemia
5-HT2A Antagonism:
clinical implication
5-HT2A Antagonism:
Antidepressant effects?
improve (-)ve Sx?
D2 receptor blockage %
60% = antipsychotic 70% = prolactin threshold 80% = EPS threshold
Algorithm for Schizophrenia
Use a single FGA or SGA (except Clozapine) –>
INADEQUATE OR NO RESPONSE (~4-6 weeks) –>
Use another single FGA or SGA (except Clozapine) not previously tried –>
INADEQUATE OR NO RESPONSE (~4-6 weeks) –>
Clozapine
–> Clozapine + Augmenting Agent (FGA or SGA or ECT)
OR
Clozapine
–> Refusal or Intolerable side effects –>
Combination Therapy e.g. Antipsychotic combinations (either FGA+FGA, or FGA+SGA), Antipsychotic + either ECT or other agent (e.g. mood stabilizer)
Algorithm for Schizophrenia – Important Footnotes
- Medication selection is INDIVIDUALISE for a patient, based on physician’s assessment of clinical circumstances, past response/failures on antipsychotics, patient needs, efficacy and side effect profiles of the therapy.
- Patients require COMPLIANCE to an adequate trial of antipsychotic (excluding Clozapine) of at LEAST 4-6 weeks at optimal THERAPEUTIC doses (300 – 1000mg/day of Chlorpromazine equivalence) before being CONSIDERED as “non-responders” to the medication (Clozapine requires more time, up to 3 months). An adequate augmentation trial of up to 8-10 weeks is required if another antipsychotic is added to Clozapine.
- Manage any intolerable ADRs accordingly or switch to more suitable alternatives
- Consider a DEPOT/long-acting injectable antipsychotic if inadequately compliant,
- such as IM Risperidone microspheres, IM Paliperidone prolonged release suspension, IM Haloperidol decanoate or IM Fluphenazine decanoate, IM Flupenthixol Decanoate, IM Pipothiazine Palmitate. - 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).
Routine hematological monitoring is required for patients on Clozapine. A treatment refractory evaluation should be performed to reexamine diagnosis, substance abuse, medication adherence, and psychosocial stressors.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or Psychosocial augmentation should be considered.
DEPOT/long-acting injectable antipsychotic
- such as IM Risperidone microspheres, IM Paliperidone prolonged release suspension, IM Haloperidol decanoate IM Fluphenazine decanoate, IM Flupenthixol Decanoate, IM Pipothiazine Palmitate.
Precautions to Antipsychotic use
– Cardiovascular disease
• QTc prolongation (contraindicated)
• ECG may be required if physical exam identifies cardiovascular risk factors, or if there is personal history of cardiovascular disease, or if patient is being admitted as inpatient.
– Parkinson’s disease
• May be exacerbated by antipsychotics
– Epilepsy And conditions predisposing to epilepsy
– Depression – Myasthenia gravis – Prostatic hypertrophy – Angle-closure glaucoma – Severe respiratory disease – History of jaundice
– Blood dyscrasias, • especially for Clozapine
– Elderly with Dementia • Increased risks for mortality and stroke.
Adjunctive Treatments
Acute Agitation (Psychiatric Emergency)
If patient cooperative: • Consider Oral Medication (A) p.o. Lorazepam 1 – 2mg, or (B) p.o Haloperidol* (tab, solution) 2 – 5mg or (C) (A)+(B), or
(D) p.o. Risperidone (tab, orodispersible, solution) 1–2mg, or
(E) (A)+(D), or
(F) p.o. Olanzapine (tab, orodispersible) 5 – 10mg, or
(G) p.o. Quetiapine 50-100mg (tab)
If patient uncooperative and remains agitated/ aggressive:
• Consider fast-acting IM injection
(a) IM Lorazepam 1 – 2mg, or
(b) IM Haloperidol* 2.5 – 10mg (pre-treatment ECG recommended but can be impossible to do), or
(c) (a)+(b), or
(d) IM Promethazine 25-50mg, or
(e) (b)+d).
Note *Consider use of anticholinergic where appropriate
• IM Aripiprazole, IM Ziprasidone, IM Olanzapine or S/L Asenapine may be considered if available
Catatonia
– Benzodiazepines • po/IM Lorazepam
Management of Side Effects
EPSE Dystonia ~10%
EPSE Dystonia ~10%
- Muscle spasms, e.g. oculogyric crisis, torticollis
- Onset: within minutes (if IM/IV) or hrs (if p.o.)
Risk
High potency antipsychotics: (eg haloperidol), neuroleptic-naïve patients, young
management: IM anticholinergic (benztropine, diphenhydramine)
management of ADR
EPSE: Pseudo-parkinsonism ~20%
EPSE: Pseudo-parkinsonism ~20%
- Tremors, rigidity, bradykinesia, bradyphrenia, salivation
- Onset: days or weeks
Risk
- Elderly females, those with previous neurological damage (e.g. head injury, stroke)
Management
- Decrease antipsychotic dose, or switch to SGA
- Anticholinergics PRN, e.g benzhexol (aka trihexyphenidyl), benztropine.
EPSE: Akathisia ~25%
ADR MANAGEMENT
EPSE: Akathisia ~25%
- Restlessness
- Onset: hrs to weeks
Risk
- High-potency antipsychotics> Risp> Olan> Quet/Cloz
Management
- DECREASE antipsychotic dose, or switch to SGA
- Propranolol 20mg TDS (max 160mg/day)
- Clonazepam (low dose) PRN
- Anticholinergics generally unhelpful
