Schizophrenia and related disorders management Flashcards
What therapy should you offer to help with the negative effects of schizophrenia?
Arts therapies.
What is the difference between first gen (typical) and second gen (atypical) anti-psychotics?
Same efficacy, different side effects
Which generation tend to be offered in practice in the first episode of schizophrenia?
Second generation
Name the three dopamine pathways…
Mesocortical/mesolimbin, nigro-striatal, tubero-infundibular.
What are the mesocortical/mesolimbic pathways associated with?
Related to behaviour (anti-psychotic effect)
What is the nigro-striatal pathway associated with?
Coordination of voluntary movements (Extra-pyramidal side effects)
What is the tubero-infundibular pathway associated with?
Prolactin secretion
What are the anti-cholinergic side effects?
Can’t spit, can’t pee, can’t pooh, can’t see. Dry mouth, urinary retention, constipation and blurred vision.
What are the anti-adrenergic side effects?
Postural hypotension, sexual dysfunction
What are the anti-histamine side effects?
Sedation and anti-emetic.
Name the condition which has a prolonged QT interval?
Torsades de pointe/ VT
Why must you do an ECG before commencing someone on anti-psychotics?
Anti-psychotics cause QT prolongation.
What are the prolactin related side effects of anti-psychotics?
Amenorrhea, galactorrhea, gynaecomastia, impotence, weight gain, osteoporosis.
What are the ACUTE EPSE of anti-psychotics?
Parkinsonism (rigidity, tremor)- treat with anti-cholinergics, Dystonia (spasms, torticollis), treat with anti-cholinergics, akathasia (restlessness) adjust drug dose, change dose
What are the CHRONIC EPSE?
Tardive dyskinesia: Choreoathetoid movements- treatment for this is difficult
Which SGA has the best efficacy?
Clozapine
Who does NICE say clozapine should be offered to?
Offer it to people with schizophrenia who haven’t responded to adequate doses of at least 2 different anti-psychotic drugs, and one should be a non-clozapine SGA.
What receptors does clozapine target?
D2 receptors, has a high affinity for D4 dopamine receptors and targets all serotonin receptors
How does clozapine work?
It is a partial antagonist of the 5HT2A receptor. (so more serotonin). It also induces the release of glutamate and D-serine as an agonist at the NMDA receptor. Clozapine prevents impaired NMDA receptor expression caused by NMDA receptor antagonists
What are the main side effects of clozapine?
Agranulocytosis (so do regular FBC), myocarditis, weight gain, salivation, seizures, sedation.