Schizophrenia NBT Flashcards
what is the definition of psychosis?
- acute and severe mental condition
- lack of insight; out of touch with reality
how is schizophrenia different from psychosis?
schizophrenia: more common forms of psychosis
- disorganised and bizzare thoughts, delusions, hallucinations, impaired psychosocial functioning
- higher incidence of comorbid conditions including HTN, DM, cardiac conditions, substance abuse disorders
- mortality higher
- onset: commonly adolescence or early adulthood
what are the different diagnoses/disorders with associated psychotic sx?
- organic disorders
- Iatrogenic causes (drug related causes e.g. levodopa/dopamine agonist)
- Psychosis related to alcohol & psychoactive substance misuse (e.g. methamphetamine or other CNS stimulants or alcohol/cocaine withdrawal)
- epilepsy
- cerebral lesions (tumors, stroke, trauma)
- CNS infections; genetic/congenital
- parkinson’s disease
- dementia
- any metabolic disorders affecting nervous system
- endocrine disorders - affective disorders presenting with psychotic smx: mania, psychotic depression, post-partum psychosis
- Schizophrenia itself
- psychosis due to psychological development disorders or stress-related reactions
which neurotransmitters are dysregulated which can cause schizophrenia?
- dopaminergic (DA)
- serotonergic (5ht)
- glutamatergic function
what are the etiology factors of schizophrenia?
- predisposing (factors from early life determining a person’s vulnerability to precipitating factors)
- genetics (possible linkage)
- neurodevelopmental effects - precipitating (events that occur shortly before onset of disorder)
- Drugs = alcohol, BZDs, barbiturates, dopamine agonist (levodopa)
- CNS injury - Perpetuating (factors that prolong course of disorder)
- lack of support
- poor adherence with antipsychotic medications
Most common reason admitted into hospital = substance/withdrawal, non-compliance)
what is the clinical presentation of schizophrenia based on the DSM-5 criteria (no need to memorise)
- two or more of the following, where each for at least a 1-month period:
a. delusions
b. hallucinations
c. disorganised speech
d. grossly disorganised or catatonic behaviour
e. negative symptoms (affective flattening - zero expression on face; avolition - loss of motivation = can affect compliance) - social/occupational dysfunction
- duration
- continuous signs of the disorder for at least 6 months (inclusive of the 1 month sx in (1)) - schizoaffective or mood disorder has been excluded
- disorder NOT due to medical disorder or substance use
- if have pervasive development disorder, must have sx of hallucinations or delusions present for at least 1 mth
how to we diagnose/assess schizophrenia?
- Hx of present illness
- psychiatric Hx: any hx of neurosis or psychosis
- substance use hx: past use of cigarettes/ETOH/substances
- complete medical hx & medication hx
- other med used
- reassess adherence to med every visit - family, social, developmental, occupational hx
- esp 1st-degree family hx (as med they were taking could work for the pt) - physical & neurological exam
- mental state exam (mse) [for accurate diagnosis]
- assess for suicidal/homicidal ideations and risk
- reassess MSE on every interview to evaluate efficacy & tolerability - labs & other investigations
- to exclude general medical conditions or substance-induced sx (e.g. depression, mania, anxiety, insomia, psychosis)
- if patient have hx of unprotected sex: neurosyphilis (CNS infection) = check for WBC
- fasting blood glucose for the 2nd gen anti-psy
- urine toxicology for any substances
- ensure electrolytes are balanced
- ensure kidney is functioning
what is the non-pharmacological treatment?
-
individual cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
- in conjunct with med
- can prevent psychosis in ‘at risk’ groups
- …
2, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
- reserved for treatment-resistant schizophrenia
- repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)
- effective for reducing auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia -
Psychosocial rehabilitation
- improve patient’s adaptive functioning
- e.g. vocational: employment
- CBT included
- supportive/ counselling
what are the therapeutic goals of schizophrenia?
- acute stabilisation
- minimise threat to self and others
- minimise acute symptoms - stabilisation
- prevent relapse
- promote medication adherence
- optimize dose vs adverse effect - Stable/maintenance phase
- improve functioning and QOL
- monitor for adverse effect (e.g. tardive dyskinesia)
why is maintaining antipsychotic treatment important?
- reduces risk of relapse in stable illness to <30% per year
- if w/o maintenance therapy:
- -> 60-70% patients relapse within 1 yr
- -> 90% patients relapse within 2 yrs
what are key things to take note for pharmacological treatment of schizophrenia?
- antipsychotic med = aka neuroleptic
- tranquilizes w/o impairing consciousness and w/o paradoxical excitement - short term: calm disturbed patients
- commonly used for schizophrenia (can be used for acute mania, agitated depression, toxic delirium)
- antipsychotics relieve symptoms of psychosis such as thought disorder, hallucinations and delusions, and prevent relapse
- long term treatment often necessary after first episode of psychosis and prevent illness from becoming chronic
- relapse often delayed for several weeks after cessation of treatment
- -> adipose tissue are depot reservoir after chronic regular usage of antipsychotic
- Method to overcome poor treatment adherence:
a. IM long-acting injections
b. community psychiatric nurse (to adminster pills for them)
c. patient and family (caregiver) education (to monitor them)
- Method to overcome poor treatment adherence:
what is the MOA of antipsychotics?
- Mesolimbic tract
- blockade of dopamine receptors the most common MOA for all antipsychotics
- as overactivity in this region is responsible for positive symptoms of schizophrenia - Mesocortical tract (MC) tract
- responsible for higher-order thinking and executive functions
- dopamine blockade/ hypofunction here results in negative symptoms - Nigrostriatal (NS) tract:
- modulates body movement
- dopamine blockade here causes EPSE - Tuberinfundibular (TI) tract
- dopamine blockade of the anterior pituitary leads to hyperprolactinemia
which tract when blocked reduces the positive symptoms of schizophrenia?
Mesolimbic tract
which tract when blocked reduces the negative symptoms of schizophrenia?
Mesocortical tract
which tract when blocked reduces the extrapyramidal SE?
Nigrostriatal tract
which tract when blocked reduces gynecomastia, osteoporosis, sexual dysfunction, hyperprolactinemia?
Tuberoinfundibular tract
which receptor when antagonises improves the positive symptoms of schizophrenia?
D2 receptor antagonism
what are the side effects of D2 antagonism
D2 antagonism: EPSE, hyperprolactinemia
what is the therapeutic effect of 5-HT1A agonism?
anxiolytic
which receptor when antagonises improves the negative symptoms of schizophrenia?
5-HT2A
which drugs have more of the 5-HT2A antagonism?
the SGA (2nd gen anti-psy): aripiprazole, clozapine, risperidone
what SE does H1 antagonism cause?
sedation/weight gain
what SE does a1 antagonism cause
orthostasis (postural hypotension), sedation
what SE does 5-HT2C antagonism causes?
weight gain
what SE does M1 antagonism causes?
memory dysfunction, peripheral anticholinergic effects
what does IKr antagonism causes?
IKr = rapid delayed rectifier
QTc interval prolongation (pro-arrhythmic)
what is the hypothetical threshold for the anti-psychotic drug effects (D2 receptor blockade)
at 60% D2 receptor blockade: anti-psychotic effect threshold
at 70%: prolactin threshold
at 80%: EPS threshold
anti-psy that have weaker affinity can reach the anti-psy effect threshold vs high affinity anti-psy like haloperidol can reach the EPS threshold
–> thus v hard to know where is the threshold
what is the algorithm for schizophrenia treatment?
After diagnosis of schizophrenia:
- use single FGA or SGA (except clozapine)
if inadequate or no response/intolerable SE
2. use another single FGA or SGA (except clozapine) that was not prev tried
if still inadequate or no response/intolerable SE
- Clozapine = for treatment-resistant schizophrenia
- -> 1% of granulocytosis –> death –> thus need to monitor full blood count - Clozapine + (FGA or SGA or electroconvulsive therapy [ECT]) or
- (FGA + FGA or SGA + SGA) + either ECT or other agent (e.g. mood stabiliser)
how is the initial anti-psy med chosen for the patient?
- individualised based on past response/failures on antipsychotics, efficacy and SE profiles of the therapy
what do we need to do to ensure that the antipsychotic drug used is working before changing it to another drug?
1- patient need to be compliant to the antipsychotic (except clozapine) for at least 2-6 weeks at optimal therapeutic doses before being considered as non-responder
2- if on clozapine: 3 months to confirm therapeutic response
3- if on clozapine + another anti-psy: 8-10 weeks required to confirm therapeutic response
4- manage any intolerable SE accordingly or switch to more suitable alternatives
IMPORTANT What dosage form should we consider when a patient is not completely compliant to the drug?
consider long-acting injectable antipsychotic if inadequately compliant, or if patient prefers (e.g. cannot swallow)
what are the long-acting IM anti-psychotics?
All IM: SGA 1. Risperidone microspheres 2. Paliperidone prolong release suspension 3. Aripiprazole LAI
FGA
- Haloperidol decanote
- Flupenthixol Decanoate
- Zuclopenthixol decanote
When can we consider giving clozapine as an anti-psy
only to those who are treatment-resistant
def: those who had failed >= 2 adequate trials of different antipsychotics (at least 1 should be a SGA)
what has to be monitored when a patient is on clozapine?
routine haematological monitoring
in sg: weekly for first 18 weeks, then monthly
monitor for WBC and ANC - leucopenia/agranulocytosis
(a treatment-refractory evaluation should be performed to reexamine diagnosis, substance abuse, medication adherence, and psychosocial stressors. CBT or psychosocial augmentation should be considered)
Which conditions we have to be pre-cautious about before the start of antipsychotic use?
-
CV disease
- CI: those with QTc prolongation
- ECG required in those with CV risk factors, personal hx of CV disease, or patient is being admitted as inpatient - Parkinson’s disease –> the EPS worsens by antipsychotic (can consider quetiapine as it is less likely to cause adverse drug-induced parkinsonism)
- Epilepsy & conditions predisposing to seizures
- depression
- myasthenia gravis
- prostatic hypertrophy
- angle-closure glaucoma
- severe resp disease
- Hx of jaundice
- Blood dyscrasias (blood disease) - esp for Clozapine
- Elderly with dementia - increased risk for mortality and stroke (black box warning)
in which patient antipsychotic use is a black box warning and needs to be documented with the family member?
elderly with dementia
what is the preferred drug for acute agitation (psychiatric emergency)?
1. if patient is cooperative: consider *oral* medication: (a) oral **lorazepam** 1-2mg or (b) oral antipsychotic: - Haloperidol - **Risperidone** - Quetiapine - Olanzapine or (c) oral-inhaled loxapine (CI in asthma/COPD)
(lorazepam or risperidone commonly used)
- if patient uncooperative and remains agitated/aggressive:
consider fast-acting IM injection
(a) IM Lorazepam 1-2mg or
(b) IM Olanzapine (not to be given with IM Lorazempam within 1h of each other)
(c) IM Aripiprazole (less hypotensive than IM Olanzapine)
(d) IM Haloperidol
(e) IM Promethazine
(f) (a) + (d)
(g) (d) + (e)
what drug can be given for catatonia?
(a group of symptoms that usually involve a lack of movement and communication, and also can include agitation, confusion, and restlessness. )
BZD: po/IM Lorazepam
what can be given for depressive sx and/or negative sx of chronic schizophrenia?
for depression: suitable antidepressant
for negative sx: some SSRIs have mild-moderate efficacy
which anti-psychotic drugs are to be taken with food?
- Lurasidone & Ziprasidone
which anti-psychotics are CYP3A4 metabolised?
FGA:
Chlorpromazine, Haloperidol,
SGA:
Aripiprazole, Brexpiprazole, Clozapine, Cariprazine, Olanzapine, Quetiapine, Lurasidone, Ziprasidone
NOT: risperidone, paliperidone
what are the FGA?
Chlorpromazine, Haloperidol, sulpride, trifluoperazine
(Note haloperidol v potent and dosed BD or TDS compared to most anti-psy which is OD)
(0.5-3mg BD/TDS, total dose/day is 5-15mg)
what are the SGA?
- Amisulpride
- Aripiprazole
- Brexpiprazole
- Cariprazine
- Clozapine (max dose 900mg/day v high)
- Lurasidone (w food)
- Olanzapine (5-20mg/day)
- Paliperidone
- Quetiapine (max dose 800mg/day vhigh)
- Risperidone (2-6mg/day)
- Ziprasidone (w food)
- Asenapine
what are the FGA IM long-acting antipsychotics
- Flupenthixol decanoate
- Haloperidol decanoate –> can cause high EPSE
- Zuclopenthixol decanoate
not that impt (grey):
Fluphenazine decanoate
what are the SGA IM long-acting antipsychotics?
- risperidone (every 2 weeks) (supplement with oral dose during 1st 3 weeks)
- Paliperidone PR suspension for injection (every 4 weeks or every 3 months)
- Aripiprazole ER suspension (every 4 weeks/ every month)
FGA have more of what side effects than SGA?
EPSE and increase prolactin
due to D2 block
Which SGA have weight gain as the most important SE?
Clozapine, Olanzapine
which SGA dont have the weight gain SE
- Lurasidone
- Ziprasidone
- Aripiprazole
- Brexipiprazole
how do we manage the EPSE (dystonia) SE?
- Dystonia: muscle spasms, stiffness
- caused by high-potent antipsy (e.g. haloperidol), neuroleptic-naive patients, young M
- thus, use IM anticholinergics (e.g. benztropine, diphenhydramine)
how do we manage the EPSE (Pseudo-parkinsonism) SE?
- pseudo-parkinsonism: tremors, rigidity, bradykinesia
- seen in elderly F, w prev neurological damage (head injury, stroke)
- thus, reduce antipsychotic dose (not v practical) or switch to SGA
- anticholinergics PRN (e.g. trihexyphenidyl (benzhexol), benztropine
how do we manage the EPSE (Akathisia) SE?
Akathisia - restlessness
- due to high potency antipsychotics (e.g. haloperidol) > Risp > Olan > Quetiapine/Clozapine
- management:
- -> reduce antipsy dose or switch to SGA
- -> clonazepam (low dose) PRN
- -> propranolol
- -> anticholinergics NOT helpful
how do we manage the EPSE (tardive dyskinesia) SE?
- irreversible, lip chewing, tongue protrusion
- due to:
- -> FGA > SGA
- -> worsen with anticholinergic drugs
- solution:
- -> discontinue any anticholinergics
- -> decrease antipsychotic dose, or switch to SGA (clozapine possibly effective)
- -> Valbenazine 40-80mg/day (reversible VMAT2 inhibitor)
- -> Clonazepam PRN
how do we manage the hyperprolactinemia SE?
- gynecomstia in Male, lactation
risk:
- FGAs, and
- Paliperidone > Risperidone > other SGAs
solution:
- decrease FGA dose
- dopamine agonist (amantadine, bromocriptine)
- switch to aripiprazole
how do we manage the metabolic SE?
- weight gain, diabetes, increase lipids
risk:
- high: Olanzapine. Clozapine
- moderate: chlorpromazine, quetiapine, risperidone
- low: Aripiprazole, Haloperidol, Lurasidone, Ziprasidone
solution:
- lifestyle modification: diet, exercise
- treat DM (e.g. w metformin), hyperlipidemia
- *switch to lower risk agents = ari, lura, zip, halo
what are the cardiovascular side effects of antipsychotics?
- orthostatic hypotension
- QTc prolongation
- VTE/PE
how does the CV SE of orthostatic hypotension occur? which drugs are higher risk?
- chlorpromazine, clozapine > Risperidone, Paliperidone, Quetiapine > Olanzapine, Ziprasidone, Aripiprazole, Sulpride
how can we manage orthostatic hypotension?
- switch to lower risk agents
- get up slowly from sitting or lying position