Terminology Flashcards
What is asterixis?
Asterixis is an abnormal muscle tremor consisting of involuntary jerking movements, especially in the hands, but also may be seen in the tongue and feet. It may be due to various diseases, but it is usually found in patients with diseases of the liver.
What is akathisia?
Akathisia is intolerance of inactivity; motor restlessness. The symptoms may appear as a side effect of antipsychotic drug therapy (eg, treatment with phenothiazines).
The urge to move resolves when the offending drug is withdrawn. Propranolol is used to reduce motor restlessness.
What are extrapyramidal side effects (EPS)?
Extrapyramidal side effects (EPS) include muscular rigidity, tremor, bradykinesia, and difficulty walking induced by neuroleptic medications; drug-induced Parkinsonism.
What is dystonia?
Dystonia is prolonged involuntary muscular contractions that may cause twisting (torsion) of body parts, repetitive movements, and increased muscular tone. These movements may be in the form of rhythmic jerks.
Acute dystonia is treated with intramuscular (IM) benzotropine or diphenhydramine.
What is tardive dyskinesia?
Tardive dyskinesia is a neurological syndrome marked by slow, rhythmical, stereotyped movements, either generalized or in single muscle groups. These occur as an undesired effect of therapy with certain drugs, especially phenothiazines. Treatments include withholding the responsible drug or drugs, and giving vesicular monamine transporters (VMAT) inhibitors, such as valbenazine or deutetrabenazine.
What is oculogyric crisis?
Oculogyric crisis is a spasm of involuntary deviation and fixation of the eyeballs, usually upward, often occurring as an adverse reaction to the use of phenotrhiazine medications. It may last for only several minutes or for hours. Oculogyric crisis is a dystonia reaction.
What is torticollis?
Torticollis is sniff neck associated with muscle spasm, classically causing lateral flexion contracture of the cervical spine musculature. The muscles affected are principally those supplied by the spinal accessory nerve.
What is laryngospasm?
Laryngospasm is spasm of the laryngeal muscles.
What is dyskinesia?
Dyskinesia is a defect in the ability to perform voluntary movement or any disorder characterized by uncontrolled or involuntary movements.
What is denial?
Denial is a defense mechanism in which one refuses to admit the reality of or to acknowledge the presence or existence of something; keeping anxiety-producing realities away from conscious awareness.
What is a delusion?
A delusion is a fixed, false belief that is not grounded in reality and persists despite clear evidence that is mistaken. It is seen most often in psychoses, in which patients may not be able to distinguish their own unverified thoughts, fears, or feelings from reality. It differs from hallucination in that hallucination involves the false excitation or one or more of the senses. The most serious delusions are those that cause patients to harm others or themselves (eg, fear or being poisoned may cause the patient to refuse food). Delusions may lead to suicide or self-injury. False beliefs include being persecuted or being guilty of unpardonable sin.
What is an illusion?
An illusion is an inaccurate perception; a misinterpretation of sensory impressions, as opposed to a hallucinations, which is perception formed without external stimulus. Vague stimuli are conducive to the production of illusion. If an illusion becomes fixed, it is said to be a delusion.
What is a hallucination?
A hallucination is a false perception having no relation to reality and not accounted for by any exterior stimulus. It is a dreamlike or nightmarish perception occurring while awake. It may be visual, especially in medical illness or drug withdrawal syndromes; auditory, especially in psychoses.; tactile; gustatory; or olfactory. Affected patients typically appear confused and agitated and are unable to distinguish between the real and the imaginary.
What is delirium?
Delirium is an acute, reversible state of disorientation, inattention and confusion.
What is delirium tremens?
Delirium tremens is the most severe expression of alcohol withdrawal syndrome.
Delirium tremens is marked by disorientation, anxiety, and restlessness, followed by visual, auditory, or tactile hallucinations, alcohol withdrawal seizures, and hyperactivity of the autonomic nervous system (evidenced by findings such as pupillary dilation, fever, tachycardia, uncontrolled hypertension, and profuse sweating).
