UWorld Review Flashcards
What effects do antipsychotics (dopamine antagonists) elicit based on their action in the mesolimbic, nigrostriatal, and tuberoinfundibular tracts.
- mesolimbic: antipsychotic effect
- nigrostriatal: extrapyramidal symptoms of akathisia, parkinsonism, and dystonia
- tuberoinfundibular: hyperprolactinemia
What are the three clinical features of autism spectrum disorder?
- deficits in social communication and interactions with onset in early development, often presenting as impaired “joint attention”
- restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior
- occurring with or without language and intellectual impairment
How do we define status epilepticus and what is the most significant consequences of this prolonged seizure activity?
- defined as seizure activity lasting more than 5 minutes or a cluster of seizures without recovering normal mental status in between
- associated with a risk of developing permanent injury, specifically cortical laminar necrosis, due to excitatory cytotoxicity
What is REM sleep behavior disorder and what diagnosis is it suggestive of?
- it consists of violent and automatic complex motor behaviors during the night reflecting dream enactment
- it is a consequence of incomplete or absent muscle atone during REM and thus occurs more frequently in the second half of the night
- it has a very strong association with the future development of alpha-synuclein neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson disease
What is pseudotumor cerebri, how does it present, and how is it treated?
- it is idiopathic intracranial hypertension
- it presents with features of increased intracranial pressure, 6th nerve palsy, and normal CSF except for opening pressure
- it should be initially managed with acetazolamide which inhibits CSF production
- steroids and serial LPs can be used as bridging therapy until surgery (LP shunt) can be performed if medical therapy is ineffective or patients have progressive vision loss
Mannitol is useful in the treatment of what etiology of increased intracranial pressure?
cerebral edema (not other types)
Describe the presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of homocystinuria.
- marfanoid body habits including pectus deformity, decreased upper:lower segment ratio, joint hyper laxity, scoliosis, and skin hyperelasticity
- distinguished from Marfan’s based on intellectual disability thrombosis, megaloblastic anemia, fair complexion, and downward lens dislocation
- diagnosis is made based on elevated homocysteine and methionine levels
- treat with vitamin B6, B12, and folate supplementation alongside anticoagulation therapy
What is the best treatment for a pregnant patient with bipolar disorder?
lamotrigine, which has the lowest teratogenicity of the mood stabilizers
Which medication is often implicated in new-onset psychosis?
high-dose glucocorticoids
What are Wernicke encephalopathy and Korsakoff syndrome? What neurologic lesions is each associated with?
- Wernicke encephalopathy is due to thiamine deficiency and characterized by a triad of encephalopathy, ataxia, and oculomotor dysfunction
- it is associated with mamillary body atrophy and dorsomedial thalamic neuron loss
- Korsakoff syndrome is a complication of this characterized by amnesia, confabulation, apathy, and lack of insight
- it is associated with lesions to the anterior and medial thalami and to the corpus callosum
What is kleptomania?
- an impulse control disorder in which the individual is unable to resist the urge to steal, typically objects of little value and which are not needed
- patients describe increasing tension prior to the theft and pleasure or relief when committing the act
- they may even have guilt
How are the following antipsychotic extrapyramidal effects treated:
- acute dystonia
- akathisia
- parkinsonism
- tardive dyskinesia
- acute dystonia: diphenhydramine or benztropine
- akathisia: beta blockers, benzodiazepines, or benztropine
- parkinsonism: benztropine or amantadine
- tardive dyskinesia: valbenazine
What is the most common psychiatric complication of multiple sclerosis?
depression has been found in up to ⅔ of patients
What are childhood-onset fluency disorder and speech sound disorder?
- fluency disorder is stuttering
- sound disorder is a problem with articulation
What is selective mutism?
patients with intact verbal and nonverbal communication who do not speak in a specific setting such as at school
what are the indications for treating depression with ECT?
- treatment resistance
- psychotic features
- emergency conditions such as pregnancy, refusal to eat or drink, or imminent risk for suicide
How are social anxiety and performance anxiety treated?
- social anxiety is often treated with an SSRI
- performance anxiety requires only situational therapy and thus beta-blockers are the preferred treatment
Describe the presentation and treatment of bulimia nervosa.
- presents as recurrent episodes of binge eating with compensatory behaviors
- patients have excess worry about body shape and weight and maintain a normal to increased body weight
- treat with CBT, nutritional rehab, and an SSRI
Describe the presentation and treatment of binge-eating disorder.
- patients present with recurrent episodes of binge eating and have no compensatory behaviors
- treat with CBT, an SSRI, lisdexamfetamine, and behavioral weight loss therapy
What is the key difference between binge-eating disorder and bulimia nervosa?
binge-eating disorder does not involve any compensatory behaviors like bulimia nervosa does
Describe the presentation and treatment of anorexia nervosa.
- patients have a BMI less than 18.5, intense fear of weight gain, and a distorted view of body shape
- treat with CBT, nutritional rehab, and olanzapine (for weight gain)
How long should treatment of MDD last?
- the typical duration is 6 months of therapy
- if patients have 2 or more episodes, age of onset before 18, persistent residual symptoms, or a comorbid psychiatric disorder, consider maintenance therapy for 1-3 years
- if patients have 3 or more episodes, chronic episodes lasting more than 2 years, severe ongoing psychosocial stressors, or severe episodes, they are candidates for lifelong therapy
Describe the presentation of fetal alcohol syndrome.
- patients have behavioral difficulties, growth retardation, and intellectual disability
- facial dysmorphism includes small palpebral fissures, midface hypoplasia, a smooth philtrum, and a thin vermilion border
What is pseudocyesis?
- the somatization of stress causing early pregnancy symptoms which are misinterpreted
- the end result is a non psychotic patient who believes she is pregnant
What is the treatment for acute mania?
antipsychotics are the preferred treatment in acute situations because they take effect quickly as opposed to anti-convulsants and lithium which have a longer time to effect
Which forms of therapy have been shown effective in the treatment of schizophrenia?
psychoeducation and family therapy in order to help make home a nonstressful environment
How should neuroleptic malignant syndrome be treated?
- start by discontinuing the causative agent
- utilize supportive treatment
- use dantrolene, dopamine agonists, and benzodiazepines if patients do not respond
What is disruptive mood dysregulation disorder?
- poor frustration tolerance and persistent irritability that results in frequent temper outbursts out of proportion to the situation
- differs from intermittent explosive disorder in that DMDD has an onset before age 10 and is characterized by persistent irritability or anger in between episodes
What are the most commonly used benzodiazepines for alcohol withdrawal? Which are safe for patients with evidence of active liver disease?
- most common are chlordiazepoxide, diazepam, and lorazepam
- safe for those with liver disease are “LOT”: lorazepam, oxazepam, and temazepam
- diazepam and chlordiazepoxide have long half-lives and active metabolites that risk buildup and toxicity in liver patients
Describe postpartum blues and appropriate management. How does this contrast with postpartum depression?
- blues present within 2-3 days, consist of mild depression, tearfulness, and irritability, and resolves within 14 days
- it should be treated with reassurance and monitoring
- by contrast, postpartum depression is an MDD presenting within 4-6 weeks postpartum and is treated with antidepressants and psychotherapy
What is social pragmatic communication disorder?
a persistent difficulty in the social use of verbal and nonverbal communication
Describe the presentation of bath salts intoxication.
- presents with tachycardia, severe agitation, combativeness, delirium, and psychosis
- in contrast to other stimulants, the effects take several days to subside
When transition from a particular antidepressant to an MAOI, what is the typical protocol?
should discontinue the original antidepressant for 2 weeks before beginning the MAOI to avoid serotonin syndrome
How does the use of dopamine antagonists lead to tardive dyskinesia?
prolonged used of dopamine antagonists leads to D2 receptor up regulation and supersensitivity
What are the diagnostic criteria for adjustment disorder?
onset within 3 months of the identifiable stressor, marked distress or functional impairment, and does not meet criteria for another diagnosis
How does a normal stress response differ from adjustment disorder?
a normal stress response involves changes that are in line or appropriate for the severity of the stressor and do not lead to significant functional impairment
When are separation anxiety and stranger anxiety normal?
separation anxiety between 9-24 months of age and stranger anxiety between 6-24 months of age
How can pheochromocytoma be differentiated from panic disorder?
pheochromocytoma is more likely to present with drug-resistant hypertension, hyperglycemia, and episodic pounding headache
What is the best treatment for panic disorder?
- first line maintenance therapy is an SSRI or SNRI along with cognitive behavioral therapy
- acute management is with benzodiazepines
What are the core features of atypical depression?
- mood reactivity and hypersensitivity to rejection
- weight gain and hypersomnia
- leaden paralysis
What are the important features of a suicide risk assessment?
- evaluate ideation: frequency, duration, intensity, controllability, and nature
- evaluate intent: strength of intent and ability to control impulsivity
- evaluate plan: specific details, lethality of method, and likelihood of rescue
What is delayed sleep phase?
- a syndrome of inability to fall asleep at normal bedtimes, difficulty waking in the morning, and excessive early daytime sleepiness
- on weekends when allowed to set their own schedule, these patients have normal sleep quality and duration for age
What is the utility of a contract for safety?
their efficacy has not been demonstrated and may provide a false sense of security
What constitutes delusional disorder?
- one or more delusions lasting one month or more which are not obviously bizarre
- delusions in the absence of other prominent psychotic symptoms
What is a brief psychotic disorder?
the sudden onset of one or more psychotic symptoms that last less than 1 month
How can delusional disorder be differentiated from paranoid personality disorder?
paranoid personality disorder is a lifelong pattern whereas delusional disorder arises later in life in most circumstances and have a greater delusional intensity
What is reactive attachment disorder?
a pattern of emotional and social withdrawal stemming from past experiences of neglect or abuse leading to insecure attachment to caregivers