Mood disorders Flashcards
(39 cards)
What is the difference between mania and hypomania
KEY DISTINCTION IS PSYCHOTIC SYMPTOMS
mania - psychotic symptoms, or impaired function, >7ds
hypomania - not too much impaired function, >4ds
What are the two types of bipolar affective disorder?
type 1 - depression and mania
type 2 - depression and hypomania
If person presents to GP with hypomania?
routine referral to community mental health services
If person presents to GP with mania?
urgent referral to community mental health services
Management of mania acutely?
antipsychotic e.g. HOQR (haloperidol, olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone)
maybe rapid tranqs
Management of mania long term?
mood stabiliser: LITHIUM is first line
valproate, lamotrigine
“Use of medication by the parenteral route (usually intramuscular or, exceptionally, intravenous) if oral medication is not possible or appropriate and urgent sedation with medication is needed.” What is this?
rapid tranqs
Defined in accordance with the Mental Health Act 1983 Code of Practice: ‘the supervised confinement of a patient in a room, which may be locked. Its sole aim is to contain severely disturbed behaviour that is likely to cause harm to others’. What is this?
seclusion
What medications are used for rapid tranquilisation of adults?
IM lorazepam
OR
IM haloperidol plus IM promethazine
Man presenting with mania. On sertraline.
Mania? STOP THE ANTI-DEPRESSANT
anti-depressants can induce mania
What is lithium’s therapeutic window?
0.4-1.0 mmol/L
After starting a patient on lithium, how often should lithium blood levels be checked?
after starting, lithium levels should be performed weekly and after each dose change until concentrations are stable
thyroid and renal function should be checked every 6 months
What should patients be issued with to prevent bad consequences of lithium toxicity?
info booklet
alert card
record book
Once established as stable, how often should lithium blood levels be checked?
every 3 months
How often should thyroid and renal function be checked when a patient is on lithium?
every 6 months
What can lithium do to the thyroid and kidneys?
nephrogenic diabetes insipidus
hypothyroidism!
What can lithium do to your ECG?
T wave flattening / inversion
Lithium can cause nephrogenic diabetes insipidus and hypothyroidism. What else can it have as side effects?
fine tremor D+V weight gain leucocytosis idiopathic intracranial HTN hyperPTH--> hypercalcaemia
A patient on lithium had a fine tremor and now they’ve got a coarse tremor. Are you worried?
yes! coarse tremor is a feature of lithium toxicity
… along with hyperreflexia, acute confusion, seizure and coma
How do you treat lithium toxicity ? (just a bonus q)
IV fluids (dilate) haemodialysis if bad
Dehydration or analgesics can precipitate lithium toxicity. Becomes toxic at what level in the blood?
> 1.5 mmol/L
10-20% of bipolar patients have rapid cycling. What’s this defined as?
four or more cycles of depression and mania a year, with no intervening asymptomatic episodes
Anhedonia, anergia and low mood are the core triad of depression symptoms. Sleep disturbance, appetite and concentration are three biological symptoms of depression. What else would you ask about?
SEX guilt worthlessness hopelessness SELF HARM + SUICIDE
What kind of MOOD-CONGRUENT delusion might you get in a manic psychosis
grandiose