Psych Flashcards
(101 cards)
To be diagnosed with schizophrenia, the symptoms must have lasted..
One month or more
* with at least 1st rank symptoms or 2/more other symptoms

Hypercalcaemia can present with …
Psychosis
** as well as VIT b12/folate deficiency
Both typical and atypical psychotics are
Dopamine D2 receptor antagonists
Management of schizophrenia
- patient choice
if unsuccessful: change drug
if still unsuccessful: give clozapine
** can offer CBT if still a bit of symptoms despite being on clozapine OR family psychotherapy
Size effects of clozapine include
Weight gain, sedation, hypersalivation + neutropenia - too much = epilepsy
Side effects of 1st generation drug haloperidol….
EPSE + has a direct effect on the heart

symptoms of neuroleptic malignant syndrome
- pyrexia
- raised CK
- Tachy
- Deranged LFTs + increase WBC/neutrophils
- confusion
** potential if started new antipsychotic or rapid change in doses
Psychotic episode is diagnosed if it lasted
2 weeks or less
*symptom may vary over time
Schizoaffective disorder can be diagnosed if
- presence of affective symptoms (e.g. low mood/irritability) with schizophrenic symptoms
- Duration at least 2 weeks
Persistent delusion disorder is diagnosed if
Presence of delusional symptoms in the absence of hallucinations or thought disorder
** symptoms presents for either 1 or 3 months
To be diagnosed with depression you need to have
Core symptoms - low mood, lack of energy or anhedonia
Other symptoms - loss of libido, early morning awakening, loss of appetite, feelings of guilt or worthlessness
Classification of depression

Management of depression
For mild
- 1st line: CBT
- IPT (relationship problems)
- psychoeducation/ ask about social side e.g. housing
For mod-severe
- SSRI’s i.e. sertraline/citalopram
- Can give ECT with severe depression that has not responded to other treatments
Recurrence after a first episode of severe depression
80%
Anti-depressant withdrawal symptoms
- Restlessness/parathparaesthesiaing /insomnia dizziness
- Duration: few weeks to a year
Diagnosing bipolar disorder
At least 2 episodes of significant mood disturbance
- one of which must be mania or hypomania
- and the other depression
Difference between mania and hypomania
same symptoms but different duration and impairment
e.g. grandiosity/decreased need for sleep/ pressured speech/distractibility/ flight of ideas/ increased activity
- Hypomania lasts < 7 days + not cause functional impairment
- mania >7 days + causes functionol impairment
Long-term management for bipolar disorder
- 4 weeks after an acute episode has resolved: lithium (to prevent relapses)
- if lithium ineffective consider: Valprate, olanzipine or quetiapine
Management of acute manic or mixed episode
- offer antipsychotic e.g. olanzapine/risperidone
- Mood stabilizers e.g. lithium (2nd line)
- can consider benzodiazepines to aid sleep
What to do before you start someone on lithium
- U&E’s
- TFT’ss
- Pregnancy status
- Baseline ECG
Monitored closely for SE
Management of specific phobia
1st line: self-help - CBT online/booklet or website
2nd line: CBT - graded exposure focus
3rd line: can consider antidepressants/benzodiazepines or b blockers
How to diagnose specific phobia
- marked persistent fear/anxiety of a specific object/situation
- should last 6 months
- Avoids it but can tolerate it with pain
- immediate reaction with same response each time
Social/ anxiety phobia , its symptoms
A fear of social situations due to humiliation/criticism or embarrassment - individuals are usually self critical
- somatic symptoms e.g. blushing/trembling/palpitations
- with excessive fear
ICD-10 diagnostic criteria of GAD
- Anxiety symptoms lasting 6 months or more with at least one of autonomic arousal e.g. chest pain/discomfort
- anxiety symptoms e.g. excessive worry, concentration difficulties, restlessness, sleep disturbance














