Psychiatry

Question 1

What are the diagnostic criteria for delirium?

Answer 1

Disturbance of attention
Change in cognition (i.e. memory deficit)
Acute change
Evidence of consequence of underlying physiology

Question 2

What are some risk factors for delirium?

Answer 2

Metabolic causes (hypercalcaemia, hyponatraemia, dehydration)
Infections (UTIs, pneumonia)
Trauma (hip fractures)
Drugs
Change in environment
Constipation

Question 3

What are the subtypes of delirium?

Answer 3

Hyperactive delirium: agitated, disorganized thoughts, delusions, hallucinations, disorientation
Hypoactive delirium: sluggish, drowsy, withdrawn
Mixed delirium

Question 4

How is delirium investigated?

Answer 4

4AT test, CAM, AMTS

Question 5

How is delirium treated?

Answer 5

Treat underlying cause and stop drugs linked to delirium
May give haloperidol (antipsychotic) in severe cases

Question 6

what are the features of Alzheimer’s disease?

Answer 6

amnesia
aphasia (disjointed speech)
agnosia (recognition problems)
apraxia (inability to carry out skilled tasks despite normal motor function)

Question 7

what are the features of Lewy Body dementia?

Answer 7

associated with Parkinson’s
fluctuating cognition
visual hallucinations
progressive cognitive impairment

Question 8

what are the features of frontotemporal dementia?

Answer 8

classically presents at a younger age
early personality change, disinhibition
language disrupted

Question 9

what are the features of vascular dementia?

Answer 9

progressive stepwise deterioration in cognition which usually occurs over a period of several months to years