Schizophrenia NBT Flashcards
(144 cards)
what is the definition of psychosis?
- acute and severe mental condition
- lack of insight; out of touch with reality
how is schizophrenia different from psychosis?
schizophrenia: more common forms of psychosis
- disorganised and bizzare thoughts, delusions, hallucinations, impaired psychosocial functioning
- higher incidence of comorbid conditions including HTN, DM, cardiac conditions, substance abuse disorders
- mortality higher
- onset: commonly adolescence or early adulthood
what are the different diagnoses/disorders with associated psychotic sx?
- organic disorders
- Iatrogenic causes (drug related causes e.g. levodopa/dopamine agonist)
- Psychosis related to alcohol & psychoactive substance misuse (e.g. methamphetamine or other CNS stimulants or alcohol/cocaine withdrawal)
- epilepsy
- cerebral lesions (tumors, stroke, trauma)
- CNS infections; genetic/congenital
- parkinson’s disease
- dementia
- any metabolic disorders affecting nervous system
- endocrine disorders - affective disorders presenting with psychotic smx: mania, psychotic depression, post-partum psychosis
- Schizophrenia itself
- psychosis due to psychological development disorders or stress-related reactions
which neurotransmitters are dysregulated which can cause schizophrenia?
- dopaminergic (DA)
- serotonergic (5ht)
- glutamatergic function
what are the etiology factors of schizophrenia?
- predisposing (factors from early life determining a person’s vulnerability to precipitating factors)
- genetics (possible linkage)
- neurodevelopmental effects - precipitating (events that occur shortly before onset of disorder)
- Drugs = alcohol, BZDs, barbiturates, dopamine agonist (levodopa)
- CNS injury - Perpetuating (factors that prolong course of disorder)
- lack of support
- poor adherence with antipsychotic medications
Most common reason admitted into hospital = substance/withdrawal, non-compliance)
what is the clinical presentation of schizophrenia based on the DSM-5 criteria (no need to memorise)
- two or more of the following, where each for at least a 1-month period:
a. delusions
b. hallucinations
c. disorganised speech
d. grossly disorganised or catatonic behaviour
e. negative symptoms (affective flattening - zero expression on face; avolition - loss of motivation = can affect compliance) - social/occupational dysfunction
- duration
- continuous signs of the disorder for at least 6 months (inclusive of the 1 month sx in (1)) - schizoaffective or mood disorder has been excluded
- disorder NOT due to medical disorder or substance use
- if have pervasive development disorder, must have sx of hallucinations or delusions present for at least 1 mth
how to we diagnose/assess schizophrenia?
- Hx of present illness
- psychiatric Hx: any hx of neurosis or psychosis
- substance use hx: past use of cigarettes/ETOH/substances
- complete medical hx & medication hx
- other med used
- reassess adherence to med every visit - family, social, developmental, occupational hx
- esp 1st-degree family hx (as med they were taking could work for the pt) - physical & neurological exam
- mental state exam (mse) [for accurate diagnosis]
- assess for suicidal/homicidal ideations and risk
- reassess MSE on every interview to evaluate efficacy & tolerability - labs & other investigations
- to exclude general medical conditions or substance-induced sx (e.g. depression, mania, anxiety, insomia, psychosis)
- if patient have hx of unprotected sex: neurosyphilis (CNS infection) = check for WBC
- fasting blood glucose for the 2nd gen anti-psy
- urine toxicology for any substances
- ensure electrolytes are balanced
- ensure kidney is functioning
what is the non-pharmacological treatment?
-
individual cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
- in conjunct with med
- can prevent psychosis in ‘at risk’ groups
- …
2, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
- reserved for treatment-resistant schizophrenia
- repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)
- effective for reducing auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia -
Psychosocial rehabilitation
- improve patient’s adaptive functioning
- e.g. vocational: employment
- CBT included
- supportive/ counselling
what are the therapeutic goals of schizophrenia?
- acute stabilisation
- minimise threat to self and others
- minimise acute symptoms - stabilisation
- prevent relapse
- promote medication adherence
- optimize dose vs adverse effect - Stable/maintenance phase
- improve functioning and QOL
- monitor for adverse effect (e.g. tardive dyskinesia)
why is maintaining antipsychotic treatment important?
- reduces risk of relapse in stable illness to <30% per year
- if w/o maintenance therapy:
- -> 60-70% patients relapse within 1 yr
- -> 90% patients relapse within 2 yrs
what are key things to take note for pharmacological treatment of schizophrenia?
- antipsychotic med = aka neuroleptic
- tranquilizes w/o impairing consciousness and w/o paradoxical excitement - short term: calm disturbed patients
- commonly used for schizophrenia (can be used for acute mania, agitated depression, toxic delirium)
- antipsychotics relieve symptoms of psychosis such as thought disorder, hallucinations and delusions, and prevent relapse
- long term treatment often necessary after first episode of psychosis and prevent illness from becoming chronic
- relapse often delayed for several weeks after cessation of treatment
- -> adipose tissue are depot reservoir after chronic regular usage of antipsychotic
- Method to overcome poor treatment adherence:
a. IM long-acting injections
b. community psychiatric nurse (to adminster pills for them)
c. patient and family (caregiver) education (to monitor them)
- Method to overcome poor treatment adherence:
what is the MOA of antipsychotics?
- Mesolimbic tract
- blockade of dopamine receptors the most common MOA for all antipsychotics
- as overactivity in this region is responsible for positive symptoms of schizophrenia - Mesocortical tract (MC) tract
- responsible for higher-order thinking and executive functions
- dopamine blockade/ hypofunction here results in negative symptoms - Nigrostriatal (NS) tract:
- modulates body movement
- dopamine blockade here causes EPSE - Tuberinfundibular (TI) tract
- dopamine blockade of the anterior pituitary leads to hyperprolactinemia
which tract when blocked reduces the positive symptoms of schizophrenia?
Mesolimbic tract
which tract when blocked reduces the negative symptoms of schizophrenia?
Mesocortical tract
which tract when blocked reduces the extrapyramidal SE?
Nigrostriatal tract
which tract when blocked reduces gynecomastia, osteoporosis, sexual dysfunction, hyperprolactinemia?
Tuberoinfundibular tract
which receptor when antagonises improves the positive symptoms of schizophrenia?
D2 receptor antagonism
what are the side effects of D2 antagonism
D2 antagonism: EPSE, hyperprolactinemia
what is the therapeutic effect of 5-HT1A agonism?
anxiolytic
which receptor when antagonises improves the negative symptoms of schizophrenia?
5-HT2A
which drugs have more of the 5-HT2A antagonism?
the SGA (2nd gen anti-psy): aripiprazole, clozapine, risperidone
what SE does H1 antagonism cause?
sedation/weight gain
what SE does a1 antagonism cause
orthostasis (postural hypotension), sedation
what SE does 5-HT2C antagonism causes?
weight gain