Section 1: Psychotic Disorders Flashcards
(36 cards)
Which neurotransmitter receptors are associated with:
- Positive symptoms of schizophrenia
- Negative symptoms of schizophrenia
- Dopamine receptors
- Muscarinic receptors
List the positive symptoms of schizophrenia
- Delusions (mostly bizzare)
- Disorganized speech/behavior
- Hallucinations
- Agitation
List the negative symptoms of schizophrenia
- Flattened affect
- Social withdrawal
- Anhedonia
- Apathy
- Poverty of thought
True or False:
Atypical antipsychotics are the most effective treatment for negative symptoms
Fischer, Conrad (2012-09-22). Master the Boards: USMLE Step 3 (Kaplan Medical Usmle Master the Boards Step 3) (Kindle Locations 15144-15158). Kaplan Publishing. Kindle Edition.
True
Diagnosis:
- Positive psychosis symptoms
- Affects social and occupational function
- Lasts longer than 6 months
Schizophrenia
Fischer, Conrad (2012-09-22). Master the Boards: USMLE Step 3 (Kaplan Medical Usmle Master the Boards Step 3) (Kindle Locations 15144-15158). Kaplan Publishing. Kindle Edition.
Diagnosis:
- Positive psychosis symptoms
- Affects social and occupational function
- Lasts longer than 1 month but less than 6 months
Schizophreniform disorder
Fischer, Conrad (2012-09-22). Master the Boards: USMLE Step 3 (Kaplan Medical Usmle Master the Boards Step 3) (Kindle Locations 15144-15158). Kaplan Publishing. Kindle Edition.
Diagnosis:
- Positive psychosis symptoms
- Affects social and occupational function
- Lasts less than 1 month
- Patient returns to baseline
Brief psychotic disorder
Fischer, Conrad (2012-09-22). Master the Boards: USMLE Step 3 (Kaplan Medical Usmle Master the Boards Step 3) (Kindle Locations 15144-15158). Kaplan Publishing. Kindle Edition.
Diagnosis:
- Positive psychosis symptoms with non-bizarre delusions
- No impairment of baseline functioning
- Lasts for many years
Delusional disorder
Fischer, Conrad (2012-09-22). Master the Boards: USMLE Step 3 (Kaplan Medical Usmle Master the Boards Step 3) (Kindle Locations 15144-15158). Kaplan Publishing. Kindle Edition.
Schizophrenia presents at a younger age in males than in females
Males?
Females?
15– 24 years
25– 34 years
What is the first step in management of any acute psychiatric condition?
Fischer, Conrad (2012-09-22). Master the Boards: USMLE Step 3 (Kaplan Medical Usmle Master the Boards Step 3) (Kindle Locations 15168-15170). Kaplan Publishing. Kindle Edition.
Determine if the patient needs hospitalization.
Hospitalize if the patient is at risk of harm to self or to others. Hospitalize against the patient’s will if the patient has suicidal or homicidal ideation.
Fischer, Conrad (2012-09-22). Master the Boards: USMLE Step 3 (Kaplan Medical Usmle Master the Boards Step 3) (Kindle Locations 15168-15170). Kaplan Publishing. Kindle Edition.
Other forms of psychosis to rule out
Get a drug screen to rule out substance abuse
Look for signs or symptoms of seizure. Temporal lobe epilepsy can present with hallucinations (auditory and olfactory distortions), feeling of déjà vu, or dissociation from surroundings
Fischer, Conrad (2012-09-22). Master the Boards: USMLE Step 3 (Kaplan Medical Usmle Master the Boards Step 3) (Kindle Locations 15157-15170). Kaplan Publishing. Kindle Edition.
Watch out for suicidal ideation in schizophrenia patients and schizophreniform patients.
Fifty percent of schizophrenia patients attempt suicide in their lifetimes, and — percent of these attempts are successful.
10
Schizophreniform patients are at greater risk of depression and suicide after the episode of psychosis resolves.
Fischer, Conrad (2012-09-22). Master the Boards: USMLE Step 3 (Kaplan Medical Usmle Master the Boards Step 3) (Kindle Locations 15157-15170). Kaplan Publishing. Kindle Edition.
What is the greatest risk factor for progression to schizophrenia?
Schizophreniform disorder. Two thirds eventually progress to schizophrenia.
Fischer, Conrad (2012-09-22). Master the Boards: USMLE Step 3 (Kaplan Medical Usmle Master the Boards Step 3) (Kindle Locations 15171-15182). Kaplan Publishing. Kindle Edition.
True or False:
- In general, females have a better prognosis and respond better to treatment than males.
- Patients with paranoid schizophrenia are more responsive to treatment than those with other kinds.
- True
- True
Fischer, Conrad (2012-09-22). Master the Boards: USMLE Step 3 (Kaplan Medical Usmle Master the Boards Step 3) (Kindle Locations 15171-15182). Kaplan Publishing. Kindle Edition.
List the poor prognostic features of schizophrenia
- Early age of onset
- Negative symptoms
- Poor premorbid functioning
- Family history of schizophrenia
- Disorganized or deficit subtype
Fischer, Conrad (2012-09-22). Master the Boards: USMLE Step 3 (Kaplan Medical Usmle Master the Boards Step 3) (Kindle Locations 15171-15182). Kaplan Publishing. Kindle Edition.
Outline the management of acute psychotic disorders
- If the case describes bizarre or paranoid symptoms, hospitalize the patient
- Give benzodiazepines for agitation and start antipsychotics
- Antipsychotic medications are given for 6 months and are the most effective therapy to prevent further episodes
- Initiate long-term psychotherapy
- Long-term antipsychotics are only given when there is a history of repeat episodes.
Fischer, Conrad (2012-09-22). Master the Boards: USMLE Step 3 (Kaplan Medical Usmle Master the Boards Step 3) (Kindle Locations 15185-15198). Kaplan Publishing. Kindle Edition.
List the indications for antipsychotic medications
- Acute psychosis
- For sedation when benzodiazepines are contraindicated
- As an adjunct during anasthesia
- For movement disorders to suppress tics and vocalization
- Huntington’s disease
- Tourette disorder
True or False
Antipsychotics are chosen based on side effect profile, not efficacy
True
List examples, advantages and disadvantages of high potency conventional antipsychotics
- Examples:
- Fluphenazine
- Haloperidol
- Advantages
- Less sedating
- Fewer anticholinergic effects
- Less hypotension
- Useful as depot injections (e.g., haloperidol decanoate) for noncompliant patients
- Give IM route for acute psychosis when patient is unable or unwilling to take PO
- Disadvantages
- Greatest association with extrapyramidal systems (EPS)
Fischer, Conrad (2012-09-22). Master the Boards: USMLE Step 3 (Kaplan Medical Usmle Master the Boards Step 3) (Kindle Locations 15203-15235). Kaplan Publishing. Kindle Edition.
List examples, advantages and disadvantages of low potency conventional antipsychotics
- Examples
- Thioridazine
- chlorpromazine
- Advantages
- Less likely to cause EPS
- Disadvantages
- Greater anticholinergic effects
- More sedation
- More postural hypotension
Fischer, Conrad (2012-09-22). Master the Boards: USMLE Step 3 (Kaplan Medical Usmle Master the Boards Step 3) (Kindle Locations 15203-15235). Kaplan Publishing. Kindle Edition.
List examples, advantages and disadvantages of atypical antipsychotics
- Examples
- Risperidone
- Olanzapine
- Quetiapine
- Clozapine
- Advantages
- Drug of choice for initial therapy
- Greater effect on negative symptoms
- Little or no risk of EPS
- Disadvantages
- Clozapine is reserved for treatment-resistant patients because of risk of agranulocytosis.
Fischer, Conrad (2012-09-22). Master the Boards: USMLE Step 3 (Kaplan Medical Usmle Master the Boards Step 3) (Kindle Locations 15203-15235). Kaplan Publishing. Kindle Edition.
Clozapine is associated with agranulocytosis (1 percent). Always check — (1) — with — (2) — both before initiating therapy and — (3) — after starting therapy.
- CBC
- Differential
- Weekly
Fischer, Conrad (2012-09-22). Master the Boards: USMLE Step 3 (Kaplan Medical Usmle Master the Boards Step 3) (Kindle Locations 15237-15258). Kaplan Publishing. Kindle Edition.
Adverse effects of low potency antipsychotics
Next best step with these side effects
Low-potency antipsychotics have the highest risk of causing
- Orthostatic hypotension (alpha blockade)
- Acute urinary retention
- Dry mouth
- Blurry vision
- Delirium (anticholinergic effect)
Change to an atypical antipsychotic if these symptoms are present
Fischer, Conrad (2012-09-22). Master the Boards: USMLE Step 3 (Kaplan Medical Usmle Master the Boards Step 3) (Kindle Locations 15237-15258). Kaplan Publishing. Kindle Edition.
Adverse effects of thioridazine
Precautions to take
Adverse effects:
- Prolonged QT
- Arrhythmias
- Abnormal retinal pigmentation after many years of use
Precautions:
- Always get an EKG if the case describes chest pain, shortness of breath, or palpitations in a patient taking thioridazine
Fischer, Conrad (2012-09-22). Master the Boards: USMLE Step 3 (Kaplan Medical Usmle Master the Boards Step 3) (Kindle Locations 15237-15258). Kaplan Publishing. Kindle Edition.