Psychosis clinical

30 important questions on Psychosis clinical

What are the criteria for diagnosing schizophrenia according to DSM-5?

Symptoms present for at least a month
Presence of at least two of the following:
- Delusions
- Hallucinations
- Incoherent speech
- Seriously chaotic behavior
- Negative symptoms
- Social or occupational dysfunction
Symptoms present continuously for at least 6 months
Exclusion of primary mood disorders and drug use or general medical conditions

What is the approximate prevalence of schizophrenia in the worldwide population?

Approximately 1% of the world population.

What is the typical onset age for schizophrenia in men and women?

Onset in men is mostly before the 25th year, while in women it is, on average, five years later.
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What are the percentages of substance abuse among patients with schizophrenia?

- Nicotine: 75%
- Alcohol: 40%
- Cannabis: 20%
- Cocaine: 7%

What percentage of patients with a first psychotic episode eventually receive a diagnosis of schizophrenia?

70% of patients with a first psychotic episode eventually get diagnosed with schizophrenia.

What are the different global courses of schizophrenia as mentioned?

- 20%: Only one episode, without a reduction in functioning
- 35%: Multiple episodes, no or slight reduction in functioning
- 10%: Multiple episodes with steady loss of functioning
- 35%: Reduction in functioning increases with each episode

What are the effects of the treatment on positive symptoms and new episodes prevention?

- Positive symptoms disappear > 2/3 after several weeks
- Effective in preventing new episodes

Which motor side effects are frequent in antipsychotics with strong D2 receptor binding?

- Parkinsonism
- Tardive dyskinesia
  • - Involuntary movements in face
  • - Do not always disappear after cessation of medication

- Dystonia
  • - Involuntary muscle spasm

What are examples of metabolic side effects mainly associated with atypical antipsychotics?

- Weight gain (up to tens of kilograms)
- Increased cholesterol
- Diabetes mellitus

How can metabolic syndrome in patients on antipsychotics be managed?

- Inform patient about risk ("informed consent")
- Switch to another antipsychotic (classical, aripiprazole)
- Monitor metabolic parameters before and during use (eg. weight, glucose)
- Provide diet advice; stimulate exercise
- Add metformin if needed

What new developments have been made in reducing weight gain associated with olanzapine use?

- Adding samidorphan to olanzapine
- Semaglutide (Ozempic) for weight loss and blood glucose reduction in obese individuals

What are the symptoms of a manic episode?

- More than 1 week of elevated mood
- Irritability
- Grandiose ideas (e.g. thinking one is God)
- Diminished need for sleep
- Racing thoughts, speech
- Decreased attention
- Increased activity
- Painful consequences of seeking pleasure

What are the characteristics of bipolar disorder?

- Depressive and manic episodes
- Affects 1% of population
- Onset peaks around 20-25 years of age
- 10% risk of suicide
- 80% heritable factors

What are the pharmacotherapy options for bipolar disorder?

- Lithium
- Anti-epileptics: valproate, carbamazepine
  • - Block ion channels
  • - Can cause birth defects
- Antipsychotics, especially in acute phase
- Antidepressants, if necessary in persistent depression
- Benzodiazepines in acute phase

What is the estimated percentage of heritable factors contributing to bipolar disorder? What is the role of the environment in causing this disorder?

- Approximately 80% of bipolar disorder is attributed to heritable factors
- Environment plays a minor role in triggering episodes

What is the first step in pharmacotherapy for bipolar disorder?

- Start with a mood stabilizer

What is the initial pharmacological approach for acute mania in bipolar disorder treatment?

- For acute mania, start with an antipsychotic
- Benzodiazepines can also be used

How should pharmacotherapy be escalated in bipolar disorder treatment if necessary?

- If needed, escalate to 2-3 drugs in combination

What precaution should be taken when treating depression in bipolar disorder with pharmacotherapy?

- When treating depression, consider adding an SSRI to the regimen
- Beware of inducing mania during treatment

How long does it typically take for the effects of pharmacotherapy to be visible in manic episodes of bipolar disorder? And in cases of depression?

- Effects of pharmacotherapy should be visible in mania after 1-2 weeks
- In depression, the effect may take 4-6 weeks to show

What are the side effects of lithium treatment for depression and bipolar disorder?

- Trembling hands (tremor)
- Dry mouth, thirst
- Thyroid disorder
- Risk of kidney failure
- Increased urination
- Fluid retention
- Weight gain
- Strict regulation of blood levels
- Irreversible brain damage with three times increase

How can valproic acid impact pregnancy when used for epilepsy?

- >10% risk of birth defects
- Open spine, cleft lip, heart defects, limb defects
- Extra caution with women of childbearing age
- Importance of warning and contraceptives

What is emphasized in the treatment of bipolar disorder?

- Psychoeducation
- Prominence of biological factors
- Pharmacotherapy
- Minor role of psychotherapy
- Mention of ECT

Why are the names of psychotropic drugs considered confusing?

- Suggest efficacy in only one group of diseases
- Often effective across diagnoses
- Symptoms overlap between disorders

What are the two leading candidate mechanisms of lithium action in the nervous system?

- Inositol depletion hypothesis
- Action of lithium on the Wnt signaling pathway

How does valproic acid affect synaptic levels of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)?

- Valproic acid increases synaptic levels of GABA
- It blocks convulsive effects of GABA A receptor antagonists

What are the two known mechanisms of carbamazepine that are relevant to its antiepileptic effect?

- Carbamazepine binds to inactivated state of sodium channels
- Carbamazepine blocks presynaptic sodium channels

How does lamotrigine work at the cellular level to reduce excitatory effects in the nervous system?

- Lamotrigine inhibits the release of glutamate
- Lamotrigine inhibits low-voltage sodium channels

How does carbamazepine inhibit repetitive firing of action potentials in neurons?

- Carbamazepine binds to inactivated state of sodium channels
- This results in use-dependent and voltage-dependent block, inhibiting repetitive firing of action potentials

What effect does lamotrigine have on serotonin and dopamine reuptake?

- Lamotrigine modulates the reuptake of serotonin and dopamine
- However, it is unclear if these properties confer antidepressant benefits

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