Management of Mood Disorders

In the treatment of depression, which type of antidepressants are typically first line?

Antidepressants are known to typically take full effect after the first dose is taken

The main treatment for bipolar disorder is a drug called [blank_start]lithium carbonate[blank_end]

Which of the following anticonvulsants (usually used to prevent seizures in epilepsy) has use as a mood stabiliser for bipolar depression?

Which of the following anticonvulsants (usually used to prevent seizures in epilepsy) has use as a mood stabiliser for manic episodes in bipolar disorder?

In cases of bipolar disorder, an antidepressant should generally not be given without also prescribing a mood stabiliser.

Which 3 of the following medications are examples of selective serotonin uptake inhibitors?

When in the day should selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors be taken?

In a depressed patient with cardiac problems, which antidepressant would be safest for them to take?

Of the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, Fluoxetine is the safest in epileptic patients.

Citalopram is generally unsafe in patients with cardiac problems, as it predisposes to [blank_start]Long QT Syndrome[blank_end]

Generally, when in the day should Tricyclic Antidepressants be taken?

When SSRIs fail, typically the next drug type to be given is a Noradrenergic and Specific Serotonergic Antidepressant (NaSSA). What is the most common example of this drug type?

One of the main side effects or Mirtazapine is ...

Like tricyclic antidepressants, Mirtazapine should be taken in the [blank_start]evening[blank_end].

When both SSRIs and Mirtazapine have failed, the next class of antidepressants that are generally given are called Serotonin and Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs). Which of the following drugs is an example of a SNRI?

Like SSRIs, SNRIs should be taken in the [blank_start]morning[blank_end]

Which of the following drug types should not be taken whilst a patient is on Lithium?

Monitoring for a patient on Lithium Carbonate: [blank_start]During initiation of treatment[blank_end] - Lithium level 12 hours after last dose and U&Es every 5 days until lithium within therapeutic range [blank_start]Every 3 months[blank_end] - Lithium level and U&Es [blank_start]Every 6 months[blank_end] - Thyroid Function Tests

A patient taking a common medication for bipolar disorder presents to the out of hours GP complaining of blurred vision and a coarse tremor. It is likely that they are suffering from [blank_start]Lithium[blank_end] toxicity

Patients on which of the following drugs should be advised to stop taking the drug if they develop a rash, due to the risk of developing Stevens-Johnson syndrome?

Although SSRIs are typically not considered to be teratogenic, the SSRI [blank_start]Paroxetine[blank_end] should not be given during pregnancy as it is known to cause foetal heart defects.