CNS Module: Neurological & Psychiatric Comorbidities

CNS Module: Neurological and Psychiatric Comorbidities & Treatment

• This module covers neurological and psychiatric comorbidities and treatments.
• It includes lectures from Prof Charlotte Kamal, Dr. Mohamed Alsaffar, and Dr. Fergus Murphy.
• The module is part of a larger course at the University of Medicine and Health Sciences.

CNS Module Learning Outcomes

• Describe the development, structure, and function of the healthy central nervous system: Covers the basics of the CNS.
• Use effective strategies for managing patients with common or important central nervous system conditions: Focuses on teamwork and communication.
• Display high-quality communication with patients utilizing various communication frameworks: Emphasizes effective communication skills with patients.
• Identify key elements of performing a Central Nervous System history and physical examination: Details the processes involved in examining the CNS.
• Demonstrate professionalism, leadership, and resilience in managing patients, colleagues, and communities: Focuses on interpersonal skills.
• Describe the normal molecular, cellular, and biochemical functions in the healthy CNS system: Explores the biological mechanisms of the healthy CNS.
• Explain the pathological and immunological processes underlying CNS diseases: Covers causes and mechanisms of CNS diseases.
• Outline the characteristics of the major groups of microorganisms that play important roles in the development of CNS diseases: Explores the microbial involvement in CNS diseases.
• Describe epidemiology, aetiology, pathogenesis, pathologies, clinical manifestations, complications, and prognosis of common or important diseases: Delves into the various aspects of specific CNS diseases.
• Discuss the scientific basis, selection, and interpretation of appropriate diagnostic investigations for CNS diseases: Explains the diagnostic methodology behind CNS diseases.
• Use an evidence-based approach to choose the appropriate medicines to manage common or important CNS diseases and describe the mechanism of action of those medicines and their adverse effects: Covers the principles of medication selection and treatment strategies.
• Describe primary and secondary prevention of common or important CNS diseases at individual and population health levels: Focuses on preventive measures and public health approaches.

Activity Learning Outcomes

• Recognize the clinical presentation of common psychiatric disorders: Covers the signs and symptoms of various psychiatric conditions.
• Outline the nature of anxiety, mood, and psychotic disorders: Discusses the specifics of these conditions.
• Identify mental states associated with common psychiatric disorders: Explores the mental states accompanying common psychiatric disorders.
• Describe the two diagnostic classification systems used to diagnose psychiatric illness (ICD-11 and DSM-V): Explores the two diagnostic systems.
• Recognize combined disease burden in patients with neurological and psychiatric disease: Highlights the interconnectedness of neurological and psychiatric conditions.
• Identify multidisciplinary approaches to management of neuropsychiatric illness: Discusses collaborative team efforts to treat co-occurring conditions.

Common Mental Disorders - Anxiety

• Covers the symptoms of anxiety, from feelings of worry and anxiety to physical and cognitive features.
• Describes generalised and specific anxiety disorders.

Clinical Presentation and Nature of Anxiety Disorders

• Explains the physical and emotional symptoms of anxiety
• Defines different types of anxiety disorders such as panic disorder, agoraphobia, specific phobia, social anxiety disorder etc.

Clinical Presentation and Nature of Mood Disorders

• Explains the presentations of mood disorders including mania, depression, etc
• Includes a graph of the range of mood conditions

Clinical Presentation of Psychotic Disorders

• Describes psychosis as loss of touch with reality
• Explains primary psychotic disorders (e.g., schizophrenia) and secondary conditions (e.g., mood disorders with psychosis)
• Defines positive and negative symptoms in psychotic disorders.

Clinical Presentation and Nature of Substance Abuse

• Discusses how different substances of abuse (alcohol, drugs, etc.) manifest and impact the body.
• Explains presentations depend on the substance used and whether it is intoxication or withdrawal.

Mental State Examination

• Describes the examination as a snapshot of the patient's thoughts, emotions, and behaviour at that specific time of observation.
• Outlines its purpose in identifying the severity of the current mental condition and the risk to self or others.

ALO 3 Identify Mental States Associated with Common Psychiatric Disorders

• Presents scenarios of patient characteristics, describing behaviour, affect etc to determine the current state of mental illness and its severity (mild, moderate, severe)

ALO 4 Describe the Two Diagnostic Classification Systems Used to Diagnose Psychiatric Illness

• Explains the characteristics of ICD-11 (International Classification of Diseases) and DSM-V (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) highlighting their differences and similarities.

ALO 5 Recognize Combined Disease Burden in Patients with Neurological and Psychiatric Disease

• Discusses neuropsychiatry as the interface between neurology and psychiatry.
• Explains behavioural and psychological manifestations associated with various neurological conditions, such as stroke, epilepsy, head injury, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and Huntington’s disease.
• Details how psychiatric disorders can co-exist with neurological conditions and the importance of early diagnosis.

ALO 6 Identify Multidisciplinary Approaches to Management of Neuropsychiatric Illness

• Explains delirium as a common presentation in hospital settings and its often-organic origin.
• Describes the importance of a multidisciplinary approach, involving collaboration between liaison psychiatry and colleagues in medical specialities (e.g. psychology, OT, social work, nursing)
• Highlights the need for a detailed history, physical examination, and evaluation of investigations to differentiate comorbid conditions clearly.
• Outlines how medical illness can influence psychiatric presentations and vice-versa

Conclusion

• Highlights the blurred boundaries between neurological and psychiatric illnesses.
• Emphasizes the need to recognize and manage comorbidity, bidirectional relationships, and iatrogenic illness effectively.
• Explains the importance of early diagnosis to improve prognosis for many conditions, particularly delirium.
• Reinforces the critical role of multidisciplinary teams in neuropsychiatric management, relying on case-conferences and meetings.

Activity Learning Outcomes (summary)

• This section briefly summarises the key learning points related to the clinical presentations of psychiatric conditions.

Resources

• Provides various external resources (webpages, videos) for further study on topics included in the module.

Thank You!

• Indicates the end of the lecture or session.

This quiz evaluates your understanding of neurological and psychiatric comorbidities and their treatments as covered in the CNS module. You'll explore core concepts related to the structure and function of the central nervous system along with effective patient management strategies. Enhance your communication skills and professionalism in clinical settings.