Mental Health Disorders Quiz (BMS Learning Outcomes)

Mental Health Disorders (MHD) in Dentistry

• Mental health disorders (MHD) are prevalent and can impact various aspects of a patient's life, including oral health.
• Many MHDs, such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression, often co-occur with other health conditions, like cancer.

Types of Mental Health Disorders

• Anxiety: A natural response to worry or fear, potentially impacting a patient's life and daily activities. Treated with SSRIs, pregabalin, beta-blockers, or benzodiazepines.
• Depression: Characterized by sadness, loss of interest, tiredness, concentration problems, and sleep disturbances. Treated with antidepressants such as SSRIs.
• Bipolar Disorder: Alternating periods of mania (racing thoughts, elevated mood) and depression.
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Triggered by a traumatic event, involving flashbacks, anxiety, avoidance, and hyperarousal. Treated with paroxetine, mirtazapine, amitriptyline, or phenelzine.
• Schizophrenia: Severe mental disorder, affecting thoughts, perceptions, emotions, and behaviors (hallucinations and delusions). Treated with anti-psychotics like lithium or risperidone.
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Characterized by intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors. Treated with SSRIs.
• Eating Disorders: Include anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, and others impacting oral health and requiring special care.
• Autism Spectrum Disorder: Communication difficulties, literal interpretations, and other symptoms can sometimes co-occur with mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, or OCD.

Oral Manifestations of MHD

• OCD: Compulsive behaviors may interfere with oral hygiene routines.
• Eating Disorders (anorexia/bulimia): Tooth erosion due to acid exposure (vomiting) and potentially osteoporosis.
• Medications (side effects): Can lead to dry mouth (xerostomia), altered taste, and oral complications like tooth wear.
• Specific Cases: Vomiting (bulimia) or self-neglect, both can lead to oral health issues.

Impact on Dental Care and Management

• Building Rapport: Create a non-judgemental environment, offering empathy and support. Consider cultural differences.
• Assessment: Evaluate health history, including substance use (smoking/alcohol).
• Considerations: Document and consider potential concerns including oral trauma (e.g., from purging), tooth wear, caries due to dry mouth, self-neglect.
• Patient-specific Needs: Assess each individual case to understand possible issues impacting care, i.e PTSD, ASD and other challenges.
• Communication: Ensure clear, considerate communication, taking into account barriers such as avoidance behaviors or difficulties focusing.
• Accessibility: Adjust appointments to accommodate individual needs (e.g., flexible times or quiet spaces for patients with ASD), including accommodating for medications side effects