ECT and neuromodulation therapies — MCQs

A 7-year-old boy is brought to the physician because of spells of unresponsiveness and upward rolling of the eyes for 2 months. The episodes start abruptly and last a few seconds. During that time he does not hear anyone’s voice or make any purposeful movements. When the episodes end, he continues what he was doing before the spell. He does not lose his posture or fall to the ground. Episodes occur multiple times during the day. Physical examination shows no abnormal findings. An EEG following hyperventilation shows 3 Hz spike-and-slow-wave discharges. Which of the following is the most appropriate pharmacotherapy at this time?

A 23-year-old woman is admitted to the inpatient psychiatry unit after her boyfriend reported she was “acting funny and refusing to talk.” The patient’s boyfriend states that he came home from work and found the patient sitting up in bed staring at the wall. When he said her name or waved his hand in front of her, she did not respond. When he tried to move her, she would remain in whatever position she was placed. The patient’s temperature is 99°F (37.2°C), blood pressure is 122/79 mmHg, pulse is 68/min, and respirations are 12/min with an oxygen saturation of 98% O2 on room air. During the physical exam, the patient is lying on the bed with her left arm raised and pointing at the ceiling. She resists any attempt to change her position. The patient remains mute and ignores any external stimuli. The patient’s medical history is significant for depression. She was recently switched from phenelzine to fluoxetine. Which of the following is the best initial therapy?

A 24-year-old male comes into the psychiatric clinic complaining of consistent sadness. He endorses feelings of worthlessness, anxiety, and anhedonia for the past couple months but denies feeling suicidal. He further denies any past episodes of feeling overly energetic with racing thoughts. Confident of the diagnosis, you recommend frequent talk therapy along with a long-term prescription of a known first-line medication for this disorder. What is the drug and what are some of the most frequently encountered side effects?

A 31-year-old G1P0 woman is brought into the emergency room by the police after a failed suicide attempt. She jumped off a nearby bridge but was quickly rescued by some nearby locals. The height of the bridge was not significant, so the patient did not sustain any injuries. For the 3 weeks before this incident, the patient says she had been particularly down, lacking energy and unable to focus at home or work. She says she no longer enjoys her usual hobbies or favorite meals and is not getting enough sleep. Which of the following is the best course of treatment for this patient?

Which neurotransmitter is primarily responsible for parasympathetic effects on heart rate?

A 27-year old gentleman presents to the primary care physician with the chief complaint of "feeling down" for the last 6 weeks. He describes trouble falling asleep at night, decreased appetite, and recent feelings of intense guilt regarding the state of his personal relationships. He says that everything "feels slower" than it used to. He endorses having a similar four-week period of feeling this way last year. He denies thoughts of self-harm or harm of others. He also denies racing thoughts or delusions of grandeur. Which of the following would be an INAPPROPRIATE first line treatment for him?

A 38-year-old woman presents to her primary care physician for complaints of insomnia. She states that for the last 8 months, she has had difficulty falling asleep. Additionally, she awakens in the middle of the night or early morning and cannot fall back to sleep. When further questioned, she reports decreased appetite with a 12-lb. weight loss in the last 6 months. She was recently demoted at her work as a baker due to trouble focusing and coordinating orders and excess fatigue. She feels she is to blame for her family's current financial status given her demotion. She is given a prescription for fluoxetine at this visit with follow-up 2 weeks later. At the follow-up visit, she reports no improvement in her symptoms despite taking her medication consistently. What is the most appropriate next step in management?

A 26-year-old man is brought to the emergency room by his roommate after he was found attempting to commit suicide. His roommate says that he stopped him before he was about to jump off the balcony. He has been receiving treatment for depression for about a year. 6 months ago, he had come to the hospital reporting decreased interest in his daily activities and inability to concentrate on his work. He had stopped going out or accepting invitations for any social events. He spent several nights tossing and turning in bed. He also expressed guilt for being unable to live up to his parents’ expectations. His psychiatrist started him on fluoxetine. He says that none of the medications have helped even though the dose of his medication was increased on several occasions, and he was also switched to other medications over the course of the past year. He has mentioned having suicidal thoughts due to his inability to cope with daily activities, but this is the first time he has ever attempted it. Which of the following would this patient be a suitable candidate for?

A 29-year-old man is being monitored at the hospital after cutting open his left wrist. He has a long-standing history of unipolar depressive disorder and multiple trials of antidepressants. The patient expresses thoughts of self-harm and does not deny suicidal intent. A course of electroconvulsive therapy is suggested. His medical history is not significant for other organic illness. Which of the following complications of this therapy is this patient at greatest risk for?

A 73-year-old woman is brought to the physician by her son because of increasing forgetfulness over the past 2 years. Initially, she used to misplace keys and forget her dog's name or her phone number. Now, she often forgets about what she has seen on television or read about the day before. She used to go for a walk every morning but stopped one month ago after she became lost on her way back home. Her son has prevented her from cooking because she has had episodes of leaving the gas stove on after making a meal. She becomes agitated when asked questions directly but is unconcerned when her son reports her history and says he is overprotective of her. She has hypertension, coronary artery disease, and hypercholesterolemia. Current medications include aspirin, enalapril, carvedilol, and atorvastatin. She is alert and oriented to place and person but not to time. Vital signs are within normal limits. Short- and long-term memory deficits are present. Her speech rhythm is normal but is frequently interrupted as she thinks of words to frame her sentences. She makes multiple errors while performing serial sevens. Her clock drawing is impaired and she draws 14 numbers. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?