Psychological Disorders Zoom Class

The speaker introduces the guest speaker, Brandon, who specializes in psychiatric disorders and medications. Due to scheduling conflicts, Brandon couldn't attend in person, so a recording of his presentation will be played. The session will cover psychiatric disorders and their associated medications, focusing on anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and psychosis. The introduction includes a brief overview of the session's objectives and a note on the commonality of anxiety disorders in the general population.

This section dives into the nature of anxiety disorders, differentiating between normal and abnormal anxiety. Normal anxiety is a response to real stressors, while abnormal anxiety occurs without a specific cause. Symptoms include psychological feelings of impending doom and physical symptoms like heart racing and chest pain. The speaker explains everyday anxieties versus anxiety disorders, highlighting how the latter significantly interfere with daily life and can lead to avoidance behaviors and panic attacks.

The focus shifts to anxiety disorders related to dental visits, including specific phobias such as fear of needles, blood, or dental procedures. The speaker discusses the prevalence of dental anxiety, its impact on avoiding dental care, and strategies for managing anxious patients. Techniques include explaining procedures clearly, recognizing signs of nervousness, and creating a calming environment with music and essential oils. The goal is to build trust and help patients feel more comfortable during dental visits.

Continuing from the previous paragraph, the speaker elaborates on managing dental anxiety through effective communication and understanding patient fears. They stress the importance of being patient, reading patient cues, and adjusting explanations based on individual needs. The speaker shares a personal anecdote about successfully treating a highly anxious patient through multiple appointments, emphasizing the value of building trust and ensuring patient comfort throughout the treatment process.

This section introduces mood disorders, focusing on their cyclical or episodic nature. The speaker discusses major depression, dysthymia, and bipolar disorder, explaining their symptoms and diagnostic criteria. Major depression is characterized by severe symptoms lasting at least two weeks, while dysthymia involves less intense but longer-lasting symptoms. Bipolar disorder includes manic and depressive episodes, with classifications based on the severity and duration of these episodes.

The speaker provides an in-depth look at bipolar disorder, its symptoms, and treatment options. Bipolar disorder involves fluctuations between manic and depressive episodes. The speaker explains the classifications of bipolar disorder, including bipolar I, bipolar II, and cyclothymic disorder. Treatment approaches include mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, and sometimes antidepressants, with careful monitoring to prevent triggering manic episodes. The effectiveness and side effects of various medications are discussed.

The focus shifts to schizophrenia, a type of psychosis characterized by disordered thinking, hallucinations, delusions, and bizarre behavior. The speaker explains the distinction between positive symptoms (additional behaviors) and negative symptoms (loss of functions). The treatment of schizophrenia involves antipsychotic medications, which block dopamine receptors to reduce symptoms. The side effects of these medications, including Parkinsonian symptoms and tardive dyskinesia, are also discussed.

The guest speaker, Dr. Brandon Muziali, introduces himself and outlines the objectives of his lecture on psychiatric disorder medications. He discusses common medications for depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, emphasizing the importance of recognizing these medications and their side effects, particularly in a dental setting. The lecture aims to help students understand the mechanisms of action, therapeutic effects, and potential dental complications of these medications.

Dr. Muziali discusses the treatment options for depression, including SSRIs, SNRIs, tricyclic antidepressants, and adjunctive agents like bupropion and trazodone. He explains their mechanisms of action, side effects, and the importance of monitoring patients during the initial weeks of treatment. The focus is on helping dental professionals recognize these medications and understand their implications for dental care.

The speaker continues discussing depression medications, focusing on SNRIs and their side effects, including increased blood pressure and GI discomfort. The importance of monitoring patients for these side effects, especially in a dental setting, is emphasized. The discussion also covers the use of these medications for conditions other than depression, such as neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia.

The lecture moves to mood stabilizers used for treating bipolar disorder, including lithium, valproic acid, carbamazepine, and lamotrigine. Dr. Muziali explains the mechanisms of action, side effects, and the need for regular blood monitoring for these medications. He highlights the importance of understanding these medications' implications for dental care, including potential interactions with other drugs and the risk of side effects like dry mouth and orthostatic hypotension.

Dr. Muziali discusses medications for anxiety and insomnia, including benzodiazepines and Z-drugs. He explains their mechanisms of action, side effects, and the importance of careful monitoring due to their potential for addiction and abuse. The use of these medications for managing anxiety related to dental procedures is highlighted, along with the need for caution in elderly patients and those with a history of substance use.

The speaker returns to the topic of antipsychotic medications for schizophrenia, discussing the differences between first-generation and second-generation antipsychotics. He explains their side effects, including extrapyramidal symptoms and metabolic syndrome. The importance of monitoring patients for these side effects and recognizing oral health issues related to antipsychotic use is emphasized.

The lecture covers additional medications for anxiety and insomnia, including trazodone, buspirone, and hydroxyzine. Dr. Muziali explains their uses, side effects, and the importance of distinguishing between similar-sounding medications like buspirone and bupropion. The potential for using these medications as alternatives to benzodiazepines for patients with anxiety or insomnia is discussed.

Dr. Muziali wraps up his lecture by offering references for further reading and encouraging students to contact him with any questions. The session ends with the course director addressing the class, providing information on the next lecture topic, upcoming exams, and quizzes. The importance of understanding psychiatric medications and their implications for dental care is reiterated.

The speaker concludes the session by addressing any remaining questions from the students and outlining the plans for the next class. The next session will include a review for the upcoming exam and final preparations for the semester's clinical rotations. The importance of continuous learning and staying updated on psychiatric medications is emphasized.