Meds/Mechanism
Key neurotransmitter imbalance in serotonin syndrome.
Excess serotonergic activity at 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors.
EEG pattern most consistent with metabolic or toxic delirium.
What is generalized theta–delta slowing?
Clinical feature favoring PNES over epileptic seizure.
What is asynchronous limb movements?
Serotonin Syndrome vs NMS
Class of antidepressants associated with the “3 Cs”: convulsions, coma, cardiac arrhythmias.
What are tricyclic antidepressants?
This antidepressant increases seizure risk through dose-dependent GABA inhibition.
What is bupropion?
EEG finding that supports psychogenic nonepileptic seizures rather than epilepsy.
What is normal background during events?
Post-event feature strongly favoring epileptic seizure.
What is postictal confusion lasting minutes to hours?
Distinguishing motor exam finding separating serotonin syndrome from NMS.
What is hyperreflexia and clonus?
Why is flumazenil dangerous in chronic benzodiazepine users?
What is risk of precipitating seizures?
Mood stabilizer that worsens absence and myoclonic seizures due to sodium channel blockade.
What is carbamazepine (also phenytoin)?
MRI finding associated with chronic antipsychotic exposure.
What is basal ganglia volume changes?
Psychiatric diagnosis most strongly associated with PNES.
What is PTSD?
Medication that treats catatonia but worsens delirium.
What is benzodiazepines?
Mechanism of TCA cardiotoxicity.
What is sodium channel blockade?
Antipsychotic most likely to worsen Parkinsonism via highest D2 occupancy in the nigrostriatal pathway.
What is haloperidol?
EEG pattern seen in catatonia that helps differentiate it from nonconvulsive status epilepticus.
What is normal or mildly slowed EEG without evolving epileptiform discharges?
Physiologic reason eye closure favors PNES.
What is volitional orbicularis oculi contraction?
Pathophysiologic mechanism of malignant catatonia.
What is dopaminergic hypofunction with autonomic instability?
Why atypical antipsychotics cause fewer EPS than typicals.
What is 5-HT2A antagonism increases dopamine in nigrostriatal pathway?
Psychotropic associated with reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy via endothelial dysfunction.
What is cyclosporine or tacrolimus (used in psych via transplant or autoimmune contexts)?
Functional imaging abnormality in major depressive disorder.
What is hypometabolism of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex?
Best next step when PNES is diagnosed on video-EEG.
What is clear communication of diagnosis and psychiatric referral, not antiseizure escalation?
Why antipsychotics worsen dementia with Lewy bodies.
What is extreme nigrostriatal dopamine sensitivity leading to severe EPS and rigidity?
Which antipsychotic is preferred in Parkinson disease psychosis?
What is quetiapine or clozapine?