11.1 Introduction To psychiatry

Question 1

How does neurology differ from psychiatry?

Answer 1

Neurological disorders have established aetiologies, demonstrable anatomical pathology and physical symptoms. Can use investigations and tests to see the pathology of the disease.

Question 2

Give examples of neurologic disease?

Answer 2

Parkinson’s 
Stroke
Epilepsy
Huntington’s disease
Brain injury

Question 3

What is a psychiatric disorder?

Answer 3

Disorders of mood, thought and behaviour with no or only minor physical signs with no visible pathology. Cannot be identified with an investigation alone.

Question 4

What is the difference between organic and functional psychiatry?

Answer 4

Functional = neurotic disorders or psychotic disorders e.g. depression or schizophrenia 
Organic = neurological diseases affecting mood e.g dementia and drug induced states.

Question 5

What is psychopharmacotherapy?

Answer 5

Identify chemical imbalances, changes in transmitters and receptors and attempt to correct with drugs

Question 6

What are the 3 benefits of classifying psychiatric disorders?

Answer 6

To enable clinicians to communicate with each other about patients
To understand implications of diagnosis (Sx, prognosis, treatment, etc.)
To facilitate research and to relate research findings to everyday practice

Question 7

How are most psychiatric disorders diagnosed?

Answer 7

By patient experience, symptoms, behaviours. Not based on signs and examination findings.

Question 8

What is meant by a Procrustean diagnosis?

Answer 8

giving patients a diagnosis that doesn’t fit quite right because they have some of the symptoms

Question 9

What are some criticisms of classifying psychiatric disorders?

Answer 9

Categorisation denies consideration of unique personal difficulties
Labels deviant behaviouras an illness
Individuals do not fit neatly into categories
stigma associated with a diagnosis

Question 10

Give examples of psychiatric classificatory systems

Answer 10

DSM-5

ICD-10