Cognition, Behavior, and Mental Status

Question 1

Serotonin

Answer 1

regulates mood, arousal, and cognition

Question 2

Dopamine

Answer 2

regulates mood, arousal, cognition, and motor control*

Question 3

Norepinephrine

Answer 3

regulates mood, arousal, attention*, and cognition

Question 4

Acetylcholine

Answer 4

regulates sleep*, arousal, and attention

Question 5

What is the top mental health disorder in primary care settings?

Answer 5

Mood disorder including dysthymia (low mood occurring for 2 years), depressive, and bipolar disorders

Question 6

What are the risk factors for anxiety?

Answer 6

family history of anxiety
personal history of anxiety
Childhood trauma
Being female
Chronic illness
Behavioral inhibition
Using illicit substances, caffein, and alcohol

Question 7

What are the risk factors for depression?

Answer 7

Personal history of depressive episode
First degree family members with depression
Recent stressful life events
Childhood adversity
Disabling medical illness
Being female

Question 8

What are the 6 components of a mental status examination?

Answer 8

1. Appearance and behavior
2. Speech and language
3. Mood
4. Thought and perceptions
5. Insight and judgement (decision making skills)
6. Cognitive function (how is there attention and memory)

Question 9

What are the key signs of dementia?

Answer 9

• having difficulty recalling previously learned material or new material
• aphasia, apraxia (difficulty carrying out skilled movements), agnosia (difficulty identifying objects), or disturbances of executive functions