Definitions 2

Question 1

Somatisation

Answer 1

When physical symptoms are caused by mental (psychological) or emotional factors

Question 2

Clouding of consciousness

Answer 2

a lowered level of consciousness marked by loss of perception or comprehension of the environment, with loss of ability to respond properly to external stimuli

Question 3

Catatonia

- Give 4 other terms it encompasses

Answer 3

Catatonia- a state of excited or inhibited motor activity in the absence of mood disorder / neurological disease.
It includes waxy flexibility, echolalia, echopraxia and logoclonia

Question 4

Waxy flexibility

Answer 4

Waxy flexibility- the patient’s limbs when moved feel like wax or lead pipe, and remain in the position in which they are left.
- Found in catatonic schizophrenia /structural brain disease.

Question 5

Echolalia

Answer 5

Echolalia- automatic repetition of words heard.

Question 6

Echopraxia

Answer 6

Echopraxia- an automatic repetition by the patient of movements made by the examiner.

Question 7

Logoclonia

Answer 7

Logoclonia- repetition of the last syllable of a word.

Question 8

Stupor (a.k.a. Akinetic Autism)

Answer 8

Stupor (a.k.a. Akinetic Autism)- more or less complete loss of activity with no response to stimuli; may mark a progression of psychomotor retardation; found in a wide range of neurological and psychiatric conditions.

Question 9

Psychomotor retardation

Answer 9

Slowing of thoughts and movements, to a variable degree. Severe can become stupor
- Occurs in depressionbut other causes include psychotropics, Parkinson’s disease etc.

Question 10

Anhedonia

Answer 10

Anhedoniais defined as the inability to experience pleasure from activities usually found enjoyable

Question 11

Incongruity of affect

Answer 11

Incongruity of affect- Emotional responses which seem grossly out of tune with the situation or subject being discussed.

Question 12

Blunting of affect

Answer 12

Blunting of affect- an objective absence of normal emotional responses, without evidence of depression or psychomotor retardation.

Question 13

Belle Indifference/La belle indifférence

Answer 13

Belle Indifferenceor La belle indifférence is characterized by a lack of concern and/or feeling of indifference about a disability or symptom.
- Links to conversion disorder

Question 14

Depersonalisation

Answer 14

Depersonalisation- a feeling of some change in the self, associated with a sense of detachment from one’s own body. Perception fails to awaken a feeling of reality, actions seem mechanical and the patient feels like an apathetic spectator of his own activities.

Question 15

Derealisation

Answer 15

Derealisation- a sense of one’s surroundings lacking reality, often appearing dull, grey and lifeless

Question 16

Dissociation

Answer 16

Dissociation - An experience where a person may feel disconnected from himself and/or his surroundings

Question 17

Conversion

Answer 17

Neurological symptoms resulting from psychological cause

Question 18

Mannerism

Answer 18

Mannerism- a sometimes bizarre elaboration of normal activities. (e.g. twirling hair when speaking in public) Alone, not an example of mental health problem.

Question 19

Stereotypies

Answer 19

Stereotypies- uniform, repetitive non goal-directed actions (may take a variety of forms from simple movement to an utterance)

Question 20

Obsession

Answer 20

Obsession- a recurrent persistent thought, image, or impulse that enters consciousness unbidden, is recognised as being ones own and often remains despite efforts to resist.

Question 21

Compulsion

Answer 21

Compulsion- repetitive, apparently purposeful behaviour performed in a stereotyped way accompanied by a subjective sense that it must be carried out despite the recognition of its senselessness and often resistance by the patient. Recognised as morbid by the affected individual.

Question 22

Akathisia

Answer 22

Akathisia - a condition marked by motor restlessness, ranging from anxiety to inability to lie or sit quietly or to sleep

Question 23

Rumination

Answer 23

Rumination is the focused attention on the symptoms of one’s distress, and on its possible causes and consequences, as opposed to its solutions