Exam 2 - Intro to Psych

Question 1

DSM-5

Answer 1

•Lists diagnostic criteria for each mental disorder

–# of symptoms required

–Duration of symptoms

–Assessment tools (e.g. rating scales)

•Provides general information on each mental disorder

–Age of onset

–Clinical course

–Complications

–Predisposing factors

–Prevalence

–Differential diagnosis

Question 2

•Mental Status Exam

Answer 2

–Assessment tool for psychiatric disorders

–Direct patient interview

– Parameters assessed:

• Appearance and general behavior
• Mood and affect
• Speech and motor activity
• Sensorium and cognition
• Insight and judgement
• Thoughts and perception

Question 3

Components of the
Mental Status Exam

Answer 3

•Appearance and general behavior (observed)

–Appearance: well-groomed, immaculate, unkempt, distinguishing features (scars, tattoos)

–Eye contact: good, fleeting, sporadic, avoided, none

–General behavior: cooperative, candid, engaging, relaxed, withdrawn, guarded, hostile, irritable, shy, defensive

•Mood and affect

–Mood (inquired): patients subjective report of emotional state

–Affect (observed): clinician’s objective observation of patients expressed emotional state

•Speech and motor activity

–Speech (observed)

• Quantity: talkative, expansive, paucity, poverty
• Rate: fast, pressured, slow, normal
• Volume and tone: loud, soft, monotone, weak, strong, mumbled
• Fluency and rhythm: slurred, clear, hesitant
• Coherent/incoherent

–Motor activity (observed)

•Akathisia, bradykinesia, psychomotor agitation/retardation

Question 4

Components of Mental Status Exam

Answer 4

•Sensorium and cognition

–Sensorium: level and stability of consciousness (observed)

•Normal, clouded, delirium, obtundation, stupor, coma

–Cognition: attention, concentration, memory (observed/inquired)

• Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE)
• Insight and judgment (observed/inquired)

–Insight: patients awareness and understanding of illness and need for treatment

–Judgment: patients recognition of consequences of actions