Exploring symptoms - Psychiatric symptoms

Question 1

What would you ask when exploring symptoms of depression?

Answer 1

• Core - low mood, anhedonia, energy
• Biological - sleep, appetite,, concentration
• Future - Hopelessness, suicidal thoughts, guilt
• Screen for bipolar symptoms - mania/hypomania

Question 2

What would you want to ask about when exploring anxiety?

Answer 2

• Timing - onset, duration, constant/episodic, triggers, effect on life, frequency
• Somatic symptoms - palpitations, breathlessness, chest tightness, sweating, dizziness
• Associated psych symptoms - depression, stress, avoidance
• Psych differentials - Obsessions, compulsions, PTSD
• Organic causes - hyperthyroidism, ACS symptoms

Question 3

What would you want to ask about when exploring auditory hallucinations?

Answer 3

• Voice detail - male/female, familiar/unfamiliar, always same/different
• Real/pseudo - inside/putside head
• 2nd/3rd person
• What they say
• Risk to self/others
• Assocaited psych symptoms

Question 4

What would you ask when exploring delusional symptoms?

Answer 4

• Expand and challenge the delusion
• Risk to self/others
• Associated psych symptoms

Question 5

What would you ask when exploring memory loss?

Answer 5

• Short/long term
• Insight and concerns
• Functional levels - washing, dressing
• Perform a cognitive assessment (MMSE)
• Risk to self/others

Question 6

What would you ask about when exploring eating disorder?

Answer 6

• BMI - weight, height
• Symptoms - avoidance of weight gain/need to lose weight, preoccupation with appearance, efforts to purge, binge eating
• Food diary - when they eat each day
• Results - menstrual cycle disturbance, poor dentla hygeine
• Screen for depression