General Hospital Psychiatry

Question 1

why is mental health problems more prevalent in hospital than general population?

Answer 1

challenges of physical illness
increased physical morbidity
somatoform disorders

Question 2

common mental health problems in the general hosp

Answer 2

• Affective disorders (Depression, anxiety)
• Self-harm
• Delirium (acute organic confusional state)
• Substance misuse disorders
• Medically unexplained symptoms (somatoform disorders)
• Personality disorders
• Dementia
• Eating disorders

Question 3

what illnesses make depression more common?

Answer 3

chronic renal failure
diabetes
RA
neurological disease- MS, Park, stroke

Question 4

what is delirium characterisred by?

Answer 4

global cognitive impairment
disorientation
fluctuating levels of arousal
impaired concentration
disordered sleep-wake cycle

Question 5

causes of delirium

Answer 5

• Infections
• Medications
• Alcohol/drug withdrawal
• Drug abuse
• Metabolic
• Vitamin deficiencies
• Endocrinopathies
• Neurological causes
• Toxins/industrial exposures
• SLE
cerebral vasculitis
• Paraneoplastic syndromes

Question 6

importance of recognising psychiatric disorders in general hosp

Answer 6

• Provide appropriate mental health treatment
• Shorten length of treatment in hospital
• Avoidance of unnecessary investigations and inappropriate treatment
• Enhance recovery and rehabilitation process
• Improve quality of life