General hospital psychiatry

Question 1

which are some of the common psychiatric symptoms you see in hospital?

Answer 1

• Delirium
• Dementia
• Eating disorders
• Self-harm
• Depression
• Substance misuse
• Functional disorders

Question 2

what are functional disorders

Answer 2

medically unexplained symptoms

• often thought to be related to a neurological disorder
• undetected after numerous testing

Question 3

Symptoms of a functional disorder

Answer 3

Vary greatly and over an extended time frame

• sensory
• concentration, memory, fatigue
• motor
• dissociation/ functional seizures

Question 4

categories of FNDs?

Answer 4

Dissociation
Somatotrophic disorders: patient experiences symptoms which cannot fully be explained by an underlying physical condition

Question 5

What are FNDs often confused with?

Answer 5

Ficticious disorder

Question 6

What treatments are available for FND?

Answer 6

 Explanation of FND- cures about 1/3rd of patients
 Medications for co-morbid mental health problems
 Psychological therapies e.g. CBT, IPT and psychodynamic therapies
 Other therapies for co-morbid disorders i.e. OT for agoraphobia

Question 7

How many admissions are related to ill use of alcohol?

Answer 7

about 20%

Question 8

Why has there been an increase in mental health admissions?

Answer 8

 Challenges of physical illness
 Psychological (incl. treatment)
 Effect of physical illness on brain functioning
 Treatment of physical illness, e.g. medication
 Increased physical morbidity in patients with mental health problems e.g. eating. If on medication and not eating can increase risk of side effects
 Functional (somatoform, dissociative…) disorders