Impulse Control

Question 1

What causes an impulse?

Answer 1

• a trigger or stressor

Question 2

Why do people with impulse disorders perform certain actions?

Answer 2

• it relieves the anxiety that the trigger or stressor causes

Question 3

Intermittent explosive disorder is more common in ___ ?

Answer 3

• Men

Question 4

What is the action taken with a patient who has intermittent explosive disorder once the patient has been triggered by the stressor?

Answer 4

• Must be an act of violence

* the act of violence is always disproportionate to the stressor

Question 5

What are the criteria for diagnosis of mild intermittent explosive disorder?

Answer 5

• Acts of violence do not cause serious harm

- must have 2 outbursts a week for at least 2 months

Question 6

What are the criteria for diagnosis of severe intermittent explosive disorder?

Answer 6

• acts of violence must cause severe harm

- must have at least 3 outbursts for at least 1 year

Question 7

What is the treatment for intermittent explosive disorder?

Answer 7

• there is no clear cut treatment–> it is different for everyone

Question 8

sight of object causes the person to steal the object

Answer 8

kleptomania

Question 9

How can you tell the difference between someone who has kleptomania and someone who is faking?

Answer 9

• A person with kleptomania will steal something of little value. They steal it because stealing the object relieves the anxiety.
• A person faking kleptomania will steal something because they wanted it and usually has a large value- something that wouldn’t be able to normally afford.

Question 10

Someone who lights fires to decrease anxiety or lighting the fire causes sexual arousal

Answer 10

Pyromania

Question 11

Criteria for diagnosing pyromania?

Answer 11

Must have at least 2 occasions where the patient has caused a fire for either decreasing the anxiety that it causes or sexually aroused by lighting the fire

Question 12

Define OCD

Answer 12

An obsession that the patient has increases anxiety and they will have an action/compulsion that will relieve the anxiety once they complete the action.

• The obsessions are unwanted.
• They must complete the ritual or action in order to suppress the anxiety from the obsession.

Question 13

Tx for OCD

Answer 13

Psychotherapy (CBT) and meds (SSRIs); psychotherapy is better than meds alone

Question 14

What is the first line med for OCD?

Answer 14

SSRIs

Question 15

patient is unable to throw away things= ____ disorder

Answer 15

hoarding

Question 16

patient is obsessed with one body part and is compelled to constantly check it or want to have surgery= ___ disorder

Answer 16

body dysmorphic disorder

Question 17

Preoccupation to increase muscle size leading to excessive exercise and or steroid use = _____

Answer 17

muscle dysphoria

Question 18

Atrophy of testicles and or a copper issue found in labwork are an indication for?

Answer 18

anabolic steroid use

Question 19

compulsion to pull out hair to decrease anxiety = ____

Answer 19

trichotillomania

Question 20

Patients with trichotillomania are at an increased risk for?

Answer 20

bezoars

Question 21

Before a patient is diagnosed with trichotillomania, what should be ruled out?

Answer 21

• alopecia

- fungus causing decreased hair growth