Introduction to psychiatry (lecture 5) Flashcards
What are some differences between mental illness and physical illness?
- people often do not perceive themselves to be ill, so may be reluctant to accept treatment
- no scientific basis/ uncertainty to diagnosis–> done by symptom cluster not aetiology or pathology
- dispute about existence
- perceived lack of treatment
- agents of social control
What are some typical symptoms of anxiety?
- feeling of fear or dread
- palpitations
- sweating
- dry mouth
- splanchnic vasoconstriction (butterflies)
- tremor
- paraesthesia (pins and needles)
- depersonalisation
- syncope (fainting)
What are some obsessions of OCD?
- ego-dystonic thoughts
- repetitive, circular ruminations
- may be bizarre/ sound delusional
- insight maintained
- unwanted and resisted
- resistance leads to anxiety
What are some compulsions of OCD?
- motor response to obsessional thoughts
- often ritualistic, stereotyped, precise e.g. hand washing, counting
- starting again if interrupted or doubt
How do we classify anxiety?
- generalised anxiety disorder (all the time)
- panic disorder
- agoraphobia
- simple phobia (fear of one thing)
- agoraphobia
- social phobia
- obsessive compulsive disorder
- post traumatic stress disorder
When does anxiety become a ‘disorder’?
if it is excessive, impacts on life or out of context
What are the 3 core features of depression?
- pervasive low mood/sadness
- loss of energy (anergia)
- loss of enjoyment (anhedonia)
What are physical symptoms of depression?
- loss of appetite
- weight loss
- diurnal variation of mood
- poor sleep
- loss of libido
- constipation
- psychomotor slowing/agitation
What are psychological symptoms of depression?
- poor concentration
- feeling of guilt
- feeling of hopelessness
- low self-esteem
- indecisive
- suicidal ideation
- delusions
How can we treat depression?
medication: antidepressants- response after 2-3 weeks
psychological therapies: 12 session CBT
social prescribing: exercise, company
90% patients make a full recovery
What are symptoms of mania?
- elated mood
- irritability
- over-energised
- grandiose
- little need for sleep
- poor concentration
- poor judgement
- overspending
- rapid speech
How do we define formal thought disorder?
failing to follow the semantic and syntactic rules of language- doesn’t make sense
What are key features of schizophrenia?
- delusions: fixed false beliefs, bizarre, thought possession
- disorganised speech: neologisms, formal thought disorder
- hallucinations: hearing, seeing or feeling things that are not there
- abnormal behaviour: wandering aimlessly, mumbling, laughing to self, self-neglect
- disturbances of emotions: marked apathy or disconnect between reported emotion and affect
How do we treat schizophrenia?
antipsychotics
psychological therapies
family therapy
arts therapies
