L3 (Phenomenology) Flashcards
What is the primary goal of studying phenomenology in psychiatry?
To understand psychopathological/dynamic bases of disorders for accurate diagnosis and treatment.
Name three key interviewing techniques in phenomenology.
- Support, 2. Empathy, 3. Validation.
What are the four components of speech assessment?
Rate, volume, tone, fluency, articulation, quantity, spontaneity.
How is ‘mood’ different from ‘affect’?
Mood: patient’s subjective emotion. Affect: Objective emotional state (e.g., euthymic, depressed).
What are the categories of affect stability?
Fixed or labile.
What defines ‘blunted affect’?
Severe reduction in emotional intensity (e.g., monotone voice, immobile face).
What is ‘tangentiality’ in thought disorders?
Inability to maintain goal-directed associations; speech drifts off-topic.
What distinguishes ‘flight of ideas’ from ‘derailment’?
Flight of ideas: Rapid, connected shifts (bipolar). Derailment: Sudden unrelated shifts (schizophrenia).
What is a ‘neologism’?
A new word created by the patient (e.g., combining syllables).
What is ‘word salad’?
Incoherent mixture of words/phrases with no logical connection.
What is a ‘non-bizarre delusion’?
A false belief that is plausible but untrue (e.g., paranoid delusion).
What defines a ‘somatic delusion’?
False belief about body function (e.g., organ malfunction).
What is ‘echolalia’?
Pathological repetition of another’s words/phrases.
What are the types of hallucinations?
Auditory, visual, olfactory, gustatory, tactile, somatic.
What distinguishes hypnagogic from hypnopompic hallucinations?
Hypnagogic: While falling asleep. Hypnopompic: While waking up.
What is ‘catatonia’?
Severely reduced mobility with rigid posture (common in schizophrenia).
What are the diagnostic criteria for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)?
Excessive worry >6 months + physical symptoms (e.g., restlessness, fatigue).
Name three medical conditions mimicking GAD.
Hyperthyroidism, porphyria, drug-induced anxiety (e.g., caffeine, cocaine).
What is first-line treatment for GAD?
Reassurance, CBT, benzodiazepines, buspirone.
What defines a panic attack?
Sudden intense anxiety with physical symptoms (e.g., palpitations, fear of dying).
How are phobic disorders treated?
Exposure therapy (systemic desensitization or flooding).
What is ‘agoraphobia’?
Fear of situations where escape is difficult (e.g., crowded places).
What is the purpose of the dexamethasone suppression test (DST)?
Assess hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function in depression.
What does ‘labile affect’ indicate?
Rapid emotional shifts (e.g., bipolar disorder, Alzheimer’s).
What is ‘pseudo-hallucination’?
Imaginary perception tied to emotion; patient questions its reality.
What is assessed in cognitive evaluation?
Consciousness, attention, concentration, orientation, memory, judgment, insight.
