Medical Disorders

Question 1

Medical Disorders:

Answer 1

Can often be mistaken for psychiatric disorders because of behavioral manifestations in individuals. A medical doctor should evaluate clients if the clients have any of the following:

• Sudden cognitive changes, such as mood or personality
• History of head trauma
• No prior history of a psychological disorder
• Physical symptoms without presence of a known medical diagnosis (including, but not limited to, hyperactivity, inattentiveness, sleeping issues, eating issues, pain, and restlessness)
• Depression that occurs for the first time after age 55
• Rashes, swelling, drooping eyelid, facial tic

Question 2

Hyperthyroidism:

Answer 2

Cause: Excessive thyroid hormones

Medical Symptoms: Weight loss or increased appetite, palpitations, heat intolerance

Psychiatric Symptoms: Anxiety, depression, hyperactivity, restlessness, agitation, fatigue

Question 3

Hypothyroidism:

Answer 3

Causes: Reduced thyroid activity and lower hormone levels

Medical Symptoms: Weight gain, cold intolerance, psychomotor retardation, muscle cramps

Psychiatric Symptoms: Fatigue, apathy, depression, anxiety, irritability, impaired memory; Rapid onset of hypothyroidism can also cause delirium and psychosis.

Question 4

Vitamin Deficiencies (such as vitamin D, B-1, B-12, and Folate):

Answer 4

Vitamin Deficiencies (such as vitamin D, B-1, B-12, and Folate)

Causes: Include limited sunlight exposure (D), unbalanced diets or vegan/vegetarian diets (Folate and B-1), alcoholism (B-1), and malabsorption due to medications (B-12)

Psychiatric Symptoms: Fatigue, depressed mood, anxiety, agitation, memory loss; Mania and psychosis can accompany a B-12 deficiency.

Question 5

Sleep Disorders:

Answer 5

Medical Symptoms: Include difficulty falling asleep, waking up early, having trouble staying asleep, abnormal breathing during sleep (sleep apnea), excessive sleepiness and sleep attacks at inappropriate times (narcolepsy)

Psychiatric Symptoms: Depression, anxiety, difficulty concentration, irritability

Question 6

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI):

Answer 6

Cause: Brain injury caused by direct impact or secondary indirect injuries

Medical Symptoms: Cognitive impairments, dizziness, headaches, difficulty sleeping, vomiting, numbness, loss of consciousness

Psychiatric Symptoms: Irritability, depression, anger, rage, behavioral problems (e.g., impulsivity, aggression, hyperactivity, and cognitive deficits)

Question 7

Parkinson’s Disease:

Answer 7

Cause: Degeneration of neurons in the brain

Medical Symptoms: Movement abnormalities (e.g., tremors [often a resting tremor in the hands], rigidity, akinesia [muscle rigidity], and bradykinesia [slowness of motion])

Psychiatric Symptoms: Cognitive changes, depression, impaired memory and concentration, slowed psychomotor activity, anxiety (e.g., social phobia and panic disorder), restricted affect, fatigue; Hallucinations and delusions can also arise either spontaneously or in association with mood disturbances although this usually only develops late in the disease process.

Question 8

Lyme Disease:

Answer 8

Cause: A bacterial infection often from a deer tick bite

Medical Symptoms: Joint pain, flu-like symptoms, neurological problems, large rash

Psychiatric Symptoms: Depression, mania, delirium, dementia, psychosis, obsessions and compulsions, panic attacks, and personality change.