NB11-2 - Introduction to Psychopathology, DSM-5, and Anxiety Disorders Flashcards
What are the characteristics of a psychopathology? What is a psychopathology usually associated with?
A mental disorder causing a disturbance in an individuals cognition, emotion regulation, or behavior. These disorders are usually associated with significant stress or impairment of social, occupational, or other important activities.
What are the DSM-5 and ICD-10? What are their basic features?
The Diagnostic & Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders and the International Classification of Diseases are authoritative classification systems of mental disorders that are used by physicians to diagnose mental disorders.
Their basic features include a checklist of diagnotic criteria for every psychiatric disorder. There are over 300 mental disorders grouped across 22 categories (chapters). The manual requires that the fewest number of diagnoses be made to capture all of the patient’s symptoms.
What is a provisional diagnosis and what are the two appropriate conditions for making one?
A provisional diagnosis is a diagnosis that is made before the physician has confirmed that all of the diagnostic criteria have been met but they believe the criteria would be met. This is appropriate under the following conditions:
- Patient information to satisfy criteria is unavailable but the physician believes the patient would satisfy criteria if information could be found out
- Required symptoms are present but the time criteria has not yet been met (but is expected to).
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Describe what the “unspecified” diagnostic descriptor is.
An “unspecified” disorder is diagnosed when a patient definitely does NOT meet the criteria for a specific disorder but has significant symptoms within a given diagnostic category. The diagnosis would then be stated as “unspecified” and then the name of the diagnostic category (not the specific disorder)
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Describe what the diagnostic descriptors “prior history” and “in remission” mean?
Prior History is used to describe a prior disorder that is not likely to recur
In remission is used to describe a prior disorder that is currently controlled but is likely to recur
List the anxiety disorders we need to know. What do all of these disorders have in common?
- Panic Disorder
- Agoraphobia
- Specific Phobia
- Social Anxiety Disorder
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Separation Anxiety Disorder
- Selective Mutism
All of these disorders cause an inappropriate amount of anxiety
How is anxiety different from fear?
Fear is a response to an imminent threat while anxiety is a response to the anticipation of a future threat.
What is a panic attack?
The abrupt onset of intense fear with somatoc or cognitive symptoms such as:
- Cardiac Symptoms
- Sweating
- Trembling
- Shortness of breath
- GI Symptoms
- Feeling faint
- Fear of dying
- Tingling/Numbness/Chills/Hot Flashes
These symtoms will peak and then fade away within minutes
What are the diagnostic criteria for panic disorder (PD)?
Recurrent and unexpected (ie - no reliable trigger) panic attacks so that for >1 month the individual shows either:
- A fear of future panic attacks or
- A significant change in behavior related to the attacks
What are the diagnostic criteria for agoraphobia?
2 or more of the following situations are feared/avoided because of thoughts that escape might be difficult (or help might not be available) if incapacitating/embarrassing symptoms develop:
- Using public transportation
- Being in open spaces
- Being in enclosed spaces
- Standing in line or being in a crowd
- Being outside of the home alone
What are the diagnostic criteria for a specific phobia disorder? Explain the subtypes of this disorder.
An excessive, persistent, and diproportional fear of an object or situation that cannot be accounted for by a different disorder. There are five general subtypes:
- Animal Phobias
- Natural Environment Phobias (ie - fear of water)
- Situational Phobias (ie - fear of flying/elevators)
- Blood/Injection/Injury Phobias (ie - fear of needles)
- Other (ie - fear of clowns)
Explain you answer
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Agoraphobia requires 2 agoraphobic situations AND fears must relate to difficulty escaping/obtaining help.
What are the diagnostic criteria for Social Anxiety Disorder? What other disorders is this one similar to?
Excessive, persistent, and unrealistic fear of social situations involving possible scrutiny by others due to fear of negative evaluation. This is technically a specific phobia (situation) disorder but is so common that is has its own category now. It is also quite similar to avoidant personality disorder.
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