Psychiatric Conditions

Question 1

What is anxiety?

Answer 1

Feelings of apprehension, worry, uneasiness; a normal reaction to tension, conflict or stress

Question 2

List 6 sympathetic responses that typically accompany anxiety.

Answer 2

1. Increased heart rate
2. Dyspnea
3. Hyperventilation
4. Dry mouth
5. GI symptoms (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea)
6. Palpitations

Question 3

What is depression? How is it managed?

Answer 3

Altered mood characterized by morbid sadness, dejection, sense of melancholy

Tricyclic antidepressant drugs and cognitive therapy are used to manage depression

Question 4

Define compensation, denial, repression, and displacement.

Answer 4

Compensation = covering up a weakness by stressing a desirable or strong trait
Denial = refusal to recognize reality 
Repression = refusal or inability to recall undesirable past thoughts or events 
Displacement = the transferring of an emotion to a less dangerous substitute (i.e. yelling at your kid instead of your boss)

Question 5

Define reaction formation, projection, rationalization, and regression.

Answer 5

Reaction formation = a defensive reaction in which behavior is exactly opposite of what is expected
Projection = the attributing of your own undesirable behavior to another (i.e. “He made me do it!”)
Rationalization = the justification of behaviors using reasons other than the real reason
Regression = restoring to an earlier, more immature pattern of functioning

Question 6

What is general adaption syndrome? What are the 3 stages?

Answer 6

The predictable way the body reacts to stress

1. Alarm stage or “fight or flight” response: activation of the sympathetic system
2. Sustained resistance
3. Chronic resistance, exhaustion leading to stress-related illnesses

Question 7

Define panic attacks, phobias and obsessive compulsive behavior.

Answer 7

Panic attacks = acute, intense anxiety or terror; may be uncontrollable, accompanied by sympathetic signs

Phobias = excessive and unreasonable fear leads to avoidance behaviors

Obsessive compulsive behavior = persistent anxiety is manifested by repetitive, stereotypic acts; behaviors interfere with social functioning

Question 8

List 7 symptoms of PTSD.

Answer 8

1. Reexperiencing the traumatic event
2. Psychic numbing with reduced responsiveness
3. Detachment from external world; survivors guilt
4. Exaggerated autonomic arousal, hyperalterness
5. Disturbed sleeping
6. Ongoing irritability
7. Impaired memory and concentration

Question 9

What are psychosomatic disorders?

Answer 9

Physical signs or diseases that are related to emotional causes

Question 10

List 3 characteristics of psychosomatic disorders.

Answer 10

1. Cannot be explained by identifiable disease process or underlying pathology
2. Not under voluntary control; provides a means of coping with anxiety and stress
3. Patient is frequently indifferent to symptoms

Question 11

What is functional neurologic symptom disorder?

Answer 11

Patient experiences neurological symptoms (i.e. weakness, paralysis, sensory symptoms) without evidence of specific neurological disease or other medical condition

Question 12

What is schizophrenia?

Answer 12

A group of disorders characterized by disruption in thought patterns; of unknow etiology; a biochemical imbalance in the brain

Question 13

List 6 symptoms of schizophrenia.

Answer 13

1. Disordered thinking: fragmented thoughts, errors of logic, delusions, poor judgement, memory
2. Disordered speech: may be coherent but unintelligible, incoherent, or mute
3. Disordered perception: hallucination and delusions
4. Inappropriateness of affect: withdrawal of interest from other people and outside world, loss of self identity/self- direction
5. Functional disturbances: inability to function in daily life, work
6. Little insight into problems and behaviors

Question 14

What is the difference between paranoia and catatonia?

Answer 14

Paranoia = feelings of extreme suspiciousness, persecution, grandiosity or jealousy

Catatonia = mutism or stupor; unresponsiveness; catatonic posturing (remains fixed, unable to move or talk for extended periods

Question 15

What is bipolar disorder?

Answer 15

Characterized by mood swings from depression to mania; a biochemical dysfunction

Question 16

What is perseveration?

Answer 16

The continued repetition of a movement, word or expression (often accompanies TBI or stroke)

Question 17

List the 5 stages of the grieving process.

Answer 17

1. Shock and disbelief; inability to comprehend loss
2. Increased awareness and anguish; crying or anger is common
3. Mourning
4. Resolution of loss
5. Idealization of lost person or function

Question 18

Describe the 5 stages of death and dying.

Answer 18

1. Denial = patients insist they are fine, joke about themselves, are not motivated to participate in treatment
2. Anger, resentment = patients may become disruptive and blame others
3. Bargaining = patients bargain for time to complete life tasks; turn to religion or other individuals, make promises in return to function
4. Depression: patients acknowledge impending death, withdraw from life; demonstrate an overwhelming sense of loss, low motivation
5. Acceptance and preparation for death