Psychiatric H&P

Question 1

Perception abnormalities

Answer 1

Hallucinations & illusions

Question 2

Define hallucinations

Answer 2

Sensory perceptions generated within the CNS in ABSENCE of external stimuli

Question 3

Define formication

Answer 3

Sensation of insects crawling under skin

Question 4

Visual hallucinations are prominent in which cognitive psychoses? (3)

Answer 4

• Delerium tremens
• Psychedelic drug use
• Schizophrenia

Question 5

What do disoriented pts usually do?

Answer 5

Try to hide mistakes w/ confabulation

Question 6

Abstract thinking relies on what?

Answer 6

• Culture
• Intelligence
• Education

Question 7

Define Memory loss

Answer 7

Organic brain disease or injury

Question 8

Define Retrograde amnesia

Answer 8

Inability to remember events prior to injury or disease

Question 9

Define Anterograde amnesia

Answer 9

Inability to form new memories

Question 10

Which body fxns preserve health & energy?

Answer 10

• Sleep
• Appetite & weight
• Energy level
• Daily mood variation
• Sexual interest

Question 11

GAD: “Worry WARTS” Mnemonic

Answer 11

• Wound up
• Worn out
• Absentminded
• Restless
• Touchy
• Sleepless

Question 12

GAD: “Watchers” Mnemonic

Answer 12

• Worry
• Anxiety
• Tension in muscles
• Concentration difficulties
• Hyperarousal
• Energy loss
• Restlessness
• Sleep disturbance

Question 13

Depressive disorder: “SIG E CAPS” Mnemonic

Answer 13

• Sleep
• Interest
• Guilt
• Energy
• Concentration
• Appetite/weight
• Psychomotor
• Suicidal ideations

Question 14

Depressive disorder: “DIGFAST” Mnemonic

Answer 14

• Distractibility
• Insomnia
• Grandiosity
• Flight of ideas
• Agitation
• Activities
• Sexual exploits
• Talkative

Question 15

What makes up a mental status exam?

Answer 15

• General appearance
• Psychomotor behavior
• Mood & affect
• Speech
• Cognition
• Thought patterns
• Level of consciousness

Question 16

What are 2 subcategories of thinking/perception?

Answer 16

• Thought form

- Thought content

Question 17

Define thought form

Answer 17

Flow of thought

Question 18

Thought form defects

Answer 18

1. Association

2. Rate & rhythm

Question 19

Define circumstantiality

Answer 19

Overinclusion of trivial or irrelevant details impede sense of getting to point

Question 20

Define clang association

Answer 20

Thoughts associated by the sound of words rather than their meaning through rhyming or assonance

Question 21

Define derailment

Answer 21

Breakdown in the connection btwn ideas & the overall sense of goal-directedness.
- The words make sense, but the sentences don’t make sense

Question 22

Define flight of ideas. How is it expressed?

Answer 22

Succession of multiple associations, so that thought seems to move abruptly from idea to idea
- Often expressed through rapid speech

Question 23

Define neologisms

Answer 23

Invention of new words or phrases or use of conventional phrases in idosyncratic ways

Question 24

Define perseveration

Answer 24

Repetition, out of context, of words, phrases or ideas

Question 25

Define tangentiality

Answer 25

In response to a question, the pt gives a reply that is appropriate to the general topic w/out actually answering the question

Question 26

Define thought blocking

Answer 26

Sudden disruption of thought or break in the flow of ideas

Question 27

How do you arrive at a dx?

Answer 27

Gather info, PE, & review previous health records