Psychiatry Flashcards
Define psychiatry
Medical speciality concerned with the recognition and tx of disorders of the mind
Impacts 1 in 4
When do we feel anxiety? What is it’s function?
When a perceived threat of danger
Serves to mobilise energy reserves for action and enhances performance by increasing arousal
When does anxiety become pathological?
When too intense, frequent or persistent = interferes with functioning of an individual
Symptoms of anxiety disorders? (psychological and physical)
Psychological:
- Sense of dread
- Irritability
- Fear of loss of control
- Avoidance
- Panic
Physical:
- Palpitations
- SOB
- Chest pains
- Butterflies
- Sweating
- Dry mouth
- Nausea
What is a generalised anxiety disorder?
Anxiety is not confined to a specific situation but is pervasive
Experienced more days than not
Anxiety raises in stressful situations
May result in panic attacks
Features of phobic disorders?
Situational, predictable, with anticipatory anxiety and avoidance
Types of phobic disorders?
Simple phobias - specific animal phobias
Social phobia
Agoraphobia
What is the name of dental phobia?
Odontophobia
Possible presentations of odontophoia?
Delayed presentations
Looking anxious
Cancel appointments at short notice/fails to attend
Possible reasons of odontophobia?
Specific phobia (drills, needles, sounds)
Anxiety about somatic rxns (gagging, injection)
Generalised anxiety disorder
Social phobia
How to prevent dental anxiety?
Dental health education Calm approach Honest and tactful explanation of procedures Relaxed atmosphere Confident and professional manner
Treatment of dental anxiety?
Education regarding anxiety
Relaxation techniques
Desensitisation
Short term pharmacological anxiolytics (diazepam)
Long term pharmacological antidepressants
What is body dysmorphic disorder?
Excessively concerned about perceived defect in physical features
What is hypochondriasis?
Abnormal preoccupation about the presence of an underlying serious physical disease
Pt can place an abnormal interpretation upon a normal sensation
What is somatoform pain?
Cause is psychological rather than physical
Absence of organic pathology
Evidence of psychological cause
Characteristics of somatoform pain?
Inconsistent with anatomical landmarks
Continuous or bilateral
May prevent sleep but does not wake pt
Analgesia ineffective
What are affective disorders?
Alterations of mood are a normal part of life
Extremes of mood with associated symptoms and impaired func can be delineated into illnesses
Mood can go up as well as down - unipolar affective disorder, bipolar affective disorder
Prevalence of depression in men and women?
10% men, 20% women
Symptoms of depression?
Depressed mood 2 weeks or more Lacking energy and enjoyment Poor appetite/weightloss Sleep disturbance Poor concentration Guilt/hopelessness Delusions/hallucinations
Bipolar affective disorder features and prevalence?
Elevated mood = normal experience
Likely to have mania
Men and women at equal risk - 1% population
What is mania?
Elated or irritable mood for more than 1 week or resulting in admission
Mania symptoms?
Over activity Disinhibition Risk taking activity Distractibility Reduced need for sleep Inflated self esteem Rapid, loud speech Delusions/hallucinations
What is schizophrenia?
Abnormal thoughts and experiences
Reduction in drive, social function and alteration in personality and emotion
When is the age of onset of schizophrenia?
Early/mid adulthood
