psychiatry - anxiety, depression, OCD, addiction, self harm, eating disorders and psychosis

Question 1

what is anxiety

Answer 1

psychological and physiological responses to potential/uncertain threat
it is analogous to pain - existing solely to motivate us to avoid doing harmful things

Question 2

what are the two types of anxiety

Answer 2

state anxiety

trait anxiety

Question 3

what is state anxiety

Answer 3

the feeling of being anxious - to do with survival and avoiding harm

Question 4

what is trait anxiety

Answer 4

an individuals tendency to experience state anxiety under a given set of stressors
adaptive modulations of automatic threat response

Question 5

what can excessive intense/persistent anxiety lead to

Answer 5

significant distresss/impairment

Question 6

what is anxiety disorder

Answer 6

it can be conceptualised as the self perpetuating network of positive feedback loops, arising from responses which are usually adaptive

Question 7

physical symptoms of anxiety (8)

Answer 7

• palpitations
• sweating
• dry mouth
• splanchnic vasoconstriction (butterflies)
• tremor
• paraesthesia (pins and needles)
• depersonalisation
• syncope

Question 8

core features of depression

Answer 8

• pervasive low mood/sadness
• loss of energy (anergia)
• loss of feeling pleasure/enjoyment (anhedonia)

Question 9

physical symptoms of depression (7)

Answer 9

• loss of appetite
• weight loss
• diurnal variation of mood
• poor sleep
• loss of libido
• constipation
• psychomotor slowing or agitation

Question 10

psychological symptoms of depression (7)

Answer 10

• poor concentration
• feelings of guilt
• feelings of hopelessness
• low self esteem
• indecisive
• suicidal ideation
• delusions

Question 11

treatment for depression

Answer 11

antidepressants (see response after 2/3 weeks)
psychological therapies - 12 sessions CBT
social prescribing - exercise, company

Question 12

what is addiction

Answer 12

compulsion - cannot stop themselves from doing it
repeated negative reinforcement, in the context of persistent states of suffering/distress/tension is a central part of the development of addictions

Question 13

addiction - opiates/cocaine

Answer 13

addictions have a powerful unconscious component, mediated by the substances’ direct action on neutral circuits for motivation and reward seeking
the social context of addictions is absolutely central to their development

Question 14

what is compulsion

Answer 14

the experience of overwhelming urges to repeat a behaviour, perhaps even in the knowledge that it is harmful - present in numerous disorders

Question 15

what is the definition of depression

Answer 15

depression can be conceptualised as a self perpetuating network of positive feedback loops arising from normally adaptive responses

Question 16

when does self harm typically occur

Answer 16

in the context of low self worth and persistent distress - serving various functions - mainly related to reducing this distress

Question 17

what is OCD

Answer 17

characterised by intrusive thoughts/images - distressing, involuntary (cannot control despite considerable effort) and compulsive behaviours (serve to relieve state of anxiety/tension)
- negative reinforcement driven by the distress caused by the intrusive thoughts, and cemented by habit formation are central to compulsion in OCD

Question 18

what is an eating disorder

Answer 18

can be conceptualised as means of reducing intense distress particularly that associated with feeling everything is out of control

Question 19

OCD symptoms - obsessions

Answer 19

ego-dystonic thoughts 
repetitive, circular ruminations
may be bizarre and sound delusional
insight maintained 
unbidden and resisted
resistance can lead to anxiety

Question 20

OCD - symptoms - compulsions

Answer 20

• motor response to obsessional thoughts
  often ristualistic : stereotyped, previse
  examples inc. handwashing, counting, arranging and symmetry, checking door locks - starting again if interrupted or in doubt

Question 21

symptoms of mania (9)

Answer 21

elated mood
irritability
over energised
grandiose
little need for sleep
poor concentration
poor judgement 
overspending 
rapid speech

Question 22

what is psychosis

Answer 22

people who hear voices, disorganised behaviour, thought disorder are considered differently to other mental illnesses, and are seen as less relatable
“off legs”

Question 23

what is reality failure

Answer 23

group of pathologies which disrupt the process of perceiving and interpreting reality

Question 24

what is parallel processing

Answer 24

battery of unconscious processes

Question 25

what is the definition of delusions

Answer 25

fixed false unshakeable beliefs out of context with cultural background

Question 26

positive symptoms of schizophrenia (6)

Answer 26

hallucinations
delusions
persecutory/grandiose
delusional perceptions
delusions of control
thought delusions or interference

Question 27

negative symptoms for schizophrenia

Answer 27

anhedonia
apathy
social withdrawal
blunted mood

Question 28

disorganised symptoms of schizophrenia

Answer 28

thought disorder
disorganised speech/behaviour
inappropriate affect