Week 5

Question 1

What is the process of making a diagnosis?

Answer 1

1. Interview of patient to collect history
2. Accounts of experience & observations of behaviour translated into patterns (“symptoms”)
3. Examination to detect signs of physicality
4. Patterns observed and compared with pre-existing, professionally formed schema

pattern matches schema = diagnosis (DSM-5)

Question 2

What are some dangers of the DSM-5

Answer 2

1. Risk of self-diagnosis
2. Impairment in life functioning
3. Using DSM-5 as a checklist

Question 3

What is the diagnostic criteria for Schizophrenia under the DSM-5

Answer 3

2 or more of the following, each present for most of 1 month period (at least one of these must be 1, 2 or 3)

1. Delusions
2. Hallucinations
3. Disorganised Speech
4. Grossly disorganised or catatonic behaviour
5. Negative symptoms (e.g. diminished emotional expression, avolition)

Question 4

What is bipolar disoder?

Answer 4

as a group of brain disorders that cause extreme fluctuation in a person’s mood, energy, and ability to function

Question 5

What is the difference between Bipolar I & II

Answer 5

Bipolar I consists of a manic episode followed by hypomania OR major depression

Bipolar II consists of a major depression followed by hypomania

Question 6

How is bipolar disorder treated?

Answer 6

During the ‘acute’ phase
1. mood stabilisers
2. hospital inpatient status

Long Term
- ongoing medication
- counselling
- diet + exercise
- family/friend support
- psychoeduction
- doctors/psychiatrists

Question 7

What is the diagnostic criteria for Posttraumatic Stress Disoder (PTSD) under the DSM-5

Answer 7

1. Exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury of sexual violence
2. With presence of intrusive symptoms e.g. distressing memories, dissasociation
3. Persistent avoidance of stimuli
4. Negative alterations in cognition
5. Marked alterations in arousal + reactivity
6. Duration of disturbance
7. Disturbance causes clinically significant distress
8. Disturbance not attributable to physiological effects of substance

Question 8

What are the attributes of Borderline Personality Disorder?

Answer 8

5 or more of the following:
1. Frantic efforts to avoid real/imagined abandonment
2. Unstable / intense interpersonal relationships
3. Identity disturbance
4. Impulsivity
5. Recurring suicidal behaviour
6. Instability of moods
7. Chronic feeling of emptiness
8. Increased anger
9. Stress-induced paranoia