Definitions Flashcards
(30 cards)
Depression
At least 2 weeks of pervasive low mood, anhedonia, anergia or other symptoms such as sleep disturbance, decreased appetite/concentration/libido and guilt
Mild, Moderate and Severe Depression
2+2, 2+3, 3+4
BPAD
A disorder characterised by two or more episodes in which the patient’s mood and activity levels are significantly disturbed — either elevation of mood and increased energy/activity (hypomania or mania) or lowering of mood and decreased energy and activity (depression). Recovery must be complete between episodes
Manic Episode
Period of abnormally elevated mood with ≥3 symptoms of mania lasting 1 week
GAD
Severe excessive generalised and persistent ‘free-floating’ anxiety, involves intolerance of uncertainty, apprehension, motor tension and autonomic overactivity
Schizophrenia
A major psychotic disorder characterised by abnormalities in the perception or expression of reality. It affects cognitive and psychomotor functions. Symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations and catatonic behaviour must be present most of the time for ≥1 month. Other symptoms include formal thought disorder and negative symptoms.
Dementia
Acquired, progressive and irreversible global impairment of cognitive function associated with significant social and occupational impairment. Higher cortical function symptoms must be present at least 6 months, usually accompanied by emotional control, social behaviour or motivation (BPSD).
Delirium
(Acute Confusional State) Characterised by concurrent disturbances of consciousness and attention, perception, thinking, memory, psychomotor behaviour, emotion, and the sleep-wake schedule
Phobia
An irrational, extreme and out-of-proportion fear of object or situation
Social Phobia
Anxiety that occurs in a small group setting where there is fear of scrutiny from other people leading to avoidance of social situations.
Agoraphobia
Anxiety that occurs in larger-scale settings such as crowds, public places, travelling away/alone from home.
Panic Attack
Discrete episode of intense anxiety/fear with physical and psychological symptoms, lasts minutes; max 30 min (could be spontaneous or situation specific)
Panic Disorder
The essential feature is recurrent attacks of severe anxiety (panic), which are not restricted to any particular situation or set of circumstances and are therefore unpredictable.
OCD
Recurrent obsessional thoughts or compulsive acts. Most days at least 2 successive weeks.
Obsessional thoughts are ego-dystonic ideas, images, impulses that occupy the patient’s mind repeatedly with unsuccessful attempts to resist. They are recognised as patient’s own thoughts
Compulsive acts or rituals are behaviours that patient feels compelled to do even though it’s not enjoyable or purposeful at times.
Their function is to prevent some objectively unlikely event which they fear might happen.
Acute Stress Reaction
Transient response to significant stress where
its onset usually immediate or within a few minutes. Mix of fluctuating depressive and anxiety symptoms (feeling numb, brain fog, poor sleep, poor concentration, confusion, restlessness, aggression)
which resolve rapidly.
Adjustment Disorder
State of subjective distress and emotional disturbance that affects social functioning, arising from adaptation to significant life change or stressful life event. Onset within 1 month of change with symptoms not lasting >6 months
PTSD
Significant delayed response to traumatic event (within 6 months). Symptoms include numbness, flashbacks, emotional blunting, detachment. There is usually a state of autonomic hyperarousal with hypervigilance, an enhanced startle reaction, and insomnia.
Anorexia Nervosa
A disorder characterised by deliberate weight loss, induced and sustained by the patient. Pathological pursuit of thinness whereby a dread of fatness persists as an intrusive overvalued idea, and the patients impose a low weight threshold on themselves.
Undernutrition of varying severity with secondary endocrine and metabolic changes and disturbances of bodily function.
The symptoms include restricted dietary choice, excessive exercise, induced vomiting and purgation, and use of appetite suppressants and diuretics.
Bulimia Nervosa
A syndrome characterised by repeated bouts of overeating and an excessive preoccupation with the control of body weight, leading to a pattern of overeating followed by compensatory vomiting or use of laxatives. Underpinned by body image distortion like AN.
Examples of Formal Thought Disorders (Thought Form)
Circumstantiality, tangentiality, loosening of associations, poverty of thought, thought block, neologisms
Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia
6As: apathy, attention, alogia, affect, anhedonia, alone
Physical Symptoms of Anxiety
Light-headedness, sweating, tachycardia, tachypnoea, epigastric discomfort, dizziness, dry mouth
CAGE Questionnaire
Cut down? Annoyed? Guilty? Eye-opener?
ICD-10 Criteria for Alcohol Dependence
≥3 in 1 month: strong desire/compulsion, difficulty controlling behaviour, physiological withdrawal symptoms, tolerance, neglect of other interests, persisting despite harmful outcomes
