Differential Diagnoses

Question 1

This basic diagnostic principle recommends the clinician look for the most economic/simple and efficient diagnosis from the assessment data.

Answer 1

Parsimony (this word is defined as stingy, unwilling to spend money)

Question 2

This basic diagnostic principle states that mental disorders tend to exist on a HIERARCHY of syndromes that decline in severity

Answer 2

Hierarchy

Question 3

_____ are much more reliable than symptoms because these can be observed

Answer 3

Signs

Question 4

This is the theorist who first brought psyche and soma together. They recognized the importance of the emotions in producing mental disturbances and somatic disorders.

Answer 4

Freud

Question 5

This psychosomatic disorder is characterized by 6 or more months of general and non-delusional preoccupation with fear of having or the idea that one has a serious disease based on the misinterpretation of their body cues/symptoms.

Answer 5

Somatic Symptom Disorder (aka hyochondriasis… she’s a hypochondriac)

Question 6

The clinical feature of this psychosomatic disorder is that the pt believes they have a serious disease but no one has yet to find the cause.

Answer 6

Somatic Symptom Disorder (aka hypochondriasis)

Question 7

This psychosomatic disorder is characterized by the preoccupation/fear of having a disease rather than concerns about any symptoms (there is an ABSENCE or very few somatic sxs). They are most concerned about potentially having an illness.

Answer 7

Illness Anxiety Disorder

Question 8

This acute and usually transient psychosomatic disorder is characterized by symptoms such as blindness, paralysis, or other nervous system (neurologic) symptoms that cannot be explained by medical evaluation.

Answer 8

Conversion Disorder (Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder)

Question 9

This term describes the lack of concern of a symptom such as those seen with conversion disorder (blindness, paralysis, etc)

Answer 9

La belle indifference

Question 10

This class of drugs can sometimes be helpful in treating conversion disorder

Answer 10

anxiolytics (ex: lorazepam)

Question 11

For a diagnosis of MDD, there must be at least __ symptoms for at least __ weeks of change from previous functioning

Answer 11

5 symptoms (at least one of these symptoms must include either depressed mood or anhedonia)

2 weeks

Question 12

This gender is 3x more likely to suffer from rapid cycling as well as more mixed and depressed episodes in bipolar disorder

Answer 12

Women

Question 13

This SPECIFIC thyroid hormone plays a big role in modulating serotonin, noradrenaline and GABA.

Answer 13

T3 (Triiodothyronine) (T4 is primary circulating thyroid hormone, removal of 1 molecule turns it into T3)

Question 14

This condition can cause goiter or exophthalmos

Answer 14

Hyperthyroidism (Grave’s Disease)

Question 15

In this medical condition, the thyroid gland is seriously damaged and produces extremely low levels of thyroxine, most commonly caused by symptomless autoimmune thyroiditis. Thyroid hormone concentrations will be abnormally low and TSH elevated.

Answer 15

Overt Hypothyroidism

Question 16

This system is the key in obtaining homeostasis and developing adaptive responses to novel or challenging stimuli. How we respond to stimulus, pain, sleep, memory storage and retrieval are also associated with this system.

Answer 16

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-axis (HPA)

Question 17

This disease is characterized by LOW cortisol, apathy, social withdrawal, impaired sleep, poor concentration, fatigue.

HIGH levels of cortisol is associated with this disease.

Answer 17

Addison’s Disease (low cortisol)

Cushing’s Syndrome (high cortisol)

Question 18

There is evidence that a surge in this hormone during the luteal stage of menstruation is a critical player in the development of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).

Answer 18

Progesterone

Question 19

All antipsychotics with the exception of these 2 can increase prolactin levels

Answer 19

olanzapine

clozapine

Question 20

This hormone helps promote social interactions by decreasing the amygdala activation and the stress response associated with perception of social threat, and improves the accuracy of our interpretation of other’s emotions. Released during childbirth, lactation and orgasms.

Answer 20

Oxytocin

Question 21

The abrupt discontinuation/withdrawal from this type of (hormonal) medication can produce depression, weakness, anorexia, emotional lability, memory impairment, and delirium (up to 8 weeks after discontinuation of this medication)

Answer 21

Steroid Withdrawal

Question 22

New research has shown increased insulin sensitivity in non-diabetic patients with this psychiatric condition

Answer 22

Depression

Question 23

These types of disorders are 2x more common in people with type-2 diabetes

Answer 23

Anxiety disorders

Question 24

This class of drugs should be used very cautiously in pts with asthma

Answer 24

Beta blockers (propanolol) dt to the potential to cause constriction in airways.

Question 25

Inhaled meds for COPD can lead to this medical issue that can present as a psychiatric condition

Answer 25

Hypokalemia (can lead to psychotic symptoms)

Question 26

This class of drugs used to tx COPD may lead to sleep disturbance and anxiety. Bronchodilators such as theophylline may also worsen anxiety.

Answer 26

Beta-2 adrenergic agonists (ex: albuterol)

Question 27

About 80% of patients with this medical condition meet criteria for MDD but the client rarely reports feelings of guilt, SI or anhedonia, or weight loss. They may initially respond to antidepressants but then become refractory (resistant) responders.

Answer 27

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)

Question 28

This is a very helpful intervention for those with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Answer 28

CBT (possibly along with meds)

Question 29

This “unspecified” somatic symptom disorder is characterized by the presence or focus on pain in one or more body sites and is sufficiently severe to seek help. PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS are necessary in the genesis, severity or maintenance of the pain causing significant distress, impairment or both.

Answer 29

Pain Disorder