Introduction to Psychiatry Flashcards
What is a mental illness?
A disorder that is diagnosed from a non-aetilogical perspective - same level of diagnosis for mental illness as in the 18th century for physical symptoms
Affects every day life
Cannot be seen but has a wide spread effect
How common are mental illnesses?
1 in 3 will have mental health disorder in lifetime
1 in 3 GP consultations have a mental health component
Is mental illness treatable?
Many treatment options are available:
Psychotherapies
Social Therapies
Medication
What are some differences between mental and physical illnesses?
Physical illnesses can be seen, easier to diagnose, more sure about the diagnosis, systematic tests to confirm diagnose, know root cause in comparison to mental illnesses
How are mental illnesses diagnosed?
Generally from what the patient tells them about their symptoms
What are some issues with diagnosing with mental illnesses?
People often do not perceive themselves to be ill
Lack of diagnostic certainty
What is anxiety and how does it evolve?
Characterised by attacks = sudden fear, heart racing, shaking, dry mouth
Perhaps from conflict / trauma
Case study: Alice
Has anxiety and OCD
What are the symptoms of anxiety? (Psychic and psychological)
Feeling fear / dread
Palpitations, sweating, dry mouth, butterflies, tremors, pins and needles, depersonalisation, syncope
What are the 2 things OCD is comprised of?
Obsessions and Compulsions
What are the 5 classifications of Anxiety?
Generalised - feeling anxiety almost all the time, reducing qulity of life, interfering with everyday tasks
Panic - Intense periods, then goes away
Agoraphobia - fears the outside, always stay inside
Simple phobia - fear of one thing
Social phobia - fear of scrutiny
What other 2 disorders may be considered to be part of Anxiety?
OCD
PTSD
What is PTSD?
Experience something beyond what an average human sees
Severe anxiety, avoidance, flashbacks etc.
Suicide
Most common cause of death in young men
3: 1 male to females commit suicide
3: 1 female to males attempt to commit suicide
Schizophrenia Case:
Blank canvas except when she got angry
Rarely showed any emotions on her face other than anger
Bored / annoyed, why is she not talking to a policeman?
