Medical Disorders

Question 1

can often be mistaken for psychiatric disorders because of behavioral manifestations in individuals. A medical doctor should evaluate clients if the clients have any of
the following:

● Sudden cognitive or behavioral changes, such as mood or personality
● History of head trauma
● No prior history of a psychological disorder
● Symptoms without presence of a known medical diagnosis (including, but not limited to,
hyperactivity, inattentiveness or difficulty concentrating, irritability, sleeping issues,
eating issues, pain, and/or restlessness)
● Depression that occurs for the first time after age 55
● Rashes, swelling, drooping eyelid, facial tic

Answer 1

Medical disorders

Question 2

Cause: Genetic Disorder that can result in intellectual disability

Medical Symptoms: Muscle weakness, short stature, and obesity. This syndrome can cause a child to experience extreme hunger resulting in childhood obesity and/or Type 2 Diabetes

Psychiatric Symptoms: Temper outbursts, stubbornness, and compulsive behaviors such as
skin picking. Sleep abnormalities can also occur

Answer 2

Prader-Willi Syndrome

Question 3

Cause: Excessive thyroid hormones

Medical Symptoms: Weight loss or increased appetite, palpitations, heat intolerance

Psychiatric Symptoms: Anxiety, depression, hyperactivity, restlessness, agitation, fatigue

Answer 3

Hyperthyroidism

Question 4

Causes: Reduced thyroid activity and lower hormone levels

Medical Symptoms: Weight gain, cold intolerance, psychomotor retardation, muscle cramps

Psychiatric Symptoms: Fatigue, apathy, depression, anxiety, irritability, impaired memory; Rapid onset of hypothyroidism can also cause delirium and psychosis

Answer 4

Hypothyroidism

Question 5

Causes: Include limited sunlight exposure (D), unbalanced diets or vegan/vegetarian diets
(Folate and B-1), alcoholism (B-1), and malabsorption due to medications (B-12)

Psychiatric Symptoms: Fatigue, depressed mood, anxiety, agitation, memory loss; Mania and psychosis can accompany a B-12 deficiency

Answer 5

Vitamin Deficiencies(such as vitamin D, B-1, B-12, and Folate)

Question 6

Medical Symptoms: Include difficulty falling asleep, waking up early, having trouble staying
asleep, abnormal breathing during sleep (sleep apnea), excessive sleepiness and sleep attacks at inappropriate times (narcolepsy)

Psychiatric Symptoms: Depression, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, irritability

Answer 6

Sleep Disorders

Question 7

Cause: Brain injury caused by direct impact or secondary indirect injuries

Medical Symptoms: Cognitive impairments, dizziness, headaches, difficulty sleeping, vomiting, numbness, loss of consciousness

Psychiatric Symptoms: Irritability, depression, anger, rage, behavioral problems (e.g., impulsivity, aggression, hyperactivity, and cognitive deficits)

Answer 7

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Question 8

Cause: Degeneration of neurons in the brain

Medical Symptoms: Movement abnormalities (e.g., tremors [often a resting tremor in the
hands], rigidity, akinesia [muscle rigidity], and bradykinesia [slowness of motion])

Psychiatric Symptoms: Cognitive changes, depression, impaired memory and concentration, slowed psychomotor activity, anxiety (e.g., social phobia and panic disorder), restricted affect, fatigue; Hallucinations and delusions can also arise either spontaneously or in association with mood disturbances although this usually only develops later in the disease process

Answer 8

Parkinson Disease

Question 9

Cause: A bacterial infection, often from a deer tick bite

Medical Symptoms: Joint pain, flu-like symptoms, neurological problems, large rash

Psychiatric Symptoms: Depression, mania, delirium, dementia, psychosis, obsessions and compulsions, panic attacks, and personality change

Answer 9

Lyme Disease

Question 10

Cause: The cause is unknown; it may be a combination of genetic, immunologic and
environmental factors. MS is considered an immune mediated disease in which the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues and eats away at the protective covering of nerves. The resulting nerve damage disrupts communication between the brain and the body.

Medical Symptoms: fatigue, difficulty swallowing, vision issues (blurriness and/or pain),
changes in gait, loss of balance or coordination, loss of bladder and/or bowel control, speech
difficulties, muscle stiffness, weakness and spasms, numbness and tingling

Psychiatric Symptoms: Anxiety, mood swings, and depression (some studies report a lifetime
prevalence of depression of around 50%); erectile dysfunction or sexual dysfunction; issues around thinking, learning and planning

Answer 10

Multiple Sclerosis