Overview Definition of terms Term Definition Sex (Sexual identity) A person’s biological sex, based on their chromosomes and external and internal features XY – biologic males (except for androgen insensitivity syndrome – develop as female in utero, doesn’t get menarche),…
“At first drugs will take away your pain. Then it will take your joy, your freedom, your family your home, your job, your self respect. Eventually it will take away everything and you will be left with nothing BUT the…
Overview Personality disorders are an enduring pattern of inner experience and behavior, that, as a whole, deviates markedly from the culturally expected and accepted range. It is less of a disorder, and more of an enduring set of behavioural traits.…
“It’s almost as if a demon has passed from one host to another.” – John Forbes Nash, Jr., 1994 Nobel Prize Winner in Economics Changes from DSM IV to DSM V Overview In general, men have an earlier onset than…
Overview Variations in mood are normal. Mood can fluctuate from day to day and very few people will be the same on a day-to-day basis. Mood disorders (as defined by the pattern of mood episodes) happen when the patient’s mood…
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) ECT is the artificial induction of grand mal (tonic-clonic) seizures through the application of electrical currents through the brain. It is the most effective treatment for major depressive disorder (80% success rate, especially with psychotic featuers), as…
Psychostimulants Psychostimulants increase the availability of DA and NE in the synaptic cleft (by increasing release and blocking reuptake). Stimulants should not be used to treat mood disorders, even as adjuncts. It is better to use activating antidepressants (such as…
Overview Anxiolytics Nota bene Benzodiazepines Widely used for panic disorders, anxiety disorders, Insomnia and Status epilepticus Barbiturates Rarely used. First-line for infantile seizures, and second-line for status epilepticus. Were originally used for insomnia and panic disorders but fell out of…
Overview Mood stabilizers are drugs that are used to stabilise manic, mixed, and depressive episodes. They do not induce alternate mood symptoms AND prevent future relapse into manic, mixed, or depressive episodes. Selected mood stabilizers Mood stabilizer Nota bene Lithium…
Overview In general, anti-depressants increase the availability of 5-HT and other monoamines AND normalize receptor density (they do not upregulate post and pre-synaptic receptors). The most commonly used antidepressants are SSRIs as they are relatively well tolerated. TCAs have fallen…