Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders Major psychological stress involves a threatening event or loss. The stress response involves physical, emotional, and psychological components. Reactive Attachment Disorder Disorder whereby children (< 5 years) are unable to form healthy attachments (particularly with…

Changes from DSM-IV to DSM-V General Principles The patient reports physical sx that cannot be explained by a general medical condition or is disproportionate to their general medical condition. Objective testing is normal. Sx interferes with the patient’s quality of…

Overview All dissociative disorders involve a disruption of consciousness, memory, identity OR perception resulting in significant distress to the patient. Mostly caused by some degree of psychological trauma. The defense mechanism dissociation is prominent (mostly in Dissociative amnesia). r/o Hallucinogens…

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…