signs and symptoms of psychiatric disorders lecture no. 6
TRANSCRIPT
Learning Objectives
Describe the symptoms of common psychiatric disorders
Elicit and discuss various signs of psychiatric disorders
Introduction
Symptoms are the complaints with which a patient presents to the clinician.
Signs are the ones which the clinician obtains on examination of the patient.
In psychiatry, the boundary between symptoms and signs is not that distinct because when explored further, a symptom can become a sign.
Anxiety
One of the most commonly experienced emotions and disorders
Often experienced as excessive worrying about almost everything, tension and fear of the unknown
Anxiety (cont.)
Various disorders categorized under anxiety disorders include:
– Generalized anxiety disorder
– Panic disorder
– Obsessive–compulsive disorder
– Phobias
– Post-traumatic stress disorder
Common Symptoms of Anxiety
Feelings of fear or dread
Increased heart rate
Palpitations
Sweating
Cold and clammy hands and feet
Dryness of mouth and throat
Difficulty in talking and breathing
Light headedness or giddiness
Tremors of hands
Restlessness
Common Symptoms of Anxiety (cont.)
Depression
Major depressive disorder is most closely associated with persistent sadness.
The most prominent symptom is depressed mood which is clearly different from sadness due to day-to-day events.
Common Symptoms of Depression
Persistent sadness
Poor concentration
Feelings of worthlessness
Easy crying
Feelings of hopelessness and helplessness
Suicidal ideas
Poor appetite and sleep
Lack of energy
Decreased socialization
Easy irritability
Inability to experience pleasure
Decreased interest in work and surroundings
Common Symptoms of Depression (cont.)
Mania
Characterized by the sustained elevation of mood, i.e. marked happiness or at times irritability
Common Symptoms of Mania
Persistent and undue happiness(at times marked irritability)
Increased self-esteem
Over-activity
Increased and rapid speech
Making big plans
Spending money unnecessarily
Poor self-control
Increased socialization
Decreased need for sleep
Common Symptoms of Mania (cont.)
Schizophrenia
Considered as one of the major psychiatric disorders
Characterized by the presence of psychotic symptoms, which include:
– Disturbances of thought process (delusions, derailment, illogicality)
– Disturbances of perception (sensory hallucinations)
Common Symptoms of Schizophrenia
Inappropriate affect
Talking to self
Neglect of personal hygiene and work
Hearing voices
Suspiciousness
Decreased socialization
Unusual and illogical thoughts
Aggressive behaviour
Lack of interest in surroundings and activities
Common Symptoms of Schizophrenia (cont.)
Common Signs of Psychiatric Disorders
Categorized into four types:
1. Disorders of motor activity (conation)
2. Disorders of emotion
3. Disorders of thought process
4. Disorders of perception
1. Disorders of Motor Activity (Conation)
Commonly seen motor disorders include:
Hyperactivity
Mannerisms
Stereotypies
Tics
Psychomotor agitation
Psychomotor retardation
Catatonic symptoms, i.e. stupor, muteness, posturing, waxy flexibility, echopraxia, echolalia, ambitendency and negativism
1. Disorders of Motor Activity (Conation) (cont.)
2. Disorders of Emotion
Two types:
– Disorders of mood: euthymic, dysphoric, irritable, euphoric, expansive, elated, exaltation, ecstasy, depression, anxiety and apathy
– Disorders of affect: inappropriate, labile, emotional incontinence, blunted and flat
3. Disorders of Thought Process
Various disorders of thought process can be categorized under:
– Disorders of form
– Disorders of stream
– Disorders of content
– Disorders of possession
4. Disorders of Perception
Include illusions and hallucinations
Illusions: false sensory distortion of a real sensory stimulus.
Hallucinations: false sensory perception without adequate stimulus.
Depending upon the sensory organ involved, hallucinations can be auditory, visual, tactile, gustatory or olfactory.