Mood/Trauma Disorders
A 25-year-old woman has been feeling sad and overwhelmed since her breakup with a long-term partner three months ago. She has trouble concentrating at work, feels anxious, and has trouble sleeping. She is adjusting to the change but still experiences significant distress.
What is Adjustment Disorder?
A 30-year-old man has a severe fear of flying. He becomes extremely anxious at the thought of getting on an airplane, experiencing symptoms like rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, and dizziness. He avoids flying at all costs and feels distressed by his inability to travel for work.
What is a Specific Phobia?
A 6-year-old boy has difficulty understanding social cues and often engages in repetitive behaviors like lining up his toys or hand-flapping. He struggles to make friends and has trouble with eye contact, preferring solitary activities. His parents are concerned about his development.
What is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?
A 40-year-old woman has been arrested multiple times for theft and other illegal activities. She has a history of violating the rights of others, lying, and manipulating people for personal gain. She shows no remorse for her actions and continues to engage in these behaviors despite legal and personal consequences.
What is Antisocial Personality Disorder?
This class of medication is used for the treatment of Bipolar Disorder (specifically to control manic and hypomanic episodes) and as an adjunctive treatment for Major Depressive Disorder. They include drugs like valproate and lamotrigine.
What are Mood Stabilizers?
A 28-year-old man has experienced a low mood for over two years. Although he never feels truly "happy," he continues to function at work and maintain relationships. He reports feeling a lack of motivation and has trouble sleeping.
What is Persistent Depressive Disorder?
A 45-year-old woman has been feeling excessively worried about work, her health, and her family for the past six months. She finds it hard to control her worries, and they interfere with her ability to relax. She often feels restless, fatigued, and has difficulty sleeping.
What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)?
A 9-year-old girl has trouble focusing on schoolwork, frequently making careless mistakes. She also finds it difficult to stay seated in class and often talks excessively. Her teacher and parents have noticed that she has trouble following instructions and seems easily distracted.
What is Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)?
A 30-year-old man has a pattern of unstable and intense relationships. He swings between idolizing others and devaluing them. He experiences rapid mood changes, extreme fear of abandonment, and often engages in self-destructive behaviors like substance abuse or self-harm.
What is Borderline Personality Disorder?
This class of medication is typically used to treat Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), and Panic Disorder. It works by inhibiting the reuptake of both serotonin and norepinephrine.
What are Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)?
A 22-year-old woman has been experiencing periods of extreme elation, impulsivity, and a decreased need for sleep. She feels invincible and engages in risky behaviors, such as excessive spending and reckless driving. During these periods, she has little regard for the consequences of her actions. These episodes are followed by periods of deep depression.
What is Bipolar I Disorder?
A 33-year-old man has been experiencing sudden and unexpected panic attacks, often occurring while he's at work or out in public. These attacks come on suddenly, causing him to feel a sense of terror and physical symptoms like chest pain, sweating, and shortness of breath. He fears having another attack and begins to avoid situations where he might feel trapped or helpless.
What is Panic Disorder?
A 12-year-old boy has repeatedly been caught stealing from his classmates and vandalizing school property. He shows little remorse for his actions and blames others for his behavior. His teachers have noticed that he often bullies younger students and has been involved in physical fights. His behavior has caused significant problems at school and at home.
What is Conduct Disorder?
A 19-year-old man was recently admitted to the hospital after he had been experiencing disorganized speech and behavior. He reports that he believes he is being controlled by outside forces. His speech is incoherent, and he appears confused and agitated. His symptoms have been present for over a month, but there is no significant past history of psychosis or mood disorders.
What is Brief Psychotic Disorder?
This class of medications is most often used to treat Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder. They help manage symptoms like delusions, hallucinations, and mood instability by blocking dopamine receptors in the brain.
What are Antipsychotics?
A 24-year-old man has been experiencing episodes where he feels extremely energetic and talkative. He often stays up for several nights without feeling tired, and his thoughts race. These episodes are not as severe as full mania but have caused some interpersonal difficulties. He has also experienced significant depressive episodes in the past.
What is Bipolar II Disorder?
A 29-year-old woman feels intense fear when she is in open spaces or public places, such as malls or public transportation. She often worries that if she becomes anxious, she won't be able to escape or find help. As a result, she avoids these situations altogether, even if it means missing social events or work obligations.
What is Agoraphobia?
9-year-old girl frequently defies her teachers' instructions, refuses to follow classroom rules, and often talks back. She has a pattern of deliberately upsetting her classmates by provoking them into arguments. Her parents are concerned about her behavior both at home and school, as she shows no remorse for her actions and often blames others.
Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)?
A 35-year-old man is extremely perfectionistic. He is highly critical of others' work and often spends excessive time organizing and redoing tasks to meet his own rigid standards. His need for control causes strain in his relationships and interferes with his productivity at work.
What is Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder?
This class of medication is often the first-line treatment for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). They work by increasing serotonin levels in the brain.
What are Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)?
A 40-year-old woman has been feeling extremely sad and lethargic each winter for the past five years. During these months, she experiences poor concentration, excessive sleep, and weight gain. In the summer, she returns to her usual self, feeling energized and motivated.
What is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)?
A 20-year-old man experiences intense fear and discomfort in social situations, especially when meeting new people or speaking in front of a group. He constantly worries that others will judge him or that he will embarrass himself. As a result, he avoids social interactions whenever possible, which has caused strain on his personal relationships.
What is Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia)?
A 4-year-old boy exhibits delays in both intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviors. He has difficulty with communication, social skills, and daily living activities. Despite ongoing support, he struggles in a regular preschool setting and needs specialized interventions.
What is Intellectual Disability?
A 42-year-old woman shows little interest in forming relationships and prefers to spend most of her time alone. She appears emotionally detached and is indifferent to praise or criticism. Despite her solitary lifestyle, she feels comfortable and prefers the solitude.
What is Schizoid Personality Disorder?
This medication is often prescribed for Schizophrenia and Bipolar I Disorder to manage psychosis, and it works by blocking dopamine and serotonin receptors in the brain.
What is an Atypical Antipsychotic?