It’s S.A.D., actually (Depression)
The minimum duration and symptom count (and the required symptom) for diagnosing major depressive disorder.
What are ≥2 weeks, ≥5 symptoms, including depressed mood or anhedonia
The episode that lasts ≥4 days, has symptoms similar to mania but less intense, and does not require hospitalization.
What is hypomania?
Name the defense mechanism classically associated with borderline personality disorder, in which people are seen as “all good” or “all bad.”
What is splitting?
Name two positive and two negative symptoms listed for schizophrenia.
What are (positive) delusions and hallucinations, and (negative) flat affect and anhedonia?
What disorder is characterized by these traits and behaviors:
Grandiosity and entitlement, with rage/lashing out when criticized
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Before or alongside starting treatment for MDD, list the two screenings recommended
What are screening for suicide risk and screening for prior manic/hypomanic episodes?
The bipolar diagnosis made when a patient has ≥1 manic episode.
What is Bipolar I disorder?
The first-line psychotherapy for borderline personality disorder that focuses on skills like mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.
What is dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)?
State the minimum symptom pattern and duration required for schizophrenia.
What are ≥2 core symptoms with ≥1 of delusions, hallucinations, or disorganized speech, for a total duration ≥6 months with ≥1 month of active symptoms?
Name the personality disorder associated with these behaviors:
Repeated rule-breaking/disregard for rights (fighting, stealing, vandalism, lying, breaking promises)?
Antisocial Personality Disorder
State the first-line treatment approach for MDD?
What are CBT + an SSRI?
This clinical risk in bipolar disorder warrants close monitoring and often inpatient care during acute episodes.
What is suicide risk?
In this disorder, interpersonal relationships are often characterized by this pattern of behavior?
What is obsessive and manipulative behavior (within labile, unstable relationships)
Define schizophreniform disorder by its duration window and symptom count.
What is ≥2 schizophrenia symptoms lasting 1–6 months?
Name the personality disorder associated with these behaviors:
Dramatic, attention-seeking behavior and superficially flirtatious/sexually charged interactions (often with provocative dress)
Histrionic Personality Disorder
In MDD with psychotic features, what treatment combination is recommended?
What are an antidepressant plus an atypical antipsychotic, with or without ECT?
The mildest bipolar-spectrum condition: ≥2 years of numerous subthreshold hypomanic and depressive symptoms with no overt mania or major depression and ≤2 months remission at a time.
What is cyclothymic disorder?
Cluster B personality disorders—including borderline—have genetic associations with these two categories of conditions.
What are mood disorders and substance misuse?
In this situation, clozapine is used, and a lab monitoring is required due to a key adverse effect.
What is second-line for schizophrenia with required weekly CBC monitoring for agranulocytosis?
The primary causes associated for auditory, visual, and tactile hallucinations (3 separate causes total).
What are primary psychiatric illness (auditory), delirium/drug-induced medical illness (visual), or cocaine use and alcohol withdrawal (tactile).
In MDD with seasonal pattern, name the additional therapy beyond standard MDD care.
What is light therapy (plus usual MDD management)?
Name two notable adverse effects of lithium.
What are nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (polyuria) and hypothyroidism? (Alternative answer: Tremor or Ebstein anomaly)
Name the two acute safety concerns you must always assess for in borderline personality disorder?
What are self-harm and suicidal ideation?
Give one epidemiologic (drug-induced) risk in adolescents and one pathophysiologic/structural finding.
What are heavy adolescent cannabis use, and lower gray matter volume and thinner cortical areas, along with increased ventricular size?
Olfactory (or gustatory) hallucinations (e.g. Burning rubber smell) suggest this neurologic condition.
What is temporal lobe epilepsy?