Depression
Depression is a very common mood disorder that affects 18% of the population at some point in their lives. Females are at greater risk than males, with the female:male ratio 2:1. A first episode can occur at any age, with the mean onset being in the late 30s.
What to learn
Etiology and risk factors for depression.
Classification and diagnostic criteria for depressive illness.
Mental state examination and assessment of suicide risk.
Treatment of depression: medical, psychological, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a common psychiatric illness characterized by disorders of thought and perception and leading to psychotic symptoms and social withdrawal. There is a lifetime prevalence of about 1% with no gender bias. Age of onset peaks at 15 to 25 years of age for males and 25 to 35 years of age in women.
What to learn
Risk factors and epidemiology.
Classification and diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia.
Risk assessment: harm to self, harm to others, risk of exploitation.
Medical and psychological management, and prognosis.
Bipolar affective disorder
Bipolar affective disorder is a mood disorder characterized by cyclical instability of mood, which can vary between depressive and manic states over time. Lifetime prevalence is about 1% with no gender bias.
What to learn
Etiology and risk factors.
Classification and diagnostic criteria.
Management with antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and psychological methods.
Anxiety disorders
These comprise a spectrum of disorders that include generalized anxiety disorder, panic attacks, phobias (agoraphobia, social phobia, and specific phobias), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and post-traumatic stress disorder.
What to learn
Etiology, epidemiology, and risk factors for anxiety disorders.
Diagnostic criteria for anxiety disorders; focus on OCD and phobias for more specific symptoms.
Management with medication and psychological approaches, in particular cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
Eating disorders
Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are predominantly diseases of young Caucasian women; the sex bias is 10:1 female to male. Anorexia has a prevalence of 0.2% to 1% in adolescent females, whereas bulimia is more common and has a prevalence of 1.5 to 2.5%. Eating disorders are associated with disorders of self-esteem and body image.
What to learn
Diagnostic criteria for anorexia and bulimia nervosa.
Management of eating disorders.
Medical complications of the eating disorders and indications for hospitalization.
