Depression, anxiety, psychosis, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, personality disorders, and the Mental Health Act.
Acute psychosis management involves rapid assessment, exclusion of organic causes, pharmacological treatment with antipsychotics, and psychosocial intervention.
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It affects approximately 3-5% of children and 2-3% of adults.
Anorexia nervosa is characterised by restriction of energy intake leading to significantly low body weight, fear of weight gain, and body image disturbance. It has the highest psychiatric mortality.
Antidepressant prescribing requires understanding of drug selection, dosing, monitoring, duration, switching strategies, and discontinuation to ensure safe and effective treatment.
Antipsychotic side effects are common, dose-related, and a major cause of non-adherence. They include metabolic syndrome, extrapyramidal symptoms, QTc prolongation, and hyperprolactinaemia.
ASPD is characterised by persistent disregard for and violation of the rights of others, impulsivity, deceitfulness, and lack of remorse. Prevalence is approximately 3% in men.
ASD is a neurodevelopmental condition characterised by persistent difficulties in social communication and interaction, plus restricted and repetitive behaviours and interests.
Binge eating disorder is characterised by recurrent episodes of eating large amounts of food with loss of control, without compensatory purging. It is the most common eating disorder.
Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder characterised by episodes of mania or hypomania alternating with depression. It affects approximately 1-2% of the population.
BPD (emotionally unstable personality disorder) is characterised by emotional instability, impulsivity, unstable relationships, and identity disturbance. It affects approximately 1-2% of the population.
Brief psychotic disorder involves sudden onset of psychotic symptoms lasting 1 day to 1 month with full return to premorbid functioning. Often triggered by significant stressors.
Bulimia nervosa is characterised by recurrent binge eating with compensatory behaviours (vomiting, laxatives, excessive exercise). Patients are often of normal weight.
Delirium is an acute, fluctuating disturbance of consciousness and cognition caused by an underlying medical condition. It affects 20-30% of hospitalised elderly patients.
Delusional disorder is characterised by non-bizarre delusions persisting for ≥1 month without other prominent psychotic features. Functioning is relatively preserved.
Behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) include agitation, aggression, psychosis, and mood changes, affecting up to 90% of dementia patients during their illness.
Depression is a common mood disorder characterised by persistent low mood, anhedonia, and reduced energy. It is a leading cause of disability and is highly treatable.
Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions involving disturbed eating behaviour and body image distortion. Anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality of any psychiatric disorder.
ECT is a highly effective treatment involving electrical stimulation of the brain under general anaesthesia to induce a generalised seizure. It is primarily used for severe, treatment-resistant depression.
First episode psychosis represents the initial presentation of psychotic symptoms. Early intervention within 2 weeks via EIP services significantly improves long-term outcomes.
FND involves neurological symptoms (weakness, tremor, seizures, sensory loss) not explained by neurological disease. Diagnosis is based on positive clinical signs, not exclusion alone.
Panic disorder is characterised by recurrent, unexpected panic attacks with persistent worry about future attacks and maladaptive behavioural change. Lifetime prevalence is 2-3%.
Perinatal mental health covers psychiatric conditions during pregnancy and the first year postpartum. Perinatal depression affects 10-15% of women; puerperal psychosis is a psychiatric emergency.
Personality disorders are enduring patterns of inner experience and behaviour that deviate markedly from cultural expectations, are pervasive and inflexible, and cause distress or impairment.
Phobias are persistent, excessive fears of specific objects, situations, or activities leading to avoidance behaviour. They are the most common anxiety disorders with a lifetime prevalence of 7-12%.
PTSD develops after exposure to a traumatic event, characterised by re-experiencing, avoidance, negative cognitions, and hyperarousal. Prevalence is approximately 3-4% in the UK.
Psychiatric emergencies are acute situations requiring immediate assessment and intervention to prevent harm. Common presentations include acute psychosis, severe self-harm, and agitation.
Psychopharmacology covers the mechanisms, clinical use, and side effects of medications used in psychiatric disorders including antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilisers, and anxiolytics.
Schizoaffective disorder features concurrent psychotic and mood symptoms, with psychotic symptoms also occurring outside mood episodes. It has a prevalence of approximately 0.3%.
Schizophrenia is a chronic psychotic disorder characterised by positive symptoms (delusions, hallucinations), negative symptoms, and cognitive impairment. Lifetime prevalence is approximately 1%.
Self-harm is intentional self-injury regardless of motivation. It is the strongest predictor of completed suicide, with approximately 6,000 UK deaths by suicide annually.
Serotonin syndrome is a potentially life-threatening condition caused by excess serotonergic activity. It presents with a triad of neuromuscular excitability, autonomic dysfunction, and altered mental status.
Social anxiety disorder is characterised by marked fear of social situations where the individual may be scrutinised or judged. It is the third most common mental health disorder.
Somatoform disorders involve physical symptoms that cannot be fully explained by a medical condition. They cause significant distress and functional impairment.
Suicide risk assessment is a core clinical skill involving systematic evaluation of risk and protective factors to guide management decisions. It should use structured professional judgment.