Self-induced vomiting…may have serious medical consequences, including:

[THIS DX] is a short-term, time-limited disorder. An individual with [THIS DX] has experienced at least one of the major symptoms of psychosis for less than one month. Hallucinations , delusions , strange bodily movements or lack of movements (catatonic behavior), peculiar speech [...]]]> Social work exam prep continues… Text from the Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders; answer there or in comments.

[THIS DX] is a short-term, time-limited disorder. An individual with [THIS DX] has experienced at least one of the major symptoms of psychosis for less than one month. Hallucinations , delusions , strange bodily movements or lack of movements (catatonic behavior), peculiar speech and bizarre or markedly inappropriate behavior are all classic psychotic symptoms that may occur in [THIS DX].

[ANSWER A] is characterized by major depressive episodes alternating with episodes of hypomania, a milder form of mania. Patients with [ANSWER A] tend to have extremely low energy, retarded mental and physical processes, and more profound fatigue (for [...]]]> Name these two related diagnoses. Text from the Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders.  Answer there or in comments.

[ANSWER A] is characterized by major depressive episodes alternating with episodes of hypomania, a milder form of mania. Patients with [ANSWER A] tend to have extremely low energy, retarded mental and physical processes, and more profound fatigue (for example, hypersomnia—a sleep disorder marked by a need for excessive sleep or sleepiness when awake) than people with unipolar depression.

[ANSWER B] is characterized by manic episodes, the “high” of the manic-depressive cycle. Apatient experiencing mania often has feelings of self-importance, elation, talkativeness, increased sociability, and a desire to embark on goal-oriented activities, coupled with the characteristics of irritability, impatience, impulsiveness, hyperactivity, and a decreased need for sleep. Usually this manic period is followed by a period of depression, although a few [ANSWER B] individuals may not experience a major depressive episode. Mixed states, where both manic or hypomanic symptoms and depressive symptoms occur at the same time, also occur frequently with [ANSWER B] patients (for example, depression with the racing thoughts of mania). Also, dysphoric mania is common (mania characterized by anger and irritability).

A person aged 21 years or older with a childhood history of disregard for the rights of others can be diagnosed as having APD if he or she gives evidence of three of the following seven behaviors associated with disregard for others:

-Fails to conform [...]]]> Find three mistakes in this description of Antisocial Personality Disorder:

A person aged 21 years or older with a childhood history of disregard for the rights of others can be diagnosed as having APD if he or she gives evidence of three of the following seven behaviors associated with disregard for others:

-Fails to conform to social norms, as indicated by frequently performing illegal acts or pursuing illegal occupations.

-Deceives and manipulates others for selfish reasons, often in order to obtain money, sex, drugs or power. This behavior may involve repeated lying, conning or the use of false names.

-Fails to plan ahead or displays impulsive behavior, as indicated by a long succession of short-term jobs or frequent changes of address.

-Engages in repeated fights or assaults as a consequence of irritability and aggressiveness.

-Exhibits reckless disregard for safety of self or others and hyperverbal speech.

-Shows a consistent pattern of irresponsible behavior, including failure to find and keep a job for a sustained length of time and refusal to pay bills or honor debts.

-Shows evidence of sadness, regret or remorse for actions that have hurt others, but continues with actions regardless of these feelings.

Original text from the Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders.  Answers in comments.

Fill in the blanks.  Text from the Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders.  Answers there or in comments.

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is an eating disorder characterized by [ANSWER A]. Because of this fear, the affected individual starves herself or himself, and the person’s weight falls to about [ANSWER B]% (or less) of the normal weight for age [...]]]>

Fill in the blanks.  Text from the Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders.  Answers there or in comments.

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is an eating disorder characterized by [ANSWER A]. Because of this fear, the affected individual starves herself or himself, and the person’s weight falls to about [ANSWER B]% (or less) of the normal weight for age and height.

In order to diagnose AN, a patient’s symptoms must meet the symptom criteria [which] include:

Refusal to maintain normal body weight, resulting in a weight that is less than [ANSWER B]% of the expected weight.

Even though the affected person is underweight, he or she has an intense fear of [ANSWER C].

Distorted body image, obsession with body weight as key factor in self-evaluation, or denial of the seriousness of the low body weight.

[ANSWER D]

The close association in agoraphobia between fear of being outside one’s home and fear of having panic symptoms is reflected in DSM-IV-TR panic disorder [...]]]> Text from the Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders.  Answers there or in comments.  This one’s trickier.

The close association in agoraphobia between fear of being outside one’s home and fear of having panic symptoms is reflected in DSM-IV-TR panic disorder (PD) with agoraphobia, and [ANSWER A]. PD is essentially characterized by sudden attacks of [ANSWER B]. There may be no known reason for the occurrence of panic attacks; they are frequently triggered by fear-producing events or thoughts, such as driving, or being in an elevator. PD is believed due to an abnormal activation of the body’s hormonal system, causing a sudden “fight-or-flight” response.

The chief distinction between PD with agoraphobia and agoraphobia without PD is that patients who are diagnosed with PD with agoraphobia meet all criteria for PD; in agoraphobia without PD, patients are [ANSWER C].

People with agoraphobia appear to suffer from two distinct types of anxiety— panic, and the anticipatory anxiety related to [ANSWER D]. Patients with agoraphobia are sometimes able to endure being in the situations they fear by “gritting their teeth,” or by having a friend or relative accompany them.

ASD, like [ANSWER A], begins with exposure to an extremely traumatic, horrifying, [...]]]> Here, to keep you on your toes, the first in a series of DSM Quick Quizzes.  This one’s about Acute Stress Disorder (ASD).  Text courtesy of the Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders. Follow the link there for fill-in-the-blank answers or see comments below.

ASD, like [ANSWER A], begins with exposure to an extremely traumatic, horrifying, or terrifying event. Unlike [ANSWER A], however, ASD emerges sooner and abates more quickly; it is also marked by more dissociative symptoms. If left untreated, however, ASD is likely to progress to [ANSWER A]. Because the two share many symptoms, some researchers and clinicians question the validity of maintaining separate diagnostic categories. Others explain them as two phases of an extended reaction to traumatic stress.

ASD symptoms develop within [ANSWER B] after the traumatic event; it is still unknown, however, why some trauma survivors develop symptoms more rapidly than others. Delayed symptoms are often triggered by a situation that resembles the original trauma.

ASD is usually diagnosed by matching the patient’s symptoms to the DSM-IV-TR criteria. The patient may also meet the criteria for [ANSWER C]. A person who has been exposed to a traumatic stressor and has developed symptoms that do not meet the criteria for ASD may be diagnosed as having [ANSWER D] .