A 36-year-old woman presents to her doctor with complaints of struggling to maintain positive relationships with her coworkers. Upon further inquiry, it is revealed that the woman has a rigid value system and moral code, making it challenging for her to work with colleagues who have different beliefs and work practices. What personality disorder is most likely present in this patient?
A 28-year-old man is brought to the emergency department by security after attempting to enter a music studio. He claims to have a close relationship with a famous musician and just wanted to see him. Despite never having met the musician, he has sent numerous letters and messages. He reports feeling great. He denies any hallucinations. He appears normal and speaks clearly.
What is the probable diagnosis based on his behavior?
You’re a medical student on your psychiatry placement. You are performing a mental state examination on one of the patients on the inpatient psychiatry ward, a 22-year-old man who was admitted 2 days ago.
Whenever you ask him a question, you notice that he repeats the question back to you. You notice that he is also repeating some of the phrases you use.
What form of thought disorder is this an example of?
A 25-year-old woman who is a law student has severe anxiety about public speaking and in informal social settings. She avoids situations where she might have to enter into conversations with strangers. She reports that she thinks others are frustrated by her inability in casual social interactions and that she ‘feels stupid and awkward’. Her social problems are also affecting her academic performance. She is considering leaving university for a less stressful environment.
Which is the most appropriate form of psychotherapy for this woman?
What is the mechanism of action of venlafaxine for elderly patients?
A 25-year-old woman with a diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder has been undergoing cognitive behavioural therapy and taking fluoxetine, but her symptoms persist. Her doctor decides to prescribe clomipramine, but warns her of potential side effects. What is the most likely side effect she may experience as a result of taking clomipramine?
A 28-year-old woman is admitted to the psychiatric ward under section 2 of the mental health act for suspected bipolar disorder. She has a 4-month history of manic episodes and has been experiencing delusions of grandeur. She started lithium 3 weeks ago. She has no other medical conditions and takes no other medications.
Today, staff on the ward raised concerns due to her abnormal behaviour. She was found in the common room dancing and singing loudly, despite it being late at night. It is reported that she has been like this for the last hour. Her observations are normal. She has not responded to attempts to engage her in conversation or to calm her down.
What is the most appropriate description of her current presentation?
A 40-year-old woman was admitted to the psychiatric ward with paranoid delusions, auditory hallucinations and violent behaviour. There was no past medical history. She was diagnosed with schizophrenia and given intramuscular haloperidol regularly. Four days later, she became febrile and confused. The haloperidol was stopped, but 2 days later, she developed marked rigidity, sweating and drowsiness. She had a variable blood pressure and pulse rate. Creatine phosphokinase was markedly raised.
What is the most likely diagnosis?
A 32-year-old woman confides in you that she experienced childhood sexual abuse. Which one of the following features is not a characteristic feature of post-traumatic stress disorder?
A 60-year-old female with depression is seen by her psychiatrist. She reports that her antidepressants are not improving her depressed mood. She expresses a sense of detachment from her surroundings, including her loved ones.
What is the most appropriate term to describe the patient’s abnormality?