A 25-year-old male has been taking antipsychotics for a few months and is experiencing a severe side-effect that causes repetitive involuntary movements such as grimacing and sticking out the tongue. This side-effect is known to occur only in individuals who have been on antipsychotics for an extended period. What medication is the most appropriate for treating this side-effect?
What type of psychotherapy focuses on a patient’s early past experiences, particularly within the family, to determine perceptions of others, including the therapist, and identify patterns of thinking and relating to others? The goal of this therapy is to allow the patient to gain insight into unconscious motivations, improve effectiveness in the adult world, and enhance interpersonal relationships.
A 54-year-old man visits his General Practitioner (GP) with his wife. Since retiring from the navy, he has been struggling with anger issues. This is affecting his marriage, and he has been drinking more heavily to help him to relax. He also reports feeling low in mood and having frequent nightmares, including flashbacks from his past experiences while fighting in Afghanistan.
Which one of the following psychological therapies would be most appropriate to manage this condition?
A 30-year-old woman visits her psychiatrist for a follow-up after receiving treatment for a moderate depressive episode. Based on the patient’s history, the psychiatrist identifies early morning awakening as the most distressing symptom currently affecting the patient.
What term best describes this particular symptom?
A worried parent comes to your clinic with concerns that their 14-year-old son may be purging after meals. They have noticed that he has become increasingly preoccupied with his appearance and often disappears after eating. They want to know more about purging. What information can you provide them about this behavior?
Purging is a behavior that involves getting rid of food and calories from the body after eating. This can be done through self-induced vomiting, using laxatives or diuretics, or excessive exercise. Purging is often associated with eating disorders such as bulimia nervosa. It is important to note that purging can have serious health consequences, including dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and damage to the digestive system. If their son is indeed purging, it is important to seek medical and psychological help as soon as possible.
A 38-year-old woman who has often presented with various physical complaints is diagnosed with generalised anxiety disorder. Despite receiving low intensity psychological interventions, her symptoms remain unchanged. What medication would be the most suitable next step in her treatment?
A young adult is concerned about her ability to take her upcoming final exams at university in three months. She experiences feelings of fluster, faintness, and dizziness specifically during written exams, but has no symptoms at any other time, including during physical activity. Her resting ECG is normal and clinical examination shows no abnormalities. What is the best course of action to take?
A 75-year-old male comes in for his routine check-up without specific concerns. During the examination, no abnormalities were detected. However, upon reviewing the blood test results sent by the nurse before the appointment, the following values were noted:
Na+ 130 mmol/l
K+ 3.5 mmol/l
Urea 4 mmol/l
Creatinine 85 µmol/l
The patient’s medications are now being reviewed. Which medication is the most probable cause of the electrolyte abnormality?
A 32-year-old male construction worker presents to the clinic with concerns about his recent behavior at work. Over the past week, he has been very talkative and easily distracted while on the job. This is unusual for him as he typically prefers to stay focused and get his work done efficiently. He also reports feeling more energetic than usual and needing less sleep. He denies any impulsive behavior, drug use, or sexual promiscuity. There is no significant medical history, but his father has a history of bipolar disorder.
What would be the most appropriate next step in managing this patient’s symptoms?
A 7-year-old boy and his mother die in a car crash. Following these deaths, the boy’s 16-year-old brother starts playing with the dead boy’s toys.
This would most likely be an example of which of the following defence mechanisms?