Section 7: Psychiatric Disorders

Section 7: Psychiatric Disorders

Which resource would be helpful in identifying the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia?

A. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition

B. American Psychiatric Association Practice Guidelines for Psychiatric Evaluation

C. Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE)

D. Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS)

The answer is A.

Which term best describes the ability of a psychiatric rating scale to determine a symptom or disorder is absent when the patient does not have the related condition?

A. Reliability

B. Validity

C. Sensitivity

D. Specificity

The answer is D.

The primary care clinic providers would like to implement a depression screening tool. The scale needs to be completed by the patient in a short amount of time while waiting to see the clinician. Results would then be assessed by the clinician to determine risk of depression. Select the most appropriate rating scale for depression based on this practice setting.

A. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS)

B. Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS)

C. Clinical Global Impressions Scale (CGI)

D. Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)

The answer is D.

A patient is experiencing the following symptoms: inability to sit still, pacing, feelings of inner restlessness. He does not complain of any anxiety or being worried about anything in particular. The patient was started on an antipsychotic 2 weeks ago. Which rating scale would be the most appropriate to assess these symptoms?

A. Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS)

B. Barnes Akathisia Rating Scale (BARS)

C. Dyskinesia Identification System: Condensed User Scale (DISCUS)

D. Modified Simpson-Angus Scale (MSAS)

The answer is B.

The clinician asks a patient with a history of schizophrenia the following question during the clinical interview: "Do you feel that people plot against you?" Which target symptoms of schizophrenia is this question addressing?

A. Auditory hallucinations

B. Thought broadcasting

C. Paranoid delusions