Diagnosis ● DSM-5: o At least two weeks of unipolar major depression (eg., 5/9 SIGECAPS symptoms) o Plus hallucinations or delusions o Suicide attempts common—30% ● Prevalence: Much more common than you might think: 28% of people with depression have psychotic symptoms; 42% of patients hospitalized for depression have psychotic features

You'll often work with patients who are part of the LGBTQ community. To make sure your care is informed and supportive, keep these points in mind:

What is Metabolic Syndrome? Metabolic syndrome is a combination of health issues that together increase your risk of serious diseases like heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. The key elements of metabolic syndrome include: ● Increased fat around the waist. ● High blood sugar levels. ● High levels of triglycerides (a type of fat) in the blood. ● Low levels of good cholesterol (HDL) in the blood. ● High blood pressure. Why Am I Being Monitored for Metabolic S

Introduction: Outbreaks of lice and scabies are unfortunately not unusual in congregate settings like psychiatric units. Given how easily these parasites can spread, swift identification and treatment are critical. Diagnosis Lice ● Visual Inspection: a thorough examination of the hai

Introduction: Cross-cultural factors can shape how patients express symptoms, convey needs, and adhere to treatment. Here we review common cross-cultural issues and tips to keep in mind when you work with patients of diverse backgrounds. At the same time, beware of stereotyping cultural groups; each patient has a unique cultural and personal perspective.

Introduction: Severe anorexia can lead to life-threatening complications. If you are not able to convince your patient to eat voluntarily, you may have to initiate forced refeeding.

Introduction: Catatonia is a syndrome marked by an apparent lack of responsiveness to external stimuli, despite the individual appearing to be awake. While it’s often linked with schizophrenia, you’ll also see catatonia among patients with depression, bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, and brief psychotic episodes.

Key tasks: Assess glycemic control and adherence to diabetes treatment; educate patient about need for glycemic control and risks of long term complications; assess whether psych meds are worsening diabetes and causing weight gain.

Dementia patients often exhibit symptoms like agitation, aggression, wandering, psychosis, depression, and anxiety – collectively referred to as BPSD. While therapeutic approaches like art and music therapy can be highly effective, you’ll sometimes need to prescribe medications to ensure safety. Here we'll delve into your pharmaceutical options. Start low, increase doses as needed / tolerated, and monitor closely for side effects.

Introduction. Huntington's Disease (HD) is a genetic neurodegenerative disorder. This disease occurs due to an abnormality in the HTT gene located on chromosome 4, specifically, the repetition of a particular sequence of DNA, known as CAG repeats, more times than normal. This genetic mutation leads to the symptoms associated with Huntington's Disease. If a patient has a parent with the condition, their risk of inheriting the disease is 50%. There’s no cure, but supportive care helps manage symptoms.