Psychiatry & Mental Health Flashcards

A 28-year-old presents with persistent low mood, anhedonia, disturbed sleep, and poor concentration lasting 3 months. Which diagnosis is most likely?

Answer: Major depressive disorder

Major depressive disorder requires depressed mood or anhedonia plus at least four additional symptoms persisting for a minimum of two weeks.

A 45-year-old with schizophrenia on haloperidol for 3 years develops involuntary repetitive movements of the mouth and tongue. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Answer: Tardive dyskinesia

Tardive dyskinesia is a late-onset movement disorder caused by prolonged antipsychotic use, characteristically involving orofacial repetitive movements.

A 19-year-old male presents with auditory hallucinations, delusions of persecution, and social withdrawal for 6 months. What is the most appropriate first-line pharmacological treatment?

Answer: Risperidone

Atypical antipsychotics such as risperidone are recommended as first-line pharmacological treatment for schizophrenia.

Which feature most clearly distinguishes a manic episode from a hypomanic episode in bipolar disorder?

Answer: Marked functional impairment or need for hospitalization

Mania, unlike hypomania, causes marked functional impairment, may require hospitalization, and can include psychotic features.

A 32-year-old woman presents with recurrent binge eating followed by self-induced vomiting. Her BMI is 22. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Answer: Bulimia nervosa

Bulimia nervosa is characterized by recurrent binge-purge cycles with a normal or near-normal BMI, distinguishing it from anorexia nervosa.

A patient on lithium presents with coarse tremor, vomiting, confusion, and ataxia. What is the most important immediate step?

Answer: Measure serum lithium level urgently

The constellation of neurological and gastrointestinal symptoms suggests lithium toxicity; an urgent serum lithium level is essential to confirm and guide management.

A 40-year-old alcohol-dependent man presents 48 hours after his last drink with agitation, tremor, diaphoresis, and tachycardia. What is the most serious complication to anticipate?

Answer: Delirium tremens with seizures

Delirium tremens typically emerges 48–72 hours after alcohol cessation and carries significant mortality without prompt treatment with benzodiazepines.