Key Points Background Behavioral Neurology and Neuropsychiatry is a medical specialty that cares for patients with problems that cross traditional boundaries between neurology and psychiatry. Neuropsychiatric symptoms and cognitive deficits can be correlated with altered function in anatomical regions and…
Key Points Cognitive impairment, behavioral changes, and psychiatric symptoms occur frequently in association with neurological conditions. A well-performed mental status and neurological examination are essential for the identification of medical and neurological conditions that impact cognition, behavior, and mood. The…
Key Points The limbic system is composed of brain regions that participate in the comprehension of emotional meaning and the generation of emotional responses. The prefrontal cortex (PFC) receives and processes sensory, affective, and visceral information for the purpose of…
Key Points Depression in the elderly carries a very high risk of suicide. Symptoms of alcoholism and substance abuse are often confused with those of medical illness. The differential diagnosis of dementia is broad and the behavior problems challenging to…
Key Points Background The term transitioning adolescents and young adults (TAY) (aged 16–26 years) has been coined to categorize this development stage, which has received increased attention. Parents of TAY sustain high burdens of care, particularly for those with common…
Key Points Psychopathology often begins and manifests, sometimes differently than in adults, in childhood and adolescence. Assessment of children and adolescents requires developmentally-sensitive adjustments to diagnostic criteria. Co-morbidities and symptoms from other disorders require consideration and sometimes targeted treatment interventions.…
Key Points The finance of mental health care in the US has evolved from primarily a state-run asylum system to a mix of inpatient and outpatient care that is paid for by public and private funds. The US system of…
Key Points Background The four principles of community mental health are population responsibility, prevention, community-based care with citizen involvement, and continuity of care. History Community psychiatry, the “third psychiatric revolution,” has an undulant history of reform and neglect. From the…
Key Points Background Cultural differences in the presentation of psychiatric illnesses exist and include most if not all psychiatric disorders, including depression and psychosis. Cultural aspects can play a fundamental role in the manifestation of symptoms and the appearance of…
Key Points Background The etiology of violence is multi-factorial: it has biological, environmental, and psychosocial components. The best predictor of violence in a patient is prior acts of violence. History The initial psychiatric evaluation for all patients should include an…