Key Points Incidence Medically-unexplained symptoms (MUS) are ubiquitous in inpatients and outpatients. Epidemiology Patients with MUS that suffer from somatoform disorders may represent the largest group with psychopathology within primary care populations (at 10%–24%). Pathophysiology While the etiology of somatic…
Key Points Incidence and Epidemiology Impulsivity is common but diagnosed disorders range from rare to close to 10% of the population. Pathophysiology Disturbances in the reward system (dopamine) as well as in the serotonergic neurocircuitry help us understand these disorders.…
Key Points Insomnia, once regarded largely as the consequence of an underlying primary problem, is now regarded as a condition in its own right. Insomnia and depression are linked; the presence of one predicts the occurrence of the other. Treatment…
Key Points Mental disorders due to another medical condition should be in the differential diagnosis for every psychiatric evaluation. A high degree of medical suspicion and familiarity with the categories of causative medical conditions will aid in the diagnosis. Psychiatric…
Key Points Epidemiology Intellectual disability is a prevalent condition that affects 1% of the population and has multiple etiologies. Clinical Features The full range of psychopathology occurs in individuals with intellectual disability and often it occurs at rates higher than…
Key Points Clinical Findings In the DSM-IV, dementia was defined as a syndrome with multiple etiologies and characterized by a disabling decline in memory as well as an impairment in at least one other higher cortical activity (e.g., with aphasia,…
Key Points Incidence Delirium is a syndrome caused by an underlying physiological disturbance. Of patients admitted to intensive care units, delirium may develop in more than half. Pathophysiology The pathophysiology of delirium remains unclear, but the current leading theory cites…
Key Points Background A useful psychiatric diagnostic system allows clinical and research endeavors to flourish. The DSM-5, the most common diagnostic system used in the United States, encourages evaluation and description of multiple kinds of information: psychiatric, medical, and psychosocial.…
Key Points Background Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most extensively researched forms of psychotherapy that is increasingly recognized as the treatment of choice for many disorders. History Cognitive-behavioral therapies represent an integration of two strong traditions within psychology:…
Key Points Hypnosis has been used successfully for healing under various names and in varied forms for thousands of years. Hypnosis is most effective in the control of pain and discomfort and in the treatment of stress-related illnesses. Individuals differ…