Key Points Three classes of statistics are used commonly in psychiatric research: psychometric statistics assessing the reliability and validity of diagnostic interviews or rating scales ; descriptive statistics used to describe a group of subjects on these clinical variables and…
Key Points Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of disease frequency in humans to inform the natural history, service needs, and etiology of illness. The frequency of disease can be expressed in different concepts, including cumulative incidence,…
Key Points Psychiatrists face multiple challenges when caring for a dying patient, encompassing issues of diagnosis and treatment, as well as larger ethical and legal considerations. Psychiatrists may be uniquely effective in helping a dying patient by ensuring optimization of…
Key Points Background Changes in psychiatry and the US health care system mandate the development of innovative models to provide high-quality, cost-effective, and efficient psychiatric care in the general medical setting. History Patients generally prefer to receive treatment for their…
Key Points Solid organ transplantation is a viable treatment option for patients with end-organ failure. Psychiatrists are integral members of multi-disciplinary transplant teams, involved in both pre-operative and post-operative assessment and care. The emotional well-being of the transplant patient can…
Key Points Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has transformed infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from a terminal illness to a chronic, treatable condition. Psychiatric and substance use disorders are frequent concomitants of HIV infection and complicate its diagnosis…
Key Points By exploring the patient's capacity to consider choices, psychiatrists convey respect and enhance the patient's conviction of influence on the world. The sense of purpose adds value to life regardless of time frame. Additional psychosocial interventions combine education,…
Key Points Background Catatonia, neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), and serotonin syndrome are neuropsychiatric conditions with prominent motor, behavioral, and systemic manifestations. Catatonia is a syndrome with multiple medical, neurological, and psychiatric etiologies that requires a systematic approach for diagnosis. NMS…
Key Points Consultation psychiatry encompasses the evaluation and management of affective, behavioral, and cognitive symptoms in medical and surgical patients in general hospitals. Effective psychiatric consultation requires clear communication with the referring physician to hone the consultation question, to provide…
Key Points Suicide, or intentional self-harm with the intent of causing death, is one of the most common causes of death in the US. For every completed suicide, between 8 and 25 attempts are made. Psychiatric illness is the most…