Introduction Psychiatric and gastrointestinal (GI) diseases have a bi-directional relationship that reflects a complex interplay between the central and enteric nervous systems. The assorted symptoms, sensations, and syndromes that result from this reciprocal relationship are associated with alterations in immune…
Overview General hospital psychiatrists are frequently asked to consult on patients with renal disease, a patient population that accounts for approximately 4.5 million adults in the United States ( cdc.org ). Among these individuals, psychiatric consultation is most commonly requested…
Overview Caring for cardiac patients can present a host of dilemmas for the general hospital psychiatrist. Patients with psychiatric conditions may exhibit cardiac symptoms, psychotropic agents can result in electrocardiographic abnormalities, and psychiatric manifestations may result from cardiac conditions. Because…
Overview A comprehensive psychiatric evaluation of any patient in the general hospital setting should include close attention to complaints, impairments, and deviations of sexual function. Although on occasion, sexual problems are the primary reason for consultation, more often they may…
Overview Scholars have long sought the cause and nature of sleep and sleep disorders, yet theories have far exceeded clear facts. Plato, for example, believed that sleep was caused by vapors arising from the stomach and condensing in the head,…
Overview Each of the syndromes described in this chapter involves a complex interaction of motor, behavioral, and systemic manifestations that are derived from mechanisms that are not fully clear. What is clear is that neurotransmitters, such as dopamine (DA), gamma-aminobutyric…
Overview While there has always been a close association between neurologic and psychiatric disorders, in the past decade, with the identification of a new class of autoimmune encephalitides that are associated with profound neuropsychiatric impairments, and the realization that psychiatric…
Overview Psychiatrists encounter patients with abnormal movements in various clinical settings. Recognizing and correctly labeling motor phenomena in each setting helps to create a differential diagnosis that serves as the basis for optimal treatment, since abnormal movements can be the…
The structure and function of the central nervous system (CNS) is altered by many neurologic disorders. Because the CNS controls affect, behavior, and cognition, neurologic disorders may lead to neuropsychiatric symptoms that resemble those found in primary psychiatric conditions. Therefore,…
Overview The structure and function of the central nervous system (CNS) is altered by many neurologic disorders. Because the CNS controls affect, behavior, and cognition, neurologic disorders can lead to neuropsychiatric symptoms that resemble those found in primary psychiatric conditions.…