SIGECAPS: Sleep Interest Guilt Energy Concentration Appetite Psychomotor Suicidality
Major Depression Criteria
Nine symptoms of major depressive disorder — 5+ for 2 weeks = MDD
Five or more symptoms present for 2+ weeks = MDD. SIG = prescribe energy capsules (clinical shorthand). Don't forget the 'S' at the end — suicidal ideation.
Clusters A B C: Odd, Dramatic, Anxious — Always Be Careful
Personality Disorder Clusters
Three clusters of personality disorders — each with a theme
Cluster A (Odd): Paranoid, Schizoid, Schizotypal. Cluster B (Dramatic): Borderline, Narcissistic, Histrionic, Antisocial. Cluster C (Anxious): Avoidant, Dependent, OCPD.
A
Odd/Eccentric
B
Dramatic/Emotional
C
Anxious/Fearful
Anxiety Disorder Types
Anxiety types: Panic, Agoraphobia, Social, GAD, Specific phobia
Anxiety Disorder Types
Five major anxiety disorders and how to tell them apart
Panic disorder: recurrent unexpected panic attacks. Agoraphobia: fear of open/escape-difficult situations. Social anxiety: fear of social scrutiny. GAD: excessive worry about multiple things. Specific phobia: fear of a particular object or situation.
PTSD Symptoms
PTSD: re-experiencing, avoidance, hyperarousal, negative cognition — after trauma
PTSD Symptoms
Four symptom clusters of post-traumatic stress disorder
Mood disorder characterized by swings between mania and depression
Bipolar I: full manic episodes (at least 7 days, may require hospitalization). Bipolar II: hypomania (less severe) + major depression. Manic episode: elevated or irritable mood, decreased need for sleep, grandiosity, racing thoughts, increased goal-directed activity, poor judgment. Treated with mood stabilizers (lithium).
Obsessions: persistent, unwanted, intrusive thoughts that cause anxiety (contamination, harm, symmetry). Compulsions: repetitive behaviors or mental acts to neutralize the anxiety (handwashing, checking, counting). Ego-dystonic: the person knows the thoughts/behaviors are excessive but can't stop. Treated with CBT (ERP) + SSRIs.
Dissociative Disorders
Dissociative disorders: disruption of consciousness, memory, identity. DID = formerly multiple personality disorder.
Dissociative Disorders
The mind's extreme defense against overwhelming trauma
Dissociative amnesia: inability to recall important personal information, usually trauma-related. Depersonalization/derealization: feeling detached from one's mind/body or surroundings. Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID): two or more distinct personality states, associated with severe early trauma.
Eating Disorders
Eating disorders: Anorexia (restricts + distorted body image). Bulimia (binge-purge). Binge eating (binge, no purge).
Eating Disorders
Three major eating disorder diagnoses and how to distinguish them
Anorexia nervosa: severely restricts food intake, intense fear of weight gain, distorted body image. Often normal or low BMI. Bulimia nervosa: recurrent binge eating followed by purging (vomiting, laxatives, excessive exercise). Maintains normal weight. Binge eating disorder: recurrent binges without compensatory behaviors.
Anorexia
Restriction + distorted body image
Bulimia
Binge-purge cycle, normal weight
Binge eating
Binges without purging
Somatic Disorders
Somatic symptom disorder: real physical symptoms with excessive thoughts/feelings/behaviors about health
Somatic Disorders
When psychological distress manifests as physical symptoms
Somatic symptom disorder: one or more physical symptoms plus excessive concern about health. NOT faking — distress is genuine. Illness anxiety disorder (formerly hypochondria): high health anxiety with mild/no symptoms. Conversion disorder: neurological symptoms (paralysis, blindness) without neurological cause.
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism Spectrum Disorder: social communication deficits + restricted, repetitive behaviors. Wide spectrum.
Autism Spectrum Disorder
A neurodevelopmental condition affecting social communication and behavior
ASD: persistent deficits in social communication and interaction, plus restricted/repetitive behaviors, interests, or activities. Presents in early development. Wide spectrum: some nonverbal with significant support needs; others high-functioning. Sensory sensitivities common. No single cause — complex genetic and environmental factors.
ADHD
ADHD: inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity. Three types: inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive, combined.
ADHD
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder — three presentations
Inattentive type: fails to attend to details, easily distracted, forgetful, loses things, doesn't follow through. Hyperactive-impulsive: fidgets, can't stay seated, talks excessively, interrupts, difficulty waiting. Combined: meets criteria for both. Symptoms present before age 12 in multiple settings.