Psychiatry Mnemonics – Flashcards

SIG E CAPS (≥ 5 for ≥ 2 weeks) (Depressed mood or anhedonia: adults + children/adolescents) (Irritable mood: children/adolescents only) -Sleep-maintenance disturbance -Interests/pleasures decreased (anhedonia) -Guilt/worthlessness -Energy decreased/fatigue -Concentration/ decision making impaired -Appetite disturbance (∆ 5% weight/month) -Psychomotor retardation/agitation -Suicidal ideations

HES 2 SAD (≥ 2 for ≥ 2 years vs. ≥ 1 year children/adolescents) (Depressed mood: adults + children/adolescents) (Irritable mood: children/adolescents only) -Hopelessness -Energy decreased/fatigue -Self-esteem low -2 years duration w/o ≥ 2 consecutive months sx free -Sleep-maintenance disturbance -Appetite disturbance (∆ 5% weight/month) -Decision making/concentration impaired

DIG FAST (Elevated mood: ≥ 3 for ≥ 7 days vs. 4-6 days) (Irritable mood: ≥ 4 for ≥ 7 days vs. 4-6 days) -Distracted/decision making/concentration impaired -Indiscretions (sex, drugs, shopping sprees) -Grandiosity/inflated self-esteem -Flight of ideas/racing thoughts -Activities increased/psychomotor agitation -Sleep decreased (need ≤ 3 hours/night) -Talkativeness/pressured speech

FAINT (≥ 8 for ≥ 6 months) -Fear of humiliation/embarrassment -(2) Anxiety &Avoidance in social situations -(2) Interference with daily routine & Insight that fear is excessive -(2) Not due to substances or a GMC & if present, social fear is independent of it -Timing/duration is at least 6 months

Worry WARTS (≥ 3 for ≥ 6 months) -Wound-up/irritable -Worn-out/fatigued -Absentminded/decision making/concentration impaired -Restless/ psychomotor agitation -Tense muscles -Sleep-onset disturbance (intrusive thoughts)

TRAUMA (≥ 6 for ≥ 1 month) -Traumatic event + fearful/helpless response -Re-experiencing nightmares/flashbacks -Avoidance or dissociative/emotional numbing -Unable to function -Month or more of symptoms -Arousal increased

2 RIU (≥ 1 hour/day) Obsessions: Recurrent, Intrusive & Unwanted Compulsions: Reaction formation, Isolation & Undoing

STUDENTS FEAR the 3 C's (≥ 4 within 10 minutes for ≥ 1 month) (≥2 unexpected attacks ≥ 1 month persistent concern of additional attacks, worry about implications of attacks & change in behavior) -Sweating -Trembling/shaking -Unsteadiness/dizziness (presyncopal) -Derealization/depersonalization -Elevated HR/palpitations -Nausea/abdominal pain -Tingling/numbness (parathesias) -Shortness of breath/smothering -Fear of losing control or going crazy -Fear of dying -Chest pain/tightness -Choking sensation -Chills or hot flashes

FEVER -Fever -Encephalopathy -Vital sign instability (autonomic) -Elevated WBC/CPK -Rigidity

HARMED -Hyperthermia -Autonomic instability -Rigidity -Myoclonus/hyperreflexia -Encephalopathy -Diaphoresis

FINISH -Flu-like symptoms -Insomnia -Nausea -Imbalance/dizziness -Sensory disturbances/parathesias -Hyperarousal anxiety/agitation)

SUSPECT (≥4) -Spousal Infidelity suspected -Unforgiving/bears grudges -Suspicious/mistrustful -Perceived rejection or attacks with impulse rxn -Enemies > friends??? -Can't confide in other -Threats perceived in benign remarks & events

DISTANT (≥4) -Detached/flattened affect -Indifferent to criticism or praise -Sexual interests of little interest -Tasks done solitarily -Absence of close friends -Neither desires or enjoys close relationships -Takes pleasure in few activities

ME PECULIAR (≥5) -Magical thinking/odd beliefs -Experiences unusual perceptions -Paranoid ideations/suspiciousness -Eccentric/peculiar behavior or appearance -Constricted or inappropriate affect -Unusual thinking or speech -Lacks close friends -Ideas of reference (excluding delusions) -Anxiety in social situations -R/O psychotic d/o or PDD

IMPULSIVE (≥5) -Impulsive -Moodiness/mood swings -Paranoia or dissociation under stress -Unstable self-image/disturbance of identity -Labile emotions/intense relationships -Suicidal gestures -Inappropriate anger -Vulnerability/fear of abandonment -Emptiness (feelings of)

GRANDIOSE (≥5) -Grandiose sense of self-importance -Requires/seeks attention -Arrogant -Need to be special -Dreams of success, power, brilliance, & beauty -Interpersonally exploitative -Others (Unable to recognize feelings/needs of)/lacks empathy -Sense of entitlement -Envious

ACTRESSS ((≥5) -Appearance focused -Center of attention -Theatrical/Exaggerated emotions -Relationships intimate??? -Easily influenced -Seductive/provocative behavior -Shallow/rapidly shifting emotions -Speech lacking in detail/impressionistic & vague

CORRUPT (≥3) -Can't conform to rules/regulations -Obligations ignored/consistent irresponsibility -Reckless disregard for safety -Remorseless -Underhanded/deceitful -Planning insufficient/impulsive -Temper (anger & aggression)

CRINGES (≥4) -Criticism or rejection (preoccupied) -Relationships restrained 2/2 fear of shame -Inhibited in new relationships -Needs social reassurance -Gets around occupational activities being personal -Embarrassment (fear of) prevents new activities or risks -Self-view is inept (inferior & unappealing)

RELIANCE (≥5) -Reassurance required for everyday decisions -Expressing disagreement difficult -Life responsibilities assigned to others -Initiating projects difficult -Alone (feels helpless & uncomfortable alone) -Nurturance (excessive lengths to obtain) -Companionship sought urgently when a relationship ends -Exaggerated fears of being left to care for self

(≥4) SCRIMPER -Stubborn/rigid -Cannot discard worthless objects -Rule, detail & organization obsessed -Inflexible/over conscientious about morals, ethics & values -Miserly/hoards for future catastrophe -Perfectionism impedes task completion -Excludes leisure for work