Lecture Notes: Mnemonics for Psychiatric Diagnostic Criteria

Introduction

• Overview of mnemonics for psychiatric diagnoses
• Not a substitute for thorough clinical evaluation
• Useful for quick learning, especially before tests or clinical rotations

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

• Mnemonic: SIGECAPS
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Interest reduced
  • Guilt/hopelessness
  • Energy decreased
  • Concentration impaired
  • Appetite changes
  • Psychomotor slowing
  • Suicidal thoughts
• Diagnosis requires 5 out of 9 symptoms for 2 weeks

Bipolar Disorder - Manic Episodes

• Mnemonic: DIG FAST
  • Distractibility
  • Impulsivity
  • Grandiosity
  • Flight of ideas
  • Activity (goal-directed) increase
  • Sleep decreased
  • Talkativeness
• Symptoms for at least 1 week

Schizophrenia

• Mnemonic: High Def BS Network
  • Hallucinations
  • Delusions
  • Behavior disorganized
  • Speech disorganized
  • Negative symptoms
• 2 4 6 Aprenia: 2 symptoms for 6 months

Substance Use Disorders

• Mnemonic: Time to Cut Down PAL
  • Time spent on substance
  • Cravings
  • Cut down attempts
  • Tolerance
  • Dangerous use
  • Affecting life roles
  • Withdrawal symptoms
• Three Reapers: Repeated Reinforcers with Repercussions

Anxiety Disorders

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

• Mnemonic: EEK ADS I'm Miserable
  • Excessive Everyday Anxiety
  • Muscle tension, Irritability, Sleep disturbance, Energy low, Restlessness, Attention problems

Panic Disorder

• Mnemonic: SURPRISE
  • Sudden Unexpected Recurrent panic

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

• Mnemonic for Obsessions: I MURDER
  • Intrusive, Mind-based, Unwanted, Resistant, Distressing, Egodystonic, Recurrent thoughts
• Compulsions: CALM pulsing behaviors

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)

• Mnemonic: FIX ME DOC
  • Fixation on flaws, Medical care sought, Ego syntonic, Disabling, OCD-like, Compulsive behaviors

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

• Mnemonic: TRAUMA
  • Traumatic event, Re-experiencing, Arousal, Unable to function, Month duration, Avoidance

Dissociative Disorders

• Mnemonic: DEEPER DREAMS
  • Depersonalization, External feeling, Memory abnormalities, Hypnosis traits

Personality Disorders

Cluster A: Odd/Eccentric

• Schizoid avoids society
• Schizotypal is a type of schizo

Cluster B: Dramatic/Emotional

• Borderline Personality Disorder mnemonic: I DESPAIR
  • Identity disturbance, Dysphoria, Emotional instability, Suicidal, Psychotic, Anger, Impulsive, Relationship instability

Somatoform Disorders

Somatic Symptom Disorder

• Mnemonic: SOME ATTIC
  • Somatic symptoms, Excessive concern, Chronic

Conversion Disorder

• Mnemonic: CAN’T version
  • Clinically unexplained, Nervous system abnormality

Eating Disorders

Anorexia Nervosa

• Mnemonic: UNDERexia
  • Underweight, Nervous about weight, Distorted perceptions

Bulimia Nervosa

• Mnemonic: BOWLemia
  • Binging, Offset behaviors, Self-esteem tied to weight

Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Autism

• Mnemonic: ASD
  • Autistic aloneness, Sameness, Developmental onset

ADHD

• Mnemonic: FIDGETY
  • Functional impairment, Inattention, Greater-than-expected, Two or more settings

Tic Disorders

• Mnemonic: TICS
  • Transient, Irreversible, Contraction

Disorders in Older Adults

Dementia

• Mnemonic: DIRE
  • Decline, Impairment, Rule out delirium

Delirium

• Mnemonic: WHERE THE F AM I
  • Where, Transient, Fluctuating, Acute, Medical reason

Conclusion

• Mnemonics can help orient to psychiatric disorders
• Mnemonic for Psychiatric Categories: A MAP TO MIND SPACE
  • Addiction, Mood, Anxiety, Psychotic, Trauma, OCD, Medical mimicry, Autism, Normalcy, Delirium, Somatoform, Personality, ADHD, Cognitive, Eating disorders
• A reminder that mnemonics are just a tool, not a complete understanding