Introduction to Psychiatry and Psychopathology

Definition of Psychiatry:

It is the branch of medicine concerned with the study, diagnosis, and treatment of mental illness.

“Psyche” means

Mind or soul

“iateria“ means

healing

Psychology is

the study of the mind and behaviour “ normal functioning”

The term Psychiatry, coined by

Johann Christian Reil

Psychopathology

is the systematic study of the abnormal states of mind, such as abnormal experiences, cognition and behavior.

What constitutes Psychopathology?

1. Explanatory

2. Descriptive

Stereotypy:

regular repetitive non goal-directed movement.

Catatonic signs and symptoms:

Negativism - Echopraxia - Echolalia - Psychological pillow - Automatic obedience - posturing

the normal flow of speech is interrupted by pauses or by the repetition of fragments of the word.

Stammering

decrease in speech and spontaneous talking

Alogia

new words that are constructed by the patient or ordinary words that are used in a new way.

Neologism

examples of disorders of perception

Illusions & Hallucinations

2nd person hallucinations

they address the patient as “you“

3rd person hallucinations

others talk about the patient in “he“&”she”

Thought echo

repeat what he/she has just been thinking

occurs when thinking proceeds slowly with many unnecessary and trivial details, but finally the point is reached.

Circumstantiality

is the persistent and inappropriate repetition of the same thoughts.

Perseveration

Types of delusions:

Persecutory

Infidelity

Grandiose .

Hypochondriac illness

Erotomaniac love

Guilt

Nihilistic

Poverty

Reference

Euthymic mood

normal range of mood/emotion