behavioral med exam 2 major descriptors

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Excessive, hard-to-control worry on most days for ≥6 months, with ≥3 physical symptoms (e.g., restlessness, fatigue, muscle tension, irritability, poor sleep); often presents with somatic complaints like GI upset.

Panic Disorder

Sudden, intense fear with physical "heart attack-like" symptoms peaking within minutes, followed by ≥1 month of worry/avoidance of more attacks.

Agoraphobia

-panic disorder +

-Fear and avoidance of ≥2 situations (public transport, crowds, open/enclosed spaces, being alone outside

- lasting ≥6 months.

Specific Phobia

Immediate, excessive fear triggered by a specific object/situation, causing avoidance and distress out of proportion to danger, >6 months.

Social Anxiety Disorder

Marked fear of embarrassment or scrutiny in social/performance settings, leading to avoidance and physical anxiety symptoms.

Mixed Anxiety-Depressive Disorder

Chronic low-grade symptoms of anxiety and depression without meeting full criteria for either; often treated with SNRIs.

Personality Disorders (general)

Lifelong, inflexible, ego-syntonic patterns causing impairment in ≥2 domains (thinking, emotion, relationships, impulse control).

Paranoid PD

Pervasive mistrust, reading malevolent intent into benign acts, quick to anger, holds grudges, no hallucinations/delusions.

Schizoid PD

Detached, prefers solitude, emotionally flat, little interest in relationships, reality testing intact.

Schizotypal PD

Eccentric thoughts/appearance, magical thinking, odd perceptions, social anxiety not relieved by familiarity.

Antisocial PD

Disregard for others' rights, deceit, impulsivity, aggression, no remorse, must be ≥18 with conduct disorder history.

Borderline PD

Unstable mood, relationships, and self-image, impulsivity, self-harm, intense fear of abandonment.

Histrionic PD

Dramatic, attention-seeking, uses appearance/sexuality to draw focus, shallow/emotional.

Narcissistic PD

Grandiose self-importance, craves admiration, lacks empathy, exploits others.

Avoidant PD

Socially inhibited, fears criticism/rejection, desires relationships but avoids them due to feelings of inadequacy.

Dependent PD

Needs others to make decisions, clingy, fears abandonment, urgently seeks new relationships.

OCPD

Perfectionism, orderliness, and control at expense of flexibility/efficiency; ego-syntonic.

PTSD

Trauma exposure + intrusive memories/nightmares, avoidance, negative mood/cognition, hyperarousal for >1 month.

Acute Stress Disorder

PTSD-like symptoms within 1 month of trauma, lasting

Postpartum Blues

Self-limited mood lability/tearfulness within days postpartum; resolves without treatment.

Postpartum Depression

MDD criteria met within 6 weeks postpartum; risks bonding/infanticide.

Postpartum Psychosis

Rapid-onset postpartum delusions/hallucinations, confusion, potential harm to self/infant.

Adjustment Disorder

Emotional/behavioral symptoms within 3 months of stressor, resolving ≤6 months after it ends, not meeting other disorder criteria.

Anorexia Nervosa

Restrictive eating (± purging) causing significantly low body weight, intense fear of weight gain, distorted body image.

Bulimia Nervosa

Recurrent binge eating + inappropriate compensatory behaviors (vomiting, laxatives) ≥1x/week for 3 months, with normal/overweight BMI.

Binge Eating Disorder

Recurrent binges without compensatory behaviors, marked distress, often overweight/obese.

Other Specified Feeding/Eating Disorder

Clinically significant eating symptoms not meeting full criteria of other eating disorders.

Purging Disorder

Purging after small amounts of food, normal weight, distorted body image.

Night Eating Syndrome

Evening hyperphagia + morning anorexia, nocturnal awakenings to eat.

Pica

Persistent ingestion of non-food, non-nutritive substances (e.g., dirt, ice) for ≥1 month, age >2.

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Early-onset deficits in social communication + restricted/repetitive behaviors/interests; abnormal sensory responses.