Mental Health Conditions and Psychopathology
What the candidate must know
Know the major categories and their hallmark features: mood disorders, anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders, trauma-related disorders, personality disorders, substance use disorders, and neurocognitive disorders. Know duration and functional criteria that separate disorders from normal reactions.
Distinguish overlapping presentations: depression versus grief, panic versus generalized anxiety, bipolar versus unipolar depression, and psychosis versus intense stress reactions. Know that substance use and medical conditions frequently mimic psychiatric symptoms and must be considered.
Traps in questions
- Diagnosing from a single symptom rather than a pattern with duration and impairment.
- Missing a manic or hypomanic history when depression is the presenting complaint.
- Attributing symptoms to personality when trauma or medical causes are plausible.
- Overlooking developmental and cultural context.
Rule of thumb
Before settling on a diagnosis, ask: what else could explain this, and what evidence would change my mind? Consider medical causes, substances, trauma, and culture.
Worked example
A client presents with irritability, insomnia, and racing thoughts after three days of minimal sleep. Rather than defaulting to an anxiety disorder, consider a manic episode and assess for prior elevated mood episodes and substance use.