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LECTURE NO. 6
Signs and Symptoms
of Psychiatric
Disorders
Learning Objectives
Describe the symptoms of common
psychiatric disorders
Elicit and discuss various signs of
psychiatric disorders
Introduction
Symptoms are the complaints with which
a patient presents to the clinician.
Signs are the ones which the clinician
obtains on examination of the patient.
In psychiatry, the boundary between
symptoms and signs is not that distinct
because when explored further, a
symptom can become a sign.
Common Psychiatric
Disorders
Anxiety
Depression
Mania
Schizophrenia
Anxiety
One of the most commonly
experienced emotions and disorders
Often experienced as excessive
worrying about almost everything,
tension and fear of the unknown
Anxiety (cont.)
Various disorders categorized under
anxiety disorders include:
– Generalized anxiety disorder
– Panic disorder
– Obsessive–compulsive disorder
– Phobias
– Post-traumatic stress disorder
Common Symptoms of Anxiety
Feelings of fear or dread
Increased heart rate
Palpitations
Sweating
Cold and clammy hands and feet
Dryness of mouth and throat
Common Symptoms of Anxiety
(cont.)
Difficulty in talking and breathing
Light headedness or giddiness
Tremors of hands
Restlessness
Depression
Major depressive disorder is most
closely associated with persistent
sadness.
The most prominent symptom is
depressed mood which is clearly
different from sadness due to
day-to-day events.
Common Symptoms of
Depression
Persistent sadness
Poor concentration
Feelings of worthlessness
Easy crying
Feelings of hopelessness and
helplessness
Suicidal ideas
Common Symptoms of
Depression (cont.)
Poor appetite and sleep
Lack of energy
Decreased socialization
Easy irritability
Inability to experience pleasure
Decreased interest in work and
surroundings
Mania
Characterized by the sustained
elevation of mood, i.e. marked
happiness or at times irritability
Common Symptoms of Mania
Persistent and undue happiness
(at times marked irritability)
Increased self-esteem
Over-activity
Increased and rapid speech
Making big plans
Common Symptoms of Mania
(cont.)
Spending money unnecessarily
Poor self-control
Increased socialization
Decreased need for sleep
Schizophrenia
Considered as one of the major
psychiatric disorders
Characterized by the presence of
psychotic symptoms, which include:
– Disturbances of thought process
(delusions, derailment, illogicality)
– Disturbances of perception (sensory
hallucinations)
Common Symptoms of
Schizophrenia
Inappropriate affect
Talking to self
Neglect of personal hygiene and work
Hearing voices
Suspiciousness
Decreased socialization
Common Symptoms of
Schizophrenia (cont.)
Unusual and illogical thoughts
Aggressive behaviour
Lack of interest in surroundings and
activities
Common Signs of Psychiatric
Disorders
Categorized into four types:
1. Disorders of motor activity (conation)
2. Disorders of emotion
3. Disorders of thought process
4. Disorders of perception
1. Disorders of Motor Activity
(Conation)
Commonly seen motor disorders include:
 Hyperactivity
 Mannerisms
 Stereotypies
 Tics
 Psychomotor agitation
1. Disorders of Motor Activity
(Conation) (cont.)
 Psychomotor retardation
 Catatonic symptoms, i.e. stupor,
muteness, posturing, waxy flexibility,
echopraxia, echolalia, ambitendency
and negativism
2. Disorders of Emotion
Two types:
– Disorders of mood: euthymic,
dysphoric, irritable, euphoric,
expansive, elated, exaltation, ecstasy,
depression, anxiety and apathy
– Disorders of affect: inappropriate,
labile, emotional incontinence, blunted
and flat
3. Disorders of Thought
Process
Various disorders of thought process can
be categorized under:
– Disorders of form
– Disorders of stream
– Disorders of content
– Disorders of possession
4. Disorders of Perception
Include illusions and hallucinations
Illusions: false sensory distortion of a real
sensory stimulus.
Hallucinations: false sensory perception
without adequate stimulus.
Depending upon the sensory organ
involved, hallucinations can be auditory,
visual, tactile, gustatory or olfactory.