DSM IV criteria for Depression

The contributor of this medical mnemonic is Helen. Thank you!

SADAFACES (5 needed with at least one of dysthymia and anhedonia):

S: Sleep disturbance
A: Appetite/weight change
D: Dysthymia (most of day, nearly every day)
A: Anhedonia
F: Fatigue
A: Agitation (Psychomotor)
C: Concentration (difficulty or indecisiveness)
E: Excessive guilt/feelings worthlessness
S: Suicidal ideation/attempts/plans

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Malingering vs Factitious Disorder

Malingering–>siMulation of Sx for secondary gain (Money, drugs, absents of work,”cold feet” = afraid to get Married). It’s not a disorder.

FAKtitious disorder–>FAKing of Sx w/o secondary gain. These patients just want to be sick (they love the sick role and the attentions they got in a hospital). It’s a disorder, as the name shows.

Bulimia and OCD

Easy way to remember that both disorder are related.

In OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) undoing is one of the defense mechanisms. Example: compulsive hand-washing after touching something ‘dirty’.

In bulimia there is also doing (binge) and undoing (vomiting/purge).[ad#banner-468x60]