Miscellaneous Neurology Topics What are the mechanisms of central pontine myelinolysis (CPM)? A demyelinating disease of the central nervous system, also known as “osmotic demyelination syndrome.” Hyponatremia and its inappropriate…
Cranial Nerve Symptoms and Disorders How does vertigo differ from syncope? Vertigo is the illusion of movement of the body or the environment. It is caused by lesions affecting the…
Peripheral Nerve and Muscle Disorders What are the causes and symptoms of radial nerve injury? Often due to prolonged compression of the arm. Typical causes are overdose and alcohol intoxication….
Localized Impairment: Strokes, Brain Injuries, and Brain Tumors What is the major ocular symptom of carotid insufficiency? Transient monocular blindness. What is anosognosia? A body image disorder in which the…
Seizure Disorders What clinical feature can differentiate complex partial seizures from simple partial seizures? Complex partial seizures are marked by an altered responsiveness to outside stimuli without loss of consciousness….
Psychopharmacology Which antidepressants cause no sexual dysfunction? Bupropion, mirtazapine, and nefazodone. Duloxetine, a newer antidepressant, may have minimal sexual side effects as well. What medication could psychiatrists use to treat…
ECT, VNS, and DBS What are the indications for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)? Well-established indications: Catatonia, major depressive disorder (MDD) (particularly psychotic depression), mania, acute psychosis. Medical intolerability to alternative treatment,…
Psychosocial Therapies What is “interpreting upward”? A technique used to strengthen a patient’s defenses and alleviate anxiety in supportive psychotherapy. During psychotherapy, how does one tell the accuracy of a…
Child Psychiatry What are the clinical characteristic features of the Rett disorder? Normal prenatal, perinatal, and psychomotor development through the first 5 months after birth. Normal head circumference at birth….
Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry What is the mechanism of menopause? It is the progressive insensitivity of the ovary to the effect of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). What type of somatoform disorder has the…
