Autism: Nuts & Bots

Autism is a disorder that we hear a good deal about in the media and you are likely to see some kids on the spectrum during your pediatric rotation. Here are the nuts, bolts, and key terms:

• Autism: impaired social interaction/communication/interests
• Prevalence: 0.4% of the general population (although I have seen wild variations of this number)
• More common in males than females (5 to 1)
• Symptoms generally seen before the age of 3
• Social sx: lack of peer relationships/failure to use non-verbal social cues
• Communication sx: absent or weird speech
• Behavioral sx: preoccupation with repetitive activities, rigid adherence to purposeless rituals, mental retardation (present in 75% of patients with autism), no parent-child bond
• Physical exam: generally normal, may see results of self-injurious behaviors (biting/head banging)
• Tx: family counseling, special education, antipsychotics can be considered for agitation

Source: Psychiatry for Medical Students and Residents by Nabell Kouka, MD, DO, MBA

Pic source: http://peteking.house.gov/issues/autism

Delirium vs. Dementia

Source: PSYCHIATRY for Medical Students and Residents Nabeel Kouka, MD, DO, MBA (available for free online)

Difference Between OCD and OCPD

What is the difference between Obsessive-Compulisive Disorder (OCD) and Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder? Here is a chart that I found that explains the differences in an easy to understand manner:

Source: PSYCHIATRY for Medical Students and Residents Nabeel Kouka, MD, DO, MBA (available for free online)

A New Language Called Psych

Today was the first day of my psych rotation and I was put on the consult team to start. The consult team spends most of its time in the ED interviewing new patients and deciding whether or not to admit them. The interviews are long and often times I feel like they are in another language. There is no way that I will be able to remember all of the things that I need to ask a new patients...

Resident: "Does the patient currently have a therapist?" 

Me: "I didn't ask.... I'll be right back."

Resident: "Does the patient have tactile hallucinations?"

Me: "Uh, I'll be right back."

I wish I were kidding. Perhaps by Week 3 I'll have it all down - but until then I was introduced to this wonderful cheat sheet that most of the residents use in the room with the patients. The first is my favorite, but I have attached 2 more... different strokes for different folks. Enjoy.

Psych Document #1

Psych Document #2

Psych Document #3

Documents from: www.medfools.com under the "download" section.