Psychiatry Boot Camp 2.2 Medical Mimmickers
Nov 19, 2023
Dr. Kimberly Nordstrom, a psychiatrist, discusses the importance of considering medical factors in psychiatric illness. Topics include red flags for medical contributions to psychiatric illness, common medical-psychiatric conditions, recognizing and treating schizophrenia, directed testing and collaboration in psychiatry, advocating for patients with neurological symptoms, analyzing patient cases, the importance of vital signs, and the overlap between NMS and catatonia.
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Biological Causes Must Be Evaluated
- If psychiatric symptoms stem from an identifiable biological process, patients need a physician evaluation.
- Psychotherapy alone will not treat symptoms caused by conditions like encephalitis.
Look Beyond The DSM First
- As psychiatrists, evaluate patients holistically and avoid narrowing immediately to one psychiatric label.
- Consider full differential diagnoses and involve other medical teams when needed.
When To Suspect Medical Causes
- Pause and suspect medical contributors for new-onset psychiatric symptoms, late-age onset, abnormal vitals, or medication/herbal use.
- Do a focused history, vitals, directed physical (especially neuro), and then narrow labs/tests based on that differential.