PSYCHIATRIC EXAMINATION:
SYMPTOMS, THOUGHT PROCESSES,
AND INTERVENTIONS
PAGE 1 — CLINICAL DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA
(DSM-STYLE SUMMARIES)
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Core features:
Excessive anxiety and worry about multiple events
Occurring most days for ≥ 6 months
Hard to control worry
Associated symptoms (≥3 required):
Restlessness
Fatigue
Difficulty concentrating
Irritability
Muscle tension
Sleep disturbance
Impact: significant distress or impairment in functioning
Panic Disorder
Essential features:
, Recurrent, unexpected panic attacks
Rapid onset of intense fear or discomfort
Peaks within minutes
Common symptoms:
Palpitations
Chest pain
Shortness of breath
Dizziness
Fear of losing control
Diagnosis requires:
At least one attack followed by ≥ 1 month of worry about
recurrence or behavioral change
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
Required:
≥ 5 symptoms for ≥ 2 weeks
Must include depressed mood OR loss of interest/pleasure
Other symptoms:
Appetite or weight change
Sleep disturbances
Psychomotor changes
Fatigue
Feeling worthless/guilty
Poor concentration
, Suicidal thoughts
PAGE 2 — MOOD DISORDERS CONTINUED
Bipolar I Disorder
At least one manic episode
Manic mood: abnormally elevated or irritable
Duration: ≥ 1 week or requires hospitalization
Manic features:
Increased goal-directed activity
Decreased need for sleep
Inflated self-esteem
Risky behavior
Bipolar II Disorder
Hypomanic episode (≥ 4 days)
PLUS major depressive episodes
Hypomania differences:
Less severe than mania
No marked impairment in functioning
Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)
, Chronic low mood ≥ 2 years
Not symptom-free for > 2 months
May have persistent subthreshold depressive symptoms
PAGE 3 — PSYCHOTIC SPECTRUM CONDITIONS
Schizophrenia
Key symptom clusters:
1. Positive symptoms — hallucinations, delusions,
disorganized speech
2. Negative symptoms — social withdrawal, flat affect
3. Cognitive symptoms — poor attention, memory issues
Duration criterion:
Active phase symptoms for ≥ 1 month
Signs of disturbance ≥ 6 months
Schizoaffective Disorder
Features of psychosis + mood disorder
Psychosis present even when mood symptoms are not
Brief Psychotic Disorder
Sudden onset psychotic symptoms
Duration < 1 month
SYMPTOMS, THOUGHT PROCESSES,
AND INTERVENTIONS
PAGE 1 — CLINICAL DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA
(DSM-STYLE SUMMARIES)
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Core features:
Excessive anxiety and worry about multiple events
Occurring most days for ≥ 6 months
Hard to control worry
Associated symptoms (≥3 required):
Restlessness
Fatigue
Difficulty concentrating
Irritability
Muscle tension
Sleep disturbance
Impact: significant distress or impairment in functioning
Panic Disorder
Essential features:
, Recurrent, unexpected panic attacks
Rapid onset of intense fear or discomfort
Peaks within minutes
Common symptoms:
Palpitations
Chest pain
Shortness of breath
Dizziness
Fear of losing control
Diagnosis requires:
At least one attack followed by ≥ 1 month of worry about
recurrence or behavioral change
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
Required:
≥ 5 symptoms for ≥ 2 weeks
Must include depressed mood OR loss of interest/pleasure
Other symptoms:
Appetite or weight change
Sleep disturbances
Psychomotor changes
Fatigue
Feeling worthless/guilty
Poor concentration
, Suicidal thoughts
PAGE 2 — MOOD DISORDERS CONTINUED
Bipolar I Disorder
At least one manic episode
Manic mood: abnormally elevated or irritable
Duration: ≥ 1 week or requires hospitalization
Manic features:
Increased goal-directed activity
Decreased need for sleep
Inflated self-esteem
Risky behavior
Bipolar II Disorder
Hypomanic episode (≥ 4 days)
PLUS major depressive episodes
Hypomania differences:
Less severe than mania
No marked impairment in functioning
Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)
, Chronic low mood ≥ 2 years
Not symptom-free for > 2 months
May have persistent subthreshold depressive symptoms
PAGE 3 — PSYCHOTIC SPECTRUM CONDITIONS
Schizophrenia
Key symptom clusters:
1. Positive symptoms — hallucinations, delusions,
disorganized speech
2. Negative symptoms — social withdrawal, flat affect
3. Cognitive symptoms — poor attention, memory issues
Duration criterion:
Active phase symptoms for ≥ 1 month
Signs of disturbance ≥ 6 months
Schizoaffective Disorder
Features of psychosis + mood disorder
Psychosis present even when mood symptoms are not
Brief Psychotic Disorder
Sudden onset psychotic symptoms
Duration < 1 month
