CMN 548 Module 1 Study Guide 2025 Practice
1. GUIDE SADOCK Complete the following table which outlines the elements of the initial psychiatric
Chapter 7.1 - 7.2, interview:
7.6
2. Identifying data Name, age, sex, marital status, religion, education, address, phone number,
Topic occupation, source of referral
3. Identifying data Be direct in obtaining identifying data. Request specific answers.
Questions
4. Identifying data If patient cannot cooperate, get information from family member or friend; if
Comments and referred by a physician, obtain medical record.
helpful hints
5. Chief complaint Brief statement in patient's own words of why patient is in the hospital or is being
(CC) topic seen in consultation
6. Chief complaint Why are you going to see a psychiatrist? What brought you to the hospital? What
(CC) questions seems to be the problem?
7. Chief complaint Record answers verbatim; a bizarré complaint points to psychotic process.
(CC) comments
and helpful hints
8. History of pre- Development of symptoms from time of onset to present; relation of life events,
sent illness (HPI): conflicts, stressors: drugs; change from previous level of functioning
9. History of pre- When did you first notice something happening to you? Were you upset about
sent illness (HPI): anything when symptoms began? Did they begin suddenly or gradually?
questions
10. History of pre- Record in patient's own words as much as possible. Get history of previous hospi-
sent illness (HPI): talizations and treatment. Sudden onset of symptoms may indicate drug-induced
disorder.
, CMN 548 Module 1 Study Guide 2025 Practice
comments and
helpful hints
11. Previous psychi- Psychiatric disorders; psychosomatic; medical, neurologic illnesses (e.g., cranio-
atric and medical cerebral trauma, convulsions).
disorders:
12. Previous psychi- Did you ever lose consciousness? Have a seizure?
atric and medical
disorders: QUES-
TIONS
13. Previous psychi- Ascertain extent of illness, treatment, medications, outcomes, hospitals, doctors.
atric and medical Determine whether illness serves some additional purpose (secondary gain).
disorders: com-
ments and help-
ful hints
14. substance Substance use disorders can mimic or induce psychiatric syndromes, elevate
use/abuse risk of suicide and violence, and have important impact on safe medication
prescribing.
Various tools can be used to aid in gathering the substance use history. Examples
include the commonly used CAGE questionnaire which has been modified to
include other drugs (and now called CAGE-AID)
15. Past medical his- The interviewer is interested in obtaining an accounting of major medical disor-
tory ders both to develop a complete history and to identify illness that could mimic
a psychiatric disorder, contribute to the context of the presentation or factor into
treatment planning.
16. Family History Psychiatric, medical, and genetic illness in mother, father, siblings; age of parents
(FH): topic and occupations; if deceased, date and cause; feelings about each family member,
, CMN 548 Module 1 Study Guide 2025 Practice
finances .
Because many psychiatric illnesses have a genetic predisposition, if not cause,
a careful review of family history is important to the assessment and can aid in
diagnosis and establishing expected prognosis .
17. Family History Have any members in your family been depressed? Alcoholic? In a mental hospital?
(FH): question In jail? Describe your living conditions. Did you have your own room?
18. Family History Genetic loading in anxiety, depression, schizophrenia. Get medication history of
(FH): comments family (medications ettective in family members for similar disorders may be
and helpful hints ettective in patient).
19. developmental The developmental and social history reviews the stages of the patient's life
and social history from gestation to the present with an eye toward understanding the important
exposures, relationships, and events that shaped the person's life story.
It is often helpful to review the social history chronologically; doing so provides a
natural flow to the questions and ensures a complete history.
20. Review of sys- As in a general medical interview, the review of systems is intended to capture
tems any current physical signs and symptoms not already identified in the HPI or
past medical history (including Table 7.1-2 and is organized by asking sentinel
questions about the major systems of the body).
21. review of sys- Sleep phase problems (initial, middle, terminal insomnia), total sleep time, ab-
tems: sleep normal sleep events
22. review of sys- Depression: persistent sadness, reduced interest or pleasure in usual activities,
tems: mood de- tearfulness, reduced or excessive sleep, reduced or increased appetite, weight
pression loss or gain, low energy, reduced concentration, low libido, excessive or inappro-
priate guilt, psychomotor change (slowing or agitation), negative self-appraisal,
helpless and hopeless thinking thoughts of death or suicide. A common mnemon-
ic used to remember the symptoms of major depression is SIGECAPS (Sleep,
, CMN 548 Module 1 Study Guide 2025 Practice
Interest, Guilt, Energy, Concentration, Appetite, Psychomotor agitation or slowing,
Suicidality).
23. review of sys- Hypomania/Mania: elevated, expansive or irritable mood, decreased need for
tems: mood Hy- or inability to sleep, excessive energy, marked increase in goal and pleasure
pomania/mania directed activity, increase amount and pace of speech and thought, grandiosity,
heightened libido, impulsivity and/or recklessness in behaviors such as spending
and sex
24. review of sys- Anxiety
tems: anxiety Experience of panic attacks, somatic symptoms of anxiety, phobic, or social avoid-
ance
25. review of sys- Experience of hallucinations, delusions, disorganized behavior, speech or
tems: psychosis thought, negative symptoms
26. review of sys- Repetitive intrusive and unwanted thoughts, compulsive behaviors to neutralize
tems: obses- anxiety, hoarding behaviors
sive-compulsive
27. review of sys- Traumatic exposure; intrusive and avoidance symptoms, negative alterations in
tems: trauma cognitions and mood, excessive arousal and reactivity
28. review of sys- Substance use, gambling, impulse control problems, disordered eating, repetitive
tems: behavior self-harm
29. mental status The MSE is the functional equivalent of the physical examination in other areas of
exam medicine.
It is a systematic collection of the observations (e.g., signs such as blunt af-
fect or rapid speech) and reported mental experiences (e.g., symptoms such
as depressed mood or hallucinations) that produce a picture of the patient's
current mental state. The interviewer makes these observations throughout an
1. GUIDE SADOCK Complete the following table which outlines the elements of the initial psychiatric
Chapter 7.1 - 7.2, interview:
7.6
2. Identifying data Name, age, sex, marital status, religion, education, address, phone number,
Topic occupation, source of referral
3. Identifying data Be direct in obtaining identifying data. Request specific answers.
Questions
4. Identifying data If patient cannot cooperate, get information from family member or friend; if
Comments and referred by a physician, obtain medical record.
helpful hints
5. Chief complaint Brief statement in patient's own words of why patient is in the hospital or is being
(CC) topic seen in consultation
6. Chief complaint Why are you going to see a psychiatrist? What brought you to the hospital? What
(CC) questions seems to be the problem?
7. Chief complaint Record answers verbatim; a bizarré complaint points to psychotic process.
(CC) comments
and helpful hints
8. History of pre- Development of symptoms from time of onset to present; relation of life events,
sent illness (HPI): conflicts, stressors: drugs; change from previous level of functioning
9. History of pre- When did you first notice something happening to you? Were you upset about
sent illness (HPI): anything when symptoms began? Did they begin suddenly or gradually?
questions
10. History of pre- Record in patient's own words as much as possible. Get history of previous hospi-
sent illness (HPI): talizations and treatment. Sudden onset of symptoms may indicate drug-induced
disorder.
, CMN 548 Module 1 Study Guide 2025 Practice
comments and
helpful hints
11. Previous psychi- Psychiatric disorders; psychosomatic; medical, neurologic illnesses (e.g., cranio-
atric and medical cerebral trauma, convulsions).
disorders:
12. Previous psychi- Did you ever lose consciousness? Have a seizure?
atric and medical
disorders: QUES-
TIONS
13. Previous psychi- Ascertain extent of illness, treatment, medications, outcomes, hospitals, doctors.
atric and medical Determine whether illness serves some additional purpose (secondary gain).
disorders: com-
ments and help-
ful hints
14. substance Substance use disorders can mimic or induce psychiatric syndromes, elevate
use/abuse risk of suicide and violence, and have important impact on safe medication
prescribing.
Various tools can be used to aid in gathering the substance use history. Examples
include the commonly used CAGE questionnaire which has been modified to
include other drugs (and now called CAGE-AID)
15. Past medical his- The interviewer is interested in obtaining an accounting of major medical disor-
tory ders both to develop a complete history and to identify illness that could mimic
a psychiatric disorder, contribute to the context of the presentation or factor into
treatment planning.
16. Family History Psychiatric, medical, and genetic illness in mother, father, siblings; age of parents
(FH): topic and occupations; if deceased, date and cause; feelings about each family member,
, CMN 548 Module 1 Study Guide 2025 Practice
finances .
Because many psychiatric illnesses have a genetic predisposition, if not cause,
a careful review of family history is important to the assessment and can aid in
diagnosis and establishing expected prognosis .
17. Family History Have any members in your family been depressed? Alcoholic? In a mental hospital?
(FH): question In jail? Describe your living conditions. Did you have your own room?
18. Family History Genetic loading in anxiety, depression, schizophrenia. Get medication history of
(FH): comments family (medications ettective in family members for similar disorders may be
and helpful hints ettective in patient).
19. developmental The developmental and social history reviews the stages of the patient's life
and social history from gestation to the present with an eye toward understanding the important
exposures, relationships, and events that shaped the person's life story.
It is often helpful to review the social history chronologically; doing so provides a
natural flow to the questions and ensures a complete history.
20. Review of sys- As in a general medical interview, the review of systems is intended to capture
tems any current physical signs and symptoms not already identified in the HPI or
past medical history (including Table 7.1-2 and is organized by asking sentinel
questions about the major systems of the body).
21. review of sys- Sleep phase problems (initial, middle, terminal insomnia), total sleep time, ab-
tems: sleep normal sleep events
22. review of sys- Depression: persistent sadness, reduced interest or pleasure in usual activities,
tems: mood de- tearfulness, reduced or excessive sleep, reduced or increased appetite, weight
pression loss or gain, low energy, reduced concentration, low libido, excessive or inappro-
priate guilt, psychomotor change (slowing or agitation), negative self-appraisal,
helpless and hopeless thinking thoughts of death or suicide. A common mnemon-
ic used to remember the symptoms of major depression is SIGECAPS (Sleep,
, CMN 548 Module 1 Study Guide 2025 Practice
Interest, Guilt, Energy, Concentration, Appetite, Psychomotor agitation or slowing,
Suicidality).
23. review of sys- Hypomania/Mania: elevated, expansive or irritable mood, decreased need for
tems: mood Hy- or inability to sleep, excessive energy, marked increase in goal and pleasure
pomania/mania directed activity, increase amount and pace of speech and thought, grandiosity,
heightened libido, impulsivity and/or recklessness in behaviors such as spending
and sex
24. review of sys- Anxiety
tems: anxiety Experience of panic attacks, somatic symptoms of anxiety, phobic, or social avoid-
ance
25. review of sys- Experience of hallucinations, delusions, disorganized behavior, speech or
tems: psychosis thought, negative symptoms
26. review of sys- Repetitive intrusive and unwanted thoughts, compulsive behaviors to neutralize
tems: obses- anxiety, hoarding behaviors
sive-compulsive
27. review of sys- Traumatic exposure; intrusive and avoidance symptoms, negative alterations in
tems: trauma cognitions and mood, excessive arousal and reactivity
28. review of sys- Substance use, gambling, impulse control problems, disordered eating, repetitive
tems: behavior self-harm
29. mental status The MSE is the functional equivalent of the physical examination in other areas of
exam medicine.
It is a systematic collection of the observations (e.g., signs such as blunt af-
fect or rapid speech) and reported mental experiences (e.g., symptoms such
as depressed mood or hallucinations) that produce a picture of the patient's
current mental state. The interviewer makes these observations throughout an
