Psychiatry
Browse 61 topics in psychiatry, including presentations, diagnoses, procedures, tools, and exam links.
Specialty map
Use the filters below to move between emergency clusters, core pathways, exam topics, procedures, and the most relevant clinical atlas pages.
Acute Psychosis in Adults
Emergency diagnosis and management of acute psychosis in adults including first-episode psychosis, differential diagnosis, organic screening, and pharmacological intervention
Acute Psychotic Episode (Adult)
An acute psychotic episode is a psychiatric emergency characterized by loss of contact with reality, manifesting as hall... MRCPsych exam preparation.
Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Adult ADHD is a persistent neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by developmentally inappropriate levels of inattent... MRCPsych exam preparation.
Alcohol Dependence (Alcohol Use Disorder)
Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), previously termed alcohol dependence, is a chronic, relapsing neurobiological condition characterised by compulsive alcohol seeking and use despite harmful consequences, impaired control...
Alcohol Dependence & Withdrawal
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a chronic, relapsing neurobiological condition characterised by compulsive alcohol consump... MRCPsych exam preparation.
Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for 60-80% of all cases worldwide. It is a pro... MRCP, PLAB exam preparation.
Anorexia Nervosa (Adult)
Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a severe psychiatric disorder characterized by persistent restriction of energy intake leading to significantly low body weight (BMI less than 17.5 kg/m² in adults), an intense fear of gaining...
Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD)
ASPD is distinguished from other personality disorders by its consistent pattern of antisocial behaviour beginning in childhood or early adolescence, though formal diagnosis cannot be made before age 18 years. The...
Anxiety Disorders in Adults: Comprehensive Clinical Management
Anxiety disorders represent the most prevalent class of mental disorders worldwide, characterized by excessive fear, anx... MRCP, MRCPsych exam preparation.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
The global prevalence has increased substantially over recent decades to approximately 1 in 36 to 1 in 100 children , likely reflecting improved awareness, broadened diagnostic criteria (DSM-5), and enhanced...
Autism Spectrum Disorder in Adults
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in adults represents a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition characterized by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction coupled with restricted, repetitive patterns of...
Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD)
The cornerstone of BPSD management is the systematic identification and treatment of reversible underlying causes , particularly pain, infection (especially urinary tract infections and pneumonia), constipation,...
Bipolar Affective Disorder
The disorder typically manifests in late adolescence or early adulthood, with a mean age of onset between 20-25 years. BPAD carries substantial morbidity and mortality, with standardised mortality ratios approximately...
Bipolar Affective Disorder (BPAD)
A chronic mood disorder characterized by episodes of Mania/Hypomania alternating with Depression.
Borderline Personality Disorder (EUPD)
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), also known as Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD) in ICD-10, is a severe mental disorder characterised by a pervasive pattern of instability in interpersonal...
Bulimia Nervosa (BN) - Adult
Bulimia Nervosa (BN) is a severe eating disorder characterised by recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by inappro... MRCPsych exam preparation.
Clozapine
Clozapine is the prototypical atypical (second-generation) antipsychotic and remains the most effective pharmacological ... MRCPsych exam preparation.
Delirium (Acute Confusional State)
Delirium is an acute, fluctuating disturbance of consciousness, attention, and cognition that represents "acute brain failure" in response to a physiological stressor. It is a medical emergency and a powerful...
Delirium in ICU: Assessment, Prevention and Management
Definition (DSM-5): Acute disturbance in attention and awareness that develops over hours to days and fluctuates in s... CICM Second Part Written, CICM Secon
Dementia
Diagnosis requires comprehensive assessment including cognitive testing (MMSE, MoCA, ACE-III), exclusion of reversible causes (B12 deficiency, hypothyroidism, normal pressure hydrocephalus, depression), and...
Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB)
Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB) is the second most common neurodegenerative dementia after Alzheimer's disease, accounti... MRCP, USMLE exam preparation.
Dissociative Disorders
These disorders exist on a spectrum from transient dissociative symptoms experienced by many individuals to severe, chronic conditions such as Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). The DSM-5 recognises four main...
Eating Disorders (Anorexia, Bulimia & BED)
Anorexia Nervosa (AN): Restriction of energy intake leading to low body weight. Intense fear of gaining weight. Disturbance in body image.
Eating Disorders in Adults
Eating disorders are serious, potentially life-threatening mental health conditions characterised by persistent disturba... MRCPsych exam preparation.
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) Anaesthesia
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) involves inducing a generalized tonic-clonic seizure under general anaesthesia for treatment of severe psychiatric disorders. Anaesthetic goals : Provide brief unconsciousness (2-5...
Extrapyramidal Side Effects (EPS)
Recognition of EPS is paramount for the clinician. These effects not only cause profound physical and psychological distress but are also the primary drivers of medication non-adherence, leading to disease relapse....
Factitious Disorder (Munchausen Syndrome)
Factitious Disorder is a complex psychiatric condition characterized by the intentional production, feigning, or exaggeration of physical or psychological symptoms with the primary motivation being to assume the "sick...
Fragile X Syndrome (Child)
Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is the Most Common Inherited Cause of Intellectual Disability and the Most Common Single-Gene Cause of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) . It is an X-Linked Dominant Disorder caused by a CGG...
Frontotemporal Dementia
FTD encompasses three main clinical syndromes: behavioral variant FTD (bvFTD), semantic variant primary progressive aphasia (svPPA), and nonfluent variant primary progressive aphasia (nfvPPA). The underlying...
Functional Neurological Disorder (FND)
Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) represents one of the most common and challenging presentations in neurology and ... MRCPsych, MRCS exam preparation.
Gender Dysphoria (Gender Incongruence)
Gender Dysphoria is the clinical distress caused by a discrepancy between a person's Gender Identity (internally experienced gender) and their Sex Assigned at Birth . The condition is characterized by marked...
Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
GAD affects approximately 5-6% of the population during their lifetime, with a 2:1 female predominance . The condition typically begins in early adulthood (peak onset 30s-40s), though childhood and adolescent onset is...
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a pervasive, chronic mental health condition defined by excessive, uncontrollable ... MRCPsych exam preparation.
Grief and Bereavement
Grief is the universal, multi-dimensional response to loss, encompassing emotional, cognitive, behavioural, somatic, and spiritual dimensions. While most individuals (approximately 90%) navigate the grieving process...
Health Anxiety (Illness Anxiety Disorder)
Health Anxiety, classified in DSM-5 as Illness Anxiety Disorder (IAD) or Somatic Symptom Disorder (SSD) depending on presentation, is a condition characterised by Preoccupation with Having or Acquiring a Serious,...
Huntington's Disease
Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by an expanded CAG trinucleotide re... MRCP exam preparation.
Insomnia
Insomnia is a sleep-wake disorder characterised by persistent difficulty with sleep initiation, maintenance, consolidati... MRCP, MRCPsych exam preparation.
Major Depressive Disorder
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a common, serious, and potentially life-threatening mood disorder characterised by pe... MRCPsych exam preparation.
Major Depressive Disorder in Adults
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a common, serious, and potentially life-threatening psychiatric condition characteriz... MRCP, PLAB exam preparation.
Narcolepsy
There are two distinct subtypes: Narcolepsy Type 1 (NT1) : Defined by cataplexy and/or low CSF hypocretin-1 (less than 110 pg/mL). Strongly associated with HLA-DQB1 06:02 ( 95% of cases). Narcolepsy Type 2 (NT2) :...
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (Adult)
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a chronic, debilitating psychiatric condition characterised by the presence of obsessions (recurrent, intrusive, unwanted thoughts, images, or urges causing marked anxiety)...
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
The hallmark feature of OCD is that obsessions are ego-dystonic – experienced as inconsistent with the person's self-concept, unwanted, and distressing – which distinguishes them from delusions (which are...
Opioid Use Disorder
The opioid epidemic has evolved through three distinct waves: prescription opioid overprescribing (1990s-2000s), heroin resurgence (2010s), and synthetic opioid proliferation particularly fentanyl (2015-present)....
Panic Disorder
Panic disorder is a disabling anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent, unexpected panic attacks followed by at least... MRCPsych exam preparation.
Personality Disorders
Personality disorders (PDs) represent enduring patterns of inner experience and behavior that deviate markedly from cult... MRCPsych exam preparation.
Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS)
Definition: PICS encompasses new or worsening impairments in physical, cognitive, or mental health status arising aft... CICM Second Part Written, CICM Secon
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating psychiatric disorder that develops in susceptible individuals fo... MRCP, PLAB exam preparation.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
A disorder developing after exposure to a traumatic event involving actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence.
Postnatal Depression (PND)
Postnatal depression (PND), also termed postpartum depression (PPD), is a non-psychotic depressive episode occurring wit... MRCOG, MRCPCH, MRCPsych exam prepara
Postpartum Mental Health
Perinatal mental health disorders represent a spectrum of psychiatric conditions occurring during pregnancy and the first year postpartum, ranging from the common, self-limiting Baby Blues to severe, life-threatening...
Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS)
Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) is a complex multisystem genetic disorder caused by loss of expression of paternally inherit... MRCPCH, FRACP exam preparation.
Rapid Tranquillisation (RT)
Comprehensive, evidence-based guide to Rapid Tranquillisation protocols (NICE NG10/BAP-NAPICU 2018), detailing the stepped approach from de-escalation techniques to IM medication, pharmacological comparisons...
Refeeding Syndrome
The clinical consequences are severe and multisystem: cardiac arrhythmias and heart failure (from ATP depletion and electrolyte disturbances), respiratory failure (from diaphragmatic weakness), Wernicke's...
Schizophrenia
A severe, chronic psychotic disorder characterized by distortions in thinking, perception, emotions, language, sense of self, and behavior.
Self-Harm in Adults
Comprehensive evidence-based guide to assessment and management of intentional self-injury in adults, with or without suicidal intent
Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia)
Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD), also known as Social Phobia, is a chronic psychiatric condition characterised by marked a... MRCPsych exam preparation.
Suicide Risk Assessment
The clinical approach to SRA has undergone a paradigm shift in the last decade, moving away from "risk prediction" (which has been shown to be mathematically impossible at the individual level) toward "risk...
The Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005
The Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) is the primary legislation in England and Wales governing decision-making for adults (aged 16+) who lack mental capacity. It provides a comprehensive statutory framework that...
The Mental Health Act (1983)
The Mental Health Act (MHA) 1983 (amended 2007) is the primary legislation in England and Wales allowing for the compuls... MRCPsych, MRCGP exam preparation.
Tourette's Syndrome
Tics are sudden, rapid, recurrent, non-rhythmic motor movements or vocalisations that are experienced as irresistible but can be suppressed temporarily. The hallmark feature distinguishing tics from other involuntary...
Vascular Dementia
The pathophysiology involves multiple mechanisms: macrovascular disease causing cortical infarcts, microvascular disease (arteriolosclerosis) affecting white matter and deep grey structures, and strategically placed...