Comprehensive study resource covering behavioural science, neuropsychopharmacology, mood disorders, anxiety, psychosis, personality disorders, substance use, child psychiatry, consultation-liaison, psychotherapy, and ethics. Every theory, every drug, every diagnostic criterion you need to know.
Theories Stages Attachment Learning Memory Sleep Emotion
Neurotransmitters CYP450 Antidepressants Mood Stabilizers Antipsychotics Anxiolytics
MDD Dysthymia PMDD Bipolar I/II Cyclothymia Treatment
GAD Panic Social Anxiety OCD PTSD Body Dysmorphic Hoarding
Positive Negative Cognitive DSM-5 Antipsychotics NMS Clozapine
Cluster A Cluster B Cluster C DSM-5 DBT Management
DSM-5 Criteria Alcohol Opioids Stimulants Cannabis Pharmacotherapy
ADHD Autism ID Learning Disorders Tourette Child Depression School Refusal
Delirium Dementia Malingering Capacity Informed Consent Tarasoff
Capacity vs Competence: Capacity = clinical assessment by physician (decision-specific, can fluctuate). Competence = legal determination by judge. MacKay Criteria (4 elements of capacity): (1) Communicate a choice (consistent, stable). (2) Understand relevant information (diagnosis, risks/benefits of treatment/alternatives/no treatment). (3) Appreciate situation and consequences (apply info to own condition). (4) Reason about treatment options (logical process, weigh risks/benefits). Capacity is decision-specific - a patient may have capacity for low-risk high-benefit decisions but not for high-risk decisions. Informed Consent: Must include:
Exceptions: emergency (implied consent), patient waiver, therapeutic privilege (withholding info if harmful to patient - rarely used, controversial). HIPAA: Privacy of protected health information. Involuntary Hospitalization (Civil Commitment): Criteria (state-dependent, generally): (1) Mental illness, (2) Danger to self (suicidal, grave disability - unable to provide for basic needs), or (3) Danger to others (violent/threats). Emergency hold typically 48-72h for evaluation. Court order for extended commitment. Duty to Protect (Tarasoff): Duty to protect identifiable third party from serious threat of harm by patient. Steps: assess threat, warn potential victim, notify police, hospitalize. Applies when therapist determines or reasonably should determine patient presents serious danger of violence to identifiable victim. Mandated reporting: Child abuse/neglect (all states), elder abuse (most states), duty to protect (Tarasoff), impaired physician reporting (varies). Not privileged (report suspected abuse even if patient disclosed in confidence). Right to Refuse Treatment: Competent patients have right to refuse treatment (including psychotropics, ECT). Exceptions: emergency (imminent danger), court-ordered treatment (involuntary meds after hearing), incompetence (surrogate decision-maker). Advanced Directives: Living will, durable power of attorney for healthcare. Psychiatric advance directives (PAD) in some states.
Psychodynamic CBT DBT IPT ACT MI EMDR Exposure Group/Family
Ethics Principles MMSE/MoCA Rating Scales Defense Mechanisms Epidemiology
DSM-5 Cheat Sheets Drug Comparisons Scales Trials Mnemonics
| Therapy | Key Focus | Techniques | Main Indications | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Psychodynamic | Unconscious conflict, past | Free association, interpretation, transference | Personality disorders, depression, anxiety | Months-years |
| CBT | Thoughts -> emotions -> behaviors | Cognitive restructuring, behavioral activation, exposure | MDD, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, bulimia, insomnia | 8-24 sessions |
| DBT | Acceptance + change, skills | Mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, interpersonal | BPD, suicidal behavior, self-harm | 6-12 months |
| IPT | Interpersonal problems | Communication analysis, role-playing, grief work | MDD, peripartum depression, bulimia | 12-16 sessions |
| ACT | Acceptance, values, flexibility | Defusion, acceptance, mindfulness, committed action | Chronic pain, anxiety, depression | 8-16 sessions |
| MI | Ambivalence, change talk | OARS, reflective listening, evocation | Substance use, adherence, health behavior | 1-6 sessions |
| Exposure/ERP | Fear extinction, habituation | Graded exposure, imaginal/in vivo, response prevention | Anxiety disorders, OCD, PTSD | 8-20 sessions |
| EMDR | Trauma processing | Bilateral stimulation, desensitization | PTSD | 8-12 sessions |
| Disorder | First-Line Pharmacotherapy | First-Line Psychotherapy | Second-Line/Refractory | Monitoring |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MDD | SSRI or SNRI | CBT or IPT | Augment (bupropion, AAP, Li, T3), switch class, ECT, rTMS, ketamine | Suicidality, PHQ-9, side effects |
| Bipolar I (mania) | Lithium, Valproate, or SGA | Psychoeducation, IPSRT | Combination Li/Valproate + SGA, ECT | Li level, Cr, TSH, VPA level, LFTs, CBC |
| Bipolar depression | Quetiapine, Lamotrigine, Lithium | CBT, IPT, IPSRT | Olanzapine + fluoxetine, Lurasidone, Cariprazine, ECT | Mood charting, weight, glucose, lipids |
| GAD | SSRI or SNRI | CBT | Buspirone, pregabalin, BZD short-term | Tolerance/dependence (BZD) |
| Panic disorder | SSRI | CBT (interoceptive exposure) | SNRI, BZD short-term, MAOI | Initial activation with SSRI |
| OCD | High-dose SSRI | ERP | Clomipramine, augment with AAP, DBS | QTc, metabolic (SGA) |
| PTSD | SSRI or SNRI | Trauma-focused CBT, EMDR, PE, CPT | Prazosin (nightmares), SGA augmentation | Suicidality, substance use |
| Schizophrenia | SGA (risperidone, olanzapine, aripiprazole) | CBTp, social skills, family psychoeducation | Clozapine (TRS), LAI if nonadherent | Weight, glucose, lipids, prolactin, QTc, EPS, ANC (clozapine) |
| ADHD | Stimulant (MPH or AMP) | Parent training, school accommodations, behavioral | Atomoxetine, Guanfacine XR, Clonidine ER | HR, BP, weight, height (children), abuse |
| BPD | No FDA-approved (SSRI, mood stabilizer, AAP for targets) | DBT (gold standard) | MBT, SFT, TFP | Self-harm, suicidality |
| Alcohol use | Naltrexone (first-line) | CBT, MI, AA/12-step | Acamprosate, Disulfiram, residential | LFTs, abstinence, craving |
| OUD | Buprenorphine/naloxone or Methadone | CBT, contingency management, NA | Naltrexone XR (after detox), residential | COWS, UDS, adherence |
Board Review High-Yield Topics Clinical Reasoning
SIGECAPS (depression), DIGFAST (mania), Schizophrenia ( >= 2/5 for 1mo + 6mo total), GAD (6mo + 3/6), Panic (4/13), PTSD (B/C/D/E criteria), OCD (obsessions + compulsions > 1h/day), BPD ( >= 5/9).
SSRIs first-line. Sexual SE most common. Serotonin syndrome (clonus + hyperreflexia + autonomic). Washout periods (2wk, 5wk fluoxetine). Ketamine for TRD. MAOI -> tyramine crisis.
Clozapine for TRS (ANC monitoring). NMS (rigidity + fever + CK). EPS (dystonia -> Parkinsonism -> akathisia -> TD). Metabolic syndrome (monitor weight, glucose, lipids).
Lithium (target 0.6-1.2, toxicity > 1.5, monitor Cr/TSH). Valproate (50-125). Lamotrigine (titrate slow, SJS risk). Carbamazepine (auto-inducer, drug interactions).
Alcohol withdrawal (CIWA-Ar, BZD, thiamine before glucose). OUD (buprenorphine/methadone, COWS, naloxone). Tobacco (varenicline #1). BZD withdrawal (slow taper, can be fatal).
CBT (depression/anxiety - gold standard). DBT (BPD). IPT (depression, interpersonal). MI (substance use). Exposure/ERP (OCD, anxiety). EMDR (PTSD). Psychodynamic (personality).
MacKay criteria (communicate, understand, appreciate, reason). Tarasoff (duty to protect). Informed consent (disclosure, capacity, voluntariness). Confidentiality exceptions.
STAR*D (MDD algorithm), CATIE (schizophrenia antipsychotics), CUtLASS (FGA vs SGA), TADS (adolescent depression), STEP-BD (bipolar - no AD benefit).
Psychiatry rewards systematic learning. Master the DSM-5 criteria, understand the mechanism behind every drug, and know which psychotherapy works for which disorder. Use the tables and cheat cards above for rapid recall. This guide covers the entire scope of clinical psychology and psychiatry for medical students, residents, and board review. Updated 2026.
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