Articles for Supervisees


Medical issues
with psychological
effects

that need medical attention

Press release:
“30-year-old mother-of-two from Inverness, in ScotlandJulie MacRae was initially thought to be suffering from depression,
and was admitted to the New Craigs psychiatric hospital, in Inverness. Her
condition gradually worsened and Mrs MacRae died
The diagnosis of CJD
was made after a post-mortem examination. Mrs MacRae worked as a medical
receptionist. (Daily Record 10/09/01; p.7)


There are
many psychiatric


conditions such as manic depression, schizophrenia and psychosis

that require
us
to refer the client onto medical assistance. But

we
also need
to be aware of
medical illnesses that can present themselves as depression and anxiety in
clients. Some common general symptoms of
organic conditions affecting a person mental state

include:


very poor concentration


confusion


delirium


mood changes


lability
of mood


paranoid ideation


changes in behaviour/personality


hallucinations


restlessness


apathy


You will see from this list that many such symptoms
occur in depression and anxiety. The following is some general signs of some of
the main conditions to be aware of.

 



Dementias (age 40 +)

[presenile,
alzeimers, huntingtons, HIV +ve]


poor short term memory


confusion


mood lability – depressed or euphoric


socially unacceptable behaviour


inappropriate emotional expression


apathy


self neglect


depression, especially when insight is present

 



Huntingtons Disease


Inherited pre senile dementia


abnormal, limb movements and multi symptoms including
depression

 


Temporal lobe epilepsy


Labile mood, depression, erratic behaviour, high
suicide rate.

 


Multiple sclerosis


Visual disturbances (double vision), paralysis often
starting in a lower limb, insight present,


depression, starts in young adults


 



Glandular fever
:
fatigue and depression



 



Space occupying lesions
 
(tumours,
metastases, haematoma)


Severe headaches, vomiting, drowsy, visual
disturbances. Changes in personality and mood

 



Thyrotoxicosis


Goitre


Nervousness


irritability


feeling on edge


anxious


weight loss


good appetite


prominent eyes


tachycardia


can exhibit a variety of symptoms

 


Hypothyroidism


apathy, tiredness, slowness.

 


Post natal depression


Tiredness,
irritability, anxiety, excessive worry, poor concentration, less common –
sadness,

weepy, don’t
often realise they are

ill,
may cover up or don’t realise low self
worth
. May have had prior depression and /or relationship difficulties.
May recover with none or minmal
intervention but can relapse. 15% of women.

 


Puerperal Psychosis


Severe depression or elation, 1 in 500 occurence,
resulting in delusions and hallucinations. A

biochemical
disorder like manic-depression who have 20% increased chance of getting it.


Family history of depression in 65% of women. Often
suicidal or infanticidal. Drug treatment

is very
effective and ECT when necessary, if drugs are ineffective and in marked suicide


ideation. Treatment rapidly leads to full recovery.


Other conditions affecting our mental condition
include:


Meningitis


Diabetes


Head injury


Transient Ischemic attack


Menopause


PMT


PTSD


Chronic fatigue syndrome (ME)


Testosterone Deficiency