Common Mental Illnesses and Treatments Quiz

Answer: Decreased spontaneous movement

The negative symptoms of schizophrenia often mimic symptoms associated with depression such as social withdrawal, amotivation and poverty of speech. Negative symptoms of schizophrenia are generally less responsive to treatment than positive symptoms such as hallucinations.

Answer: Electro-Convulsive Therapy

Unlike its depiction in the movie "One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest", modern ECT is performed under light anaesthetic and the most common side effect is a short-term headache.

Answer: Parkinson's disease

People who are taking antipsychotic medication can develop "parkinsonian symptoms". This is because antipsychotic medications decrease the amount of dopamine available to the body, the cause of parkinson's disease. Conversely people taking medication for parkinson's may develop psychotic features. Paget's disease is excessive bone formation and reabsorption. Huntington's disease is a hereditary disorder that leads to degeneration of the basal nuclei and cerebral cortex, and coeliac disease is an intestinal intolerance to dietary gluten.

Answer: Ataxia

Ataxia is normally seen as a side-effect of prescription medications, such as antipsychotics or antiepileptics, or as a result of alcohol or recreational drug use. It can also be caused by lesions in the central nervous system. Anhedonia refers to a lack of pleasure taken in normally enjoyable experiences. Aphasia is a difficulty in communicating, and amnesia is a broad term relating to memory disturbances.

Answer: Lithium carbonate

Lithium carbonate was discovered by Melbourne doctor John Cade who first tested the medication on himself to ensure it was safe to give to patients.

Answer: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

The other well known diagnostic manual is ICD (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems).

Answer: Sit still

People with akathisia have an uncontrollable need to keep moving. Akathisia is most commonly seen as a side-effect of antipsychotic medication.

Answer: Thiamine

Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is most often linked to long-term excessive alcohol intake. The syndrome is named after two prominent doctors. Carl Wernicke, a German physician, anatomist, psychiatrist and neuropathologist - after whom the area of the brain relating to language "Wernicke's area" is named. And Sergei Korsakoff was a Russian neuropsychiatrist who pioneered studies into the affects of alcoholism and introduced the concept of paranoia.

Answer: Alcohol, aged cheeses, salami and chocolate

A side-effect of taking MAOI drugs is that the body is unable to break down the substance tyramine found in many food products. High levels of tyramine in the body can lead to hypertension, headaches and bleeding.

Answer: Antisocial personality disorder

Although the exact cause is unknown, it is generally accepted that both environmental and hereditary factors influence the chance of an idividual developing an antisocial personality.