1. What are the four main components of a mental status examination (MSE)? How would you conduct an MSE for a child, an adolescent, and an older adult? - The four main components of a MSE are appearance, behavior, cognition, and mood/affect. To conduct an MSE for a child, you would use age-appropriate language and tools, such as drawings, puppets, or toys, to elicit information and observe the child's interaction with the environment and caregivers. To conduct an MSE for an adolescent, you would use open-ended questions and rapport-building techniques, such as reflecting, summarizing, and validating, to explore the adolescent's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. You would also assess the adolescent's level of risk for suicide, substance use, or violence. To conduct an MSE for an older adult, you would use respectful and empathic communication, taking into account the older adult's sensory and cognitive impairments, if any. You would also assess the older adult's functional status, social support, and quality of life. 2. What are the diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder (MDD) according to the DSM5? What are some evidence-based interventions for MDD in different age groups? - The diagnostic criteria for MDD according to the DSM-5 are: a) five or more of the following symptoms present during the same 2-week period and represent a change from previous functioning: depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day; markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all or almost all activities most of the day, nearly every day; significant weight loss or gain or decrease or increase in appetite; insomnia or hypersomnia; psychomotor agitation or retardation; fatigue or loss of energy; feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt; diminished ability to think or concentrate or indecisiveness; recurrent thoughts of death or suicidal ideation or attempt; b) the symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning; c) the episode is not attributable to the physiological effects of a substance or another medical condition; d) the episode is not better explained by another mental disorder; e) there has never been a manic or hypomanic episode. Some evidence-based interventions for MDD in different age groups are: cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), interpersonal therapy (IPT), antidepressant medication (e.g., selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors [SSRIs], serotoninnorepinephrine reuptake inhibitors [SNRIs], tricyclic antidepressants [TCAs], monoamine oxidase inhibitors [MAOIs]), electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), light therapy, exercise, mindfulness-based interventions, and psychoeducation. 3. What are the common signs and symptoms of anxiety disorders in children, adolescents, and adults? How would you differentiate between normal and pathological anxiety? - The common signs and symptoms of anxiety disorders in children, adolescents, and adults are: excessive worry or fear about specific situations or objects (e.g., separation anxiety disorder, specific phobia, social anxiety disorder); recurrent panic attacks characterized by sudden onset of intense fear or discomfort accompanied by physical and cognitive symptoms (e.g., panic disorder); persistent and intrusive thoughts, images, or impulses that cause distress and are followed by repetitive behaviors or mental acts to reduce anxiety (e.g., obsessive-compulsive disorder); exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence that leads to recurrent distressing memories, flashbacks, nightmares, avoidance of reminders, negative alterations in mood and cognition, and increased arousal and reactivity (e.g., post-traumatic stress disorder); excessive anxiety and worry about various domains that are difficult to control and cause significant impairment in functioning (e.g., generalized anxiety disorder). To differentiate between normal and pathological anxiety, you would consider the following factors: frequency, intensity, duration, impairment, and context. Normal anxiety is occasional,