Psychiatry

A high-yield psych lesson mapping each antidepressant class to its signature board pearls, then drilling the serotonin syndrome triad, its cyproheptadine-based management, and the classic distinctions from NMS and TCA overdose. Emphasis throughout is on the diagnosis and \"next best step\" the boards reward.

A boards-focused lesson on antipsychotic movement complications: the four extrapyramidal symptoms with their \"rule of 4s\" timeline and treatments, plus recognition and next-best-step management of neuroleptic malignant syndrome, including how to distinguish it from serotonin syndrome and malignant hyperthermia.

Board review of unipolar (MDD, persistent depressive disorder) vs bipolar-spectrum mood disorders, emphasizing DSM-5 symptom counts/durations, first-line pharmacotherapy, and the next-best-step decisions boards test. Centered on the pivotal question of any prior manic/hypomanic episode, which reclassifies the illness and reshapes management. Reviewed for accuracy: DSM-5 criteria, drug pitfalls, and serotonin-syndrome/NMS contrast confirmed correct; the one substantive fix was Vignette 1's manic-episode duration (6 days corrected to an unambiguous 8 days ≥1 week to secure the Bipolar I diagnosis).

A board-focused review of DSM-5 anxiety disorders (GAD, panic disorder, specific phobia, social anxiety, agoraphobia): exact durations and symptom-count criteria, the medical/substance mimics to exclude first, classic vignettes, and first-line SSRI/SNRI-plus-CBT management with next-best-step calls (benzo bridge, buspirone, PRN propranolol).

A boards-focused tour of schizophrenia and the psychotic-disorder spectrum: DSM-5 criteria and the duration cutoffs that separate them, classic vignette buzzwords, first-line atypical antipsychotics through clozapine for refractory disease, and next-best-step handling of EPS and NMS.

A board-focused Step 2 CK review of OCD and its related disorders (BDD, hoarding, trichotillomania, excoriation): DSM-5 criteria and the ">1 hour/day" rule, epidemiology, classic vignette buzzwords, SSRI-plus-ERP management with next-best-step decisions, and the high-yield OCD-vs-OCPD distinction. Clinically verified against DSM-5 and standard board pharmacology.

A high-yield STEP 2 CK lesson on PTSD and trauma-related disorders, anchored on the DSM-5 duration rules (acute stress disorder 3 days–1 month vs. PTSD >1 month vs. adjustment disorder, onset ≤3 months) with the 4 symptom clusters, epidemiology, first-line therapy/meds (trauma-focused CBT/EMDR; sertraline and paroxetine — the only FDA-approved agents — plus venlafaxine/fluoxetine; prazosin for nightmares), drugs to avoid (benzodiazepines, routine debriefing), and classic next-best-step traps.

A boards-focused tour of the 10 DSM-5 personality disorders across Clusters A/B/C — general PD criteria plus the key durations (only antisocial strictly requires age ≥18, with conduct disorder before 15; other PDs may be diagnosed under 18 if features persist ≥1 year), classic vignette buzzwords, commonly-tested look-alike distinctions, and first-line management (psychotherapy for all; DBT for borderline; no FDA-approved drug for a PD itself). Emphasizes ego-syntonic traits and high-yield next-best-step decisions.