Jadavpur University x Good Karma

Day 1: Understanding People and Their Struggles

Initial Assessment

Like a doctor's checkup: The first step in mental health is like

going to the doctor – we gather information. We ask about
feelings, thoughts, daily life, and history.
Finding the right help: This assessment tells us what kind of
support a person needs – is it talk therapy, maybe medication,
or a combination?

Biopsychosocial Formulation
The whole picture: Not just about your mind! This looks at
THREE things:
Biology: Your body, genes, and health. Sometimes medical
issues can affect how we feel.
Psychology: Your thoughts, feelings, and how you learned to
cope over time.
Definition of hallucinations:
Social: Your perception-like experiences without
relationships, family, external
job,stimuli
where you live – all
thesewith
• Common in schizophrenia, things
auditory impact our
hallucinations mental
being prevalent well-being.
• Cultural context: Hallucinations may be normal in religious experiences

Attachment Styles
Early bonds matter! How we were cared for as babies shapes
how we connect with others our whole lives.
Secure: Felt safe, loved, leads to healthy adult relationships.
Anxious: Worried about love, might cling or fear
abandonment.
Avoidant: Uncomfortable with closeness, may push people
**extra away.
Can change: Understanding our style helps us form better
relationships.

Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD)

When care is missing: Very young children who weren't cared
• Cenesthetic hallucinations are unfounded sensations of altered states in bodily organs. Examples of
for properly
cenesthetic hallucinations may
include a burning struggle
sensation to form
in the brain, a pushingbonds.
sensation in the blood
vessels, and a cutting sensation in the bone marrow. Bodily distortions
Signs: Don't seek comfort, seem emotionally closed-off, may may also occur.

Unfounded sensations in bodily organs.have angry outbursts.

Examples: burning sensation
Needs special help: RAD in the brain, pushingneeds
sensation in blood vesselsto build trust and
therapy
healthy ways to relate.
 Jadavpur University x Good Karma

Cluster A Personality Disorders

Odd or eccentric: These patterns cause difficulty relating
to others.
Paranoid: Deep distrust, always think people are out
to get them.
Schizoid: Detached, loners, little interest in social
contact.
Schizotypal: Odd beliefs, unusual thinking, discomfort
with closeness.

Cluster B Personality Disorders

Dramatic, emotional, erratic: Behavior is impulsive,
relationships are stormy.
Antisocial: Breaks rules, disregards others' rights,
Definition of hallucinations: perception-like experiences
can without external stimuli
be manipulative.
• Common inBorderline:
schizophrenia, withFear ofhallucinations
auditory abandonment, unstable mood,
being prevalent
• Cultural context: Hallucinations may be normal in religious experiences
intense relationships.
Histrionic: Craves attention, overly emotional,
dramatic.
Narcissistic: Grandiose, needs admiration, lacks
empathy.

Cluster C Personality Disorders

**extra Anxious or fearful: These patterns often involve feeling
out of control.
Avoidant: Fears criticism, avoids social situations due
to feeling inadequate.
Dependent: Needs excessive reassurance, clings to
others,
• Cenesthetic hallucinations are unfounded fearsofbeing
sensations alone.
altered states in bodily organs. Examples of
cenestheticObsessive-Compulsive:
hallucinations include a burning sensation in the brain, a pushing
Perfectionist, obsessed sensation in with
the blood
vessels, and a cutting sensation in the bone marrow. Bodily distortions may also occur.
orderliness, overly controlling.
Unfounded sensations in bodily organs.
Examples: burning sensation in the brain, pushing sensation in blood vessels
 Jadavpur University x Good Karma

Questions:

1) Does the initial assessment include a safety assessment?

2) What are the 3 symptoms to focus on?

3) What is the importance of Family History>

4) What are the 3 components of biopsychosocial ?

5) In the psychological part do we include personality traits

and defence mechanisms?
Definition of hallucinations: perception-like experiences without external stimuli

•
6) What is the difference between schizoid and avoidant
Common in schizophrenia, with auditory hallucinations being prevalent
• Cultural context: Hallucinations may be normalPD?
in religious experiences

7) Schizotypal PD is considered a precursor for what

disorder?

8) Which PD’s core symptom is fear of abandonment?

9) Which disorder has the most acting out?

**extra

10) What is the toughest PD to treat?

11) Which PD is linked to addiction?

• Cenesthetic hallucinations are unfounded sensations of altered states in bodily organs. Examples of
cenesthetic hallucinations include a burning sensation in the brain, a pushing sensation in the blood
vessels, and a cutting sensation in the bone marrow. Bodily distortions may also occur.

Unfounded sensations in bodily organs.

Examples: burning sensation in the brain, pushing sensation in blood vessels
 Jadavpur University x Good Karma

Day 2: Mood Fluctuations and Mental Health

Mood Disorders

More than just feeling down: These involve long periods

of extreme mood that make everyday life hard.

Two main types:

Depressive disorders: Persistent sadness,
hopelessness, loss of interest.

Bipolar disorders: Swings between very high moods

(mania) and depressive lows.

Bipolar Disorders
Manic episodes: Intense energy, grand plans, less need
Definition of hallucinations: perception-like
for sleep,experiences
reckless without external stimuli
behavior.
• Common Depressive episodes:
in schizophrenia, with Same as
auditory hallucinations beingother depression –
prevalent
• Cultural context: Hallucinations may be normal in religious
sadness, fatigue, experiences
etc.

Different types:
Bipolar I: Full manic episodes
Bipolar II: Less intense highs, still has depressive lows.
Cyclothymic: Milder mood swings, doesn't meet full
criteria for either.
**extra
Depressive Disorders
Major Depressive Disorder: Intense, lasting sadness
interfering with life.

Persistent Depressive Disorder/ Dysthymia: Lower-

• Cenesthetic hallucinations are unfounded sensations of altered states in bodily organs. Examples of
cenestheticgrade, but
hallucinations long-lasting
include (years)
a burning sensation depressed
in the brain, mood.
a pushing sensation in the blood
vessels, and a cutting sensation in the bone marrow. Bodily distortions may also occur.

Unfounded Others:
sensations in bodily
Linkedorgans.to things like premenstrual cycle,
Examples: burning sensation in the brain, pushing sensation in blood vessels
medications, or health problems.
 Jadavpur University x Good Karma

Questions:

12) What are the 2 phases of Bipolar disorder?

13) Which phase has euphoria/ anger and impulsivity?

14) What high is more intense Bipolar I or Bipolar II?

15) What symptoms (1 out of 2) are MANDATORY

for diagnosing MDD?

Definition of hallucinations: perception-like experiences without external stimuli

16) How many days does hypomania last (Bipolar II)?
• Common in schizophrenia, with auditory hallucinations being prevalent
• Cultural context: Hallucinations may be normal in religious experiences
17) How many days does a depressive disorder last for
MDD?

18) What is difference between feeling low and Depressive

Disorder?

19) How long does Persistent Depressive Disorder

**extra or Dysthymia typically last for ?

• Cenesthetic hallucinations are unfounded sensations of altered states in bodily organs. Examples of
cenesthetic hallucinations include a burning sensation in the brain, a pushing sensation in the blood
vessels, and a cutting sensation in the bone marrow. Bodily distortions may also occur.

Unfounded sensations in bodily organs.

Examples: burning sensation in the brain, pushing sensation in blood vessels
 Jadavpur University x Good Karma

Day 3: Worrying leading to Anxiety

Worry, but amplified: Everyone gets anxious sometimes, but

anxiety disorders are excessive fear and worry that get in the
way of life.

Different flavors:
Separation Anxiety: Extreme fear of being apart from
loved ones, common in kids but happens in adults too.

Selective Mutism: Can't speak in certain situations, even

though they have the ability.
Definition of hallucinations: perception-like experiences without external stimuli

• Common Specific Phobia:

in schizophrenia, Intense
with auditory fear of
hallucinations one
being thing
prevalent – spiders,
• Cultural context: Hallucinations may be normal in religious experiences
heights, needles, etc.

Social Anxiety: Overwhelming fear of being judged,

embarrassed, or rejected in social settings.

Panic Disorder: Sudden attacks of terror, heart pounding,

feeling like you're dying or going crazy.
**extra
Agoraphobia: Fear of places or situations where escape is
hard ( crowds, open spaces), can be crippling.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Constant, "free-

•
floating" worry about all sorts of things.
Cenesthetic hallucinations are unfounded sensations of altered states in bodily organs. Examples of
cenesthetic hallucinations include a burning sensation in the brain, a pushing sensation in the blood
vessels, and a cutting sensation in the bone marrow. Bodily distortions may also occur.

Unfounded sensations in bodily organs.

Examples: burning sensation in the brain, pushing sensation in blood vessels
 Jadavpur University x Good Karma

Questions:

20) What is the ONLY childhood specific anxiety disorder?

21) What are 3 types of Reactive Attachment Disorder?

Definition of hallucinations: perception-like experiences without external stimuli

22) What are symptoms of a Panic Attack?
• Common in schizophrenia, with auditory hallucinations being prevalent
• Cultural context: Hallucinations may be normal in religious experiences
23) What is agoraphobia?

24) What is the most common anxiety disorder?

25) What are the 3 symptoms of that disorder?

**extra

• Cenesthetic hallucinations are unfounded sensations of altered states in bodily organs. Examples of
cenesthetic hallucinations include a burning sensation in the brain, a pushing sensation in the blood
vessels, and a cutting sensation in the bone marrow. Bodily distortions may also occur.

Unfounded sensations in bodily organs.

Examples: burning sensation in the brain, pushing sensation in blood vessels
 Jadavpur University x Good Karma

Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders (OCRD)

Intrusive thoughts get stuck: Obsessions are recurring,
unwanted thoughts or images that cause great distress.
The need for rituals: Compulsions are behaviors you feel
driven to do over and over to try and reduce anxiety
(handwashing, checking, ordering).
Beyond just being neat: OCRDs can take over someone's
life with time-consuming rituals.

Some related ones:

Body Dysmorphic Disorder: Preoccupation with
imagined flaws in appearance.

Definition of hallucinations:
Hoarding perception-like
Disorder: experiences
Extreme withoutdifficulty
external stimuli
getting rid of
• possessions,
Common in schizophrenia, with auditory hallucinationseven trash.
being prevalent
• Cultural context: Hallucinations may be normal in religious experiences

Trichotillomania: Hair pulling.

Excoriation Disorder: Skin picking.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Brains wired differently: ASD is about differences in
**extra brain development, not a mental illness.

Key areas:
Social Communication: May struggle with social cues,
understanding others' emotions, or making friends
• Cenesthetic hallucinations are unfounded sensations of altered states in bodily organs. Examples of
cenesthetic Restricted Interests/Repetitive
hallucinations include Behaviors:
a burning sensation in the brain, Intense
a pushing sensation in the blood
vessels, and a cutting sensation in the bone marrow. Bodily distortions may also occur.
focus on certain topics, strong routines, sensory
Unfounded sensations in bodily organs. sensitivities.
Examples: burning sensation in the brain, pushing sensation in blood vessels
 Jadavpur University x Good Karma

Questions:

26) What are obsessions?

27) What is a compulsion when someone has

germaphobia?
Definition of hallucinations: perception-like experiences without external stimuli

• Common in schizophrenia,
28) What with auditory
is Body hallucinations
Dysmorphic being prevalent
Disorder?
• Cultural context: Hallucinations may be normal in religious experiences
What Doctors usually find
body dysmorphic disorder in patient?

29) What is the difference between Trichotillomania and

Excoriation?

30) What are the 3 components of

**extra Autism Spectrum Disorder?

• Cenesthetic hallucinations are unfounded sensations of altered states in bodily organs. Examples of
cenesthetic hallucinations include a burning sensation in the brain, a pushing sensation in the blood
vessels, and a cutting sensation in the bone marrow. Bodily distortions may also occur.

Unfounded sensations in bodily organs.

Examples: burning sensation in the brain, pushing sensation in blood vessels
 Jadavpur University x Good Karma

Day 4: When Reality Gets Distorted

Psychotic Disorders

Losing touch: These involve a break from reality in some

way. It's NOT about being strange or odd, it's about a
disruption in how someone perceives the world.

Key Features:
Hallucinations: Seeing, hearing, or sensing things that
others don't. This can be voices, visions, smells, etc.
Delusions: Fixed, false beliefs that can't be changed
even with evidence. These can be bizarre (aliens
implanted a chip) or more daily-life focused (my
spouse is cheating).
Schizophrenia
Definition of hallucinations: Spectrum
perception-like experiences without Disorders
external stimuli
Schizophrenia: A serious, complex disorder. Along with
• Common in schizophrenia, with auditory hallucinations being prevalent
• Cultural context: Hallucinations may be normal in religious experiences
hallucinations/delusions, it includes:
Disorganized thinking: Speech may be hard to follow,
jumping from topic to topic.
Negative symptoms: Flattened emotions, less
motivation, trouble with daily life.

Others on the spectrum:

**extra
Schizotypal (Personality) Disorder: Some odd beliefs,
discomfort with closeness, but milder than
schizophrenia. People with this are usually in touch
with reality.
Delusional Disorder: Strong, specific delusions but
otherwise functioning normally.
• Cenesthetic hallucinations are unfounded sensations of altered states in bodily organs. Examples of
Brief
cenesthetic Psychotic
hallucinations include aDisorder: Short-lived
burning sensation in the brain, a break with reality,
pushing sensation in the blood
vessels, and a cutting sensation in the bone marrow. Bodily distortions
often triggered by major stress or trauma. may also occur.

Schizophreniform
Unfounded sensations in bodily organs. Disorder: Like schizophrenia, but
Examples: burning sensation in the brain, pushing sensation in blood vessels
lasts less than 6 months.
 Jadavpur University x Good Karma

Schizoaffective Disorder: Think of it as a hybrid:

It has features of BOTH psychosis (hallucinations,
delusions) AND a mood disorder (like depression or
mania).

Other Causes to Know:

Substance/Medication-Induced: Some drugs, medicines,
or withdrawal from them can cause temporary
psychosis.
Psychotic Disorder Due to Another Medical Condition:
Certain illnesses (brain tumors, infections) can
sometimes cause hallucinations or delusions.

Catatonia: A disorder of movement – it might look like:

Definition of hallucinations: perception-like experiences without external stimuli
Unresponsiveness, staring blankly
• Common in schizophrenia, with auditory hallucinations being prevalent
•
Odd postures held for a long time
Cultural context: Hallucinations may be normal in religious experiences
Agitation, purposeless movement
Catatonia can be its own thing, or a symptom of other
mental or medical illnesses.

Key Points
Psychosis can be part of several conditions: It's not just
one diagnosis.
**extra
Not always scary: Some hallucinations may be
comforting, delusions can be positive. It's about how
they impact a person's life and if they need help.
Don't be afraid to ask questions! Mental health is
complex, there's no shame in seeking more info.
• Cenesthetic hallucinations are unfounded sensations of altered states in bodily organs. Examples of
Stigma is harmful: These are real illnesses, not character
cenesthetic hallucinations include a burning sensation in the brain, a pushing sensation in the blood
vessels, and a cutting sensation
flaws. People in the bone marrow.compassion
deserve Bodily distortions may
andalso occur.
support.
There's
Unfounded sensationshope: With treatment, many people manage
in bodily organs.
Examples: burning sensation in the brain, pushing sensation in blood vessels
symptoms and live fulfilling lives, even with serious
diagnoses.
 Jadavpur University x Good Karma

Questions:

31) What is psychosis?

32) What is schizophrenia?

33) Which mood disorder is the

fastest way to psychosis?

34) Are uppers

Definition of hallucinations: perception-like orwithout
experiences downer drugs
external stimuli
more responsible for psychosis?
• Common in schizophrenia, with auditory hallucinations being prevalent
• Cultural context: Hallucinations may be normal in religious experiences
35) How many days for each:
a) Brief Psychotic Disorder
b) Schizophreniform
c) Schizophrenia

36) Which movement disorder is considered

psychotic behaviour?
**extra

37) Can OCD lead to hoarding and psychosis?

• Cenesthetic hallucinations are unfounded sensations of altered states in bodily organs. Examples of
cenesthetic hallucinations include a burning sensation in the brain, a pushing sensation in the blood
vessels, and a cutting sensation in the bone marrow. Bodily distortions may also occur.

Unfounded sensations in bodily organs.

Examples: burning sensation in the brain, pushing sensation in blood vessels