Descriptive Psychopathology: The Signs and Symptoms of ...

125 Appendix 5.1: Questions for past illnessTable 5A.1. Past experiences with present illness implicationsPast experienceDifficult gestation or deliveryMaternal perinatal depressionChildhood febrile convulsionsDelayed motor, speech, and socializationlandmarksFrequent or severe Strep infectionsChronic and substantial parentaldiscord (including divorce)Chronic child abuseParental psychopathologyTraumatic head injurySevere injury leading to loss of a bodypart or permanent loss of functionIllicit drug useImplicationsAnoxia or fetal brain damage resulting in ADHD,conduct disorder, school academic andbehavioral problemsIncreased risk for early onset depressive illness inexposed childrenSeizure disorder in adult yearsSchool and behavioral problems; increased risk forschizophreniaIncreased risk for PANDAS(Pediatric Autoimmune NeuropsychiatricDisorder Associated with Streptococcalinfection)Increased risk for depressive illnessIncreased risk of being an abusive parent andto have depressive illnessIncreased risk for depressive illnessIncreased risk for seizure disorder and manicdepressive-likesyndromesPTSDIncreased risk for psychosis“When having a conversation, have you been having any trouble finding the words you wantto say, or have you found yourself losing your train of thought? ...Haveyoufound yourselfforgetting to remember to do things, and have had to increasingly keep lists or notes to yourselfto help remember?”Past experiences with preset illness implicationsSome experiences have substantial diagnostic implications, increasing risks forseveral conditions (Table 5A.1). The assessment of their presence is part of athorough evaluation.Many of the experiences in Table 5A.1 cannot be recalled. If the patient’smother, or an older sister, is not available to provide information, family loremay be helpful. 10 Questioning includes:Pregnancy and postpartum problems“Do you recall your mother telling you that she had a difficult pregnancy when carrying you?Did she mention her labor or delivery or how your health was at birth?”