writing practise essays is the key to success

 

 

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It is important to practice writing essays, and get them marked by your SPR your consultant or by the clinical tutor. (in the order of accessibility)

For more advice on essay techniques go to advice page. You could also visit the model essays page.

 

 

1) Discuss the present views on heredity in relation to Alzheimer-type
dementia and review the significance of the biochemical disturbances
which are thought to be associated with this disorder. How would you
respond to a request for information about inheritance from the concerned
family of a patient suffering from the illness?

 

2) Discuss the iatrogenic contribution to psychiatric disorders in old age?

 

3) Describe current views on bonding (attachment) in infancy and
childhood discuss their scientific status. What is the clinical relevance of the
concept for childhood and adult psychiatric disorders?


4) Discuss the role of operant conditioning in human learning. How
successfully have the principles of operant conditioning been applied to the
treatment of mentally ill and mentally handicapped people?

 

5) How would you measure the extent to which the ageing of a population
affects its total psychiatric morbidity?

 

6) What are the implications for adult psychiatric services of abuse in
childhood?

 

7) What are the mental changes associated with 'normal' ageing. Discuss
the possible indications for psychotherapeutic intervention in patients
approaching and over retirement age. Describe the changes in pharmacokinetics which

occur, in old age?

 
8) How would the changes in physiology with age influence the treatment of a 70 year old

woman with a longstanding schizophrenic illness?

 

9) Discuss the psychological mechanisms associated with hysterical
paralysis in childhood. Review the clinical assessment and management of
such a case?

 

10) Give an account of psychiatric aspects of incest?


11) Increasing numbers of pre-school children are in day care. Discuss the
impact that this might have on their development. Illustrate your answer with
findings from research on social development in this age group?

 

12) There is no justification for the purchasing of specialist adult psychotherapy services

by health authorities/boards. Discuss?

 

13) Give an brief account of marital therapy.How would you assess the suitability of a

couple for this form of treatment?

 

14) There are some countries which do not have an up to date mental health law. Imagine

you are asked to draft new mental health legislation for such a country. Give the elements

you would like to see incorporated into a new act with reasons for each point. Give also a

list of pitfalls to be avoided, again with argued reasons?

 

15) Adopted children have higher rates of psychiatric disorders than the general population.

Discuss the possible reasons for this?

 

16) "A time of burden". Critically discuss this description of old age.with particular

reference to psychiatric conditions in the senium?

 

17) Discuss the relationship between hyperactivity in childhood and (i) previous brain

damage (ii) other types of behavioural disturbance.

 

18) Discuss the aetiology and management of encopresis in childhood?

 

19) Discuss the aetiology and management of male exhibitionism. What advice might you

give a Court about such an offender?

 

20) Discuss the relationship between mental retardation and epilepsy?

 

21) Discuss the place of dynamic psychotherapy in elderly patients?

 

22) Discuss the medicolegal issues involved with treating a demented patient who has lost

the ability to give informed consent?

 

23) How would you treat paedophilia while ensuring the safety of the society?

 

24) Psychological treatment strategies are largely based on empirical evidence. Discuss

this satement critically?

 

25) Child is the father of the man,critically discuss this statement ?

 

26) How would you set up a service for Psychiatry of the learning disabled?

 

27) Elder abuse is largely unrecognised. Discuss how you would plan to deal with this

problem?

 

28) Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a precursor of mental illness in the adult. Discuss

this statement critically?

 

29) The duty of care often conflicts with the duty to respect the individuals rights. Discuss

this statement critically?

 

30) Discuss the origins of Non Accidental Injury (NAI) in children. Discuss it's management

and prevention?

 

31) Compare and contrast analytical and supportive psychotherapy?

 

32) What are the special problems associated with mental illness in mental retardation?

 

33) Why is medication used infrequently in child psychiatry. Discuss the role of family

therapy in the management of common childhood psychiatric illness?

 

34) How might the clinical features of infantile autism relate to underlying deficits?

 

35) Discuss the management of truancy and consider how this is different to the treatment

of school refusal?

 

36) How would a patient with epilepsy may come into conflict with the law?

 

37) What factors contribute to the therapeutic effect in small group psychotherapy? How

are they interrelated?

 

38) Discuss how you would implement preventive strategies for adolescent suicide and

Deliberate Self Harm (DSH)?

 

39) Discuss why a young teenager may fail to meet the academic expectations of teachers

and parents? Discuss how effects of Childhood Sexual Abuse can be minimised in victims?

 

40)  Discuss the relationship between physical illness and mental illness in children?