Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are an important public health problem. An ADR is defined by the World Health Organization as an unintended, noxious response to a drug that occurs at a dose usually tolerated by normal subjects. The classification of ADRs by Rawlins and Thompson divides ADRs into two major subtypes: (1) type A reactions, which are dose dependent and predictable, and (2) type B reactions, which are uncommon and unpredictable. The majority of ADRs are type A reactions, which include four subtypes: overdosage or toxicity, side effects, secondary effects, and interactions. Type B reactions constitute approximately 10 to 15% of all ADRs and include four subtypes: drug intolerance, idiosyncratic reactions, pseudoallergic reactions, and drug hypersensitivity reactions. This chapter reviews the epidemiology of ADRs, risk factors for drug hypersensitivity reactions, the classification of drug reactions, diagnostic tests, reactions to specific drugs, and management of the patient with drug allergy. Figures illustrate drugs as haptens and prohaptens, the Gell and Coombs system, the four basic immunologic mechanisms for drug reactions, the chemical structure of different β-lactam antibiotics, penicillin skin testing, sulfonamide metabolism and haptenation, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug effects, and patient management. Tables outline the classification of ADRs, drugs frequently implicated in allergic drug reactions, and reagents and concentrations recommended for prick and intradermal skin testing.

This review contains 8 figures, 9 tables, and 60 references

Keywords: Adverse drug reactions, drug hypersensitivity reactions, overdosage, toxicity, Type A reactions, Type B reactions, human leukocyte antigen, pruritus, angioedema, urticarial, bronchospasm, laryngeal edema, rhinoconjunctivitis

The immune system is a complex network of cells and mediators that must balance the task of protecting the host from invasive threats. From a clinical perspective, many diseases and conditions have an obvious link to improper functioning of the immune system, and insufficient immune responses can lead to uncontrolled acute and chronic infections. The immune system may also be important in tumor surveillance and control, cardiovascular disease, health complications related to obesity, neuromuscular diseases, depression, and dementia. Thus, a working knowledge of the role of immunity in disease processes is becoming increasingly important in almost all aspects of clinical practice. This review provides an overview of the immune response and discusses immune cell populations and major branches of immunity, compartmentalization and specialized immune niches, antigen recognition in innate and adaptive immunity, immune tolerance toward self antigens, inflammation and innate immune responses, adaptive immune responses and helper T (Th) cell subsets, components of the immune response that are important targets of treatment in autoimmune diseases, mechanisms of action of biologics used to treat autoimmune diseases and their approved uses, and mechanisms of other drugs commonly used in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Figures show the development of erythrocytes, platelets, lymphocytes, and other immune system cells originating from hematopoietic stem cells that first reside in the fetal liver and later migrate to the bone marrow, antigen–major histocompatibility complex recognition by T cell receptor control of T cell survival and activation, and Th cells as central determinants of the adaptive immune response toward different stimuli. Tables list cell populations involved in innate and adaptive immunity, pattern recognition receptors with known ligands, autoantibody-mediated human diseases: examples of pathogenic mechanisms, selected Food and Drug Administration–approved autoimmune disease indications for biologics, and mechanism of action of biologics used to treat autoimmune diseases.

This review contains 3 highly rendered figures, 5 tables, and 64 references.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an abnormal rhythm characterized by chaotic atrial electrical activity resulting in loss of atrial contraction, an irregular and unpredictable heart rate, and a tendency for thrombus formation. The prevalence of AF is estimated at 1 to 2%, but it’s likely higher than that because one-third of patients may have no symptoms and might never seek medical attention. Data suggest that 1 in 4 people over the age of 40 will develop AF in their lifetime. About 10% of patients over age 80 have experienced the arrhythmia, and some estimates predict the prevalence will double in the next 50 years. This chapter discusses the pathophysiology, genetics, diagnosis, classification, and treatment of AF. Figures show atrial fibrillation and coarse atrial fibrillation plus common right atrial flutter. One algorithm is for oral anticoagulation therapy, and a second shows a recommended hierarchical choice of antiarrhythmic therapies versus catheter ablation for recurrent symptomatic atrial fibrillation. Tables list classification, diagnostic evaluation of, clinical consequences of, and conditions often associated with atrial fibrillation. Three scoring systems are included: 1) for congestive heart failure, hypertension, diabetes, stroke, and transient ischemic attack; 2) to assess the risk of bleeding with oral anticoagulation, and 3) data and proportion of patients from the Euro Heart Survey. Other tables include long-term anticoagulation guidelines for atrial fibrillation, intravenous drugs used for acute rate control, oral drugs used for chronic rate control, and antiarrhythmic drugs for conversion of atrial fibrillation and/or maintenance of sinus rhythm. In addition, there’s a summary of randomized trials weighing rate control and rhythm control strategies, plus schemes for categorizing thromboembolism risk.

This review contains 4 figures, 15 tables, and 131 references.

Venous thromboembolism, which involves venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients and is being seen with increasing frequency in outpatients. This chapter discusses the risk factors, etiology, classification, pathophysiology, natural history, prognosis, diagnosis (including venous thrombosis, recurrent venous thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism), prophylaxis, and treatment of venous thromboembolism (including the pharmacology of antithrombotic agents), as well as venous thromboembolism in pregnancy and miscellaneous thromboembolic disorders (including thrombosis of unusual sites). 

This review contains 8 figures, 16 tables, and 79 references.

Keywords: Venous thromboembolism, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, embolectomy, thrombolysis, hypercoagulability, duplex ultrasonography, D-dimer, anticoagulation

This chapter reviews key cutaneous manifestations of systemic diseases that should be recognized by most physicians and highlights recent developments in the diagnosis and management of those disorders. In many of the disorders presented, workup and therapy of the underlying systemic condition are essential to a favorable outcome. Cardiopulmonary, vascular, endocrinologic, gastrointestinal, hematologic, immunodeficiency, infectious, neurologic, renal, and rheumatologic diseases are discussed. Many of the syndromes characterized by physical symptoms are accompanied by photographs demonstrating the manifestations for the reader's reference.

This chapter contains 28 figures, 104 references, and 5 Board-styled MCQs.

Disorders of lipoprotein metabolism, in conjunction with the prevalence of high-fat diets, obesity, and physical inactivity, have resulted in an epidemic of atherosclerotic disease in the United States and other developed countries. The interaction of common genetic and acquired disorders of lipo­proteins with these adverse environmental factors leads to the premature development of atherosclerosis. In the United States, mortality from coronary artery disease (CAD), particularly in persons younger than 60 years, has been declining since 1970; however, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease remains the most common cause of death among both men and women.

This review contains 6 figures, 12 tables, and 47 references.

Keywords: dyslipoproteinemias, hepatic lipase,  hyper­lipoproteinemia, hypoalphalipoproteinemia, lipoprotein, 

The long-term complications of diabetes mellitus include retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy. Diabetic retinopathy can result in loss of vision; nephropathy may lead to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD); and neuropathy poses the risk of foot ulcers, amputation, Charcot joints, sexual dysfunction, and potentially disabling dysfunction of the stomach, bowel, and bladder. Hyperglycemia sufficient to cause pathologic and functional changes in target tissues may be present for some time before clinical symptoms lead to a diagnosis of diabetes, especially in patients with type 2 diabetes. Diabetic patients are also at increased risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular, peripheral vascular, and cerebrovascular disease. These conditions may be related to hyperglycemia, as well as to the hypertension and abnormal lipoprotein profiles that are often found in diabetic patients. Prevention of these complications is a major goal of current therapeutic policy and recommendations for all but transient forms of diabetes. This chapter describes the pathogenesis, screening, prevention, and treatment of diabetic complications, as well as the management of hyperglycemia in the hospitalized patient. Figures illustrate the pathways that link high blood glucose levels to microvascular and macrovascular complications; fundus abnormalities in diabetic retinopathy; the natural history of nephropathy in type 1 diabetes; cumulative incidence of first cardiovascular events, stroke, or death from cardiovascular disease in patients with type 1 diabetes; the effect of intensive glycemic therapy on the risk of myocardial infarction, major cardiovascular event, or cardiovascular death in patients with type 2 diabetes; and risk of death in patients with type 2 diabetes who receive intensive therapy of multiple risk factors or conventional therapy. Tables describe screening schedules for diabetic complications in adults, foot care recommendations for patients with diabetes, and comparison of major trials of intensive glucose control. This chapter has 238 references.

The porphyrias are uncommon disorders caused by deficiencies in the activities of the enzymes of the heme biosynthetic pathway. The enzymatic defects that cause porphyrias may be either inherited or acquired, and there is significant interplay between the genetic defect and acquired or environmental factors. Acute forms of the porphyrias may be life threatening and may be misdiagnosed because of the nonspecific nature of the clinical presentation (e.g., acute abdominal pain, psychiatric disturbances, and polyneuropathies). The course of the acute forms of disease is characterized by long latent periods interrupted by acute attacks, which are associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Porphyrias may be classified as neurovisceral or photosensitive, depending on their prominent clinical characteristic, but in some cases of porphyria, both symptoms are present. Alternatively, the porphyrias can be classified as hepatic or erythropoietic, depending on the principal site of expression of the specific enzymatic defect involved, but the expressions overlap in some porphyrias. The neurovisceral porphyrias correspond with the hepatic porphyrias (ie, acute intermittent porphyria [AIP], variegate porphyria [VP], hereditary coproporphyria [HCP], and ALA deficiency porphyria [ADP]); and the photosensitive porphyrias correspond with the erythropoietic porphyrias (i.e., porphyria cutanea tarda [PCT], hepatoerythropoietic porphyria [HEP], erythropoietic protoporphyria [EPP], and congenital erythropoietic porphyria [CEP]). This chapter covers the classification and pathophysiology of porphyrias and the epidemiology, molecular defects and pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of each of the clinical presentations of porphyria. A table lists the drugs that are safe and unsafe for patients with AIP, VP, HCP, and ADP. Figures illustrate the classification and major symptoms of the porphyrias and the corresponding defect in the biosynthesis of heme that causes the disease; the steps in the biosynthesis of heme; and the mechanisms that precipitate symptoms in AIP. This chapter contains 99 references.

The pituitary gland plays a prominent role in regulating the critical hormonal functions of growth, development, reproduction, stress homeostasis, and metabolic control; for this reason, the pituitary has been termed the master gland. The anterior pituitary synthesizes and secretes adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH). The posterior pituitary secretes vasopressin (also known as antidiuretic hormone [ADH]) and oxytocin, which are synthesized in the hypothalamus. This chapter describes genetic syndromes associated with pituitary tumors, including multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1. Information is provided on the diagnosis and treatment of disorders associated with the underproduction and hypersecretion of pituitary hormones, including Cushing syndrome, pituitary mass effects, and pituitary failure. 

This review contains 4 figures, 23 tables, and 40 references.

Keywords: Pituitary failure, empty sella syndrome, mass effect, Cushing disease, adenoma, diabetes insipidus, endocrinopathy, hormone insufficiency

The trajectories of serious illness and dying have changed in the last century; in the past, patients lived shorter lives and often died quickly of infectious disease, whereas patients in the 21st century live longer and often with prolonged debility in the advanced stages of illness. As a result, patients with serious illness can suffer undertreated symptoms and often feel poorly prepared for the final stages of disease. With more options for advanced life support and other aggressive interventions at the end of life, patients and families face increasingly complex medical decisions in the terminal phase of illness, and the treatments they receive do not always align with their goals and values. Emerging evidence suggests that integrating palliative care into the treatment of advanced illness can improve outcomes, decrease costs, and improve both patient and family satisfaction. Consequently, patient access to high-quality specialty-level palliative care is becoming standard of care at most academic cancer centers and more available in the community. This chapter describes the practice and principles of specialty-level palliative care and outlines specific "generalist" palliative care competencies essential for all physicians caring for patients with serious illness, including prognostication, patient-centered communication, and the navigation of ethical dilemmas in the field of palliative care. Tables outline the philosophy of palliative care, domains of suffering, location of death of hospice patients, the palliative performance scale, median survival times for cancer syndromes, indicators associated with a poorer prognosis in congestive heart failure, the NURSE mnemonic for accepting and responding to emotion, palliative care communication competencies in the intensive care unit, and the SPIKES mnemonic for breaking bad news. Figures depict causes of death in 1900 versus 2010, palliative care through the trajectory of serious illness, theoretical trajectories of disease, life expectancies for women and men, mortality at 1 year post discharge, and a model for patient-centered communication. 

This chapter contains 6 highly rendered figures, 9 tables, 169 references, 1 teaching slide set, and 5 MCQs.

As of 2012, over one in eight Americans is over the age of 65, and this number is rising, particularly in the 85+ age group. This segment of the population has a rate of hospitalization three times higher than that for persons of all ages. General internists and family medicine physicians provide a large portion of care for this age group and should therefore be comfortable using a comprehensive approach to geriatric assessment. This review describes general considerations regarding geriatric care, including the process of taking a functional history and clinical implications of geriatric care. The geriatric assessment process is discussed in terms of physical, cognitive, social, and medical domains. The benefits of geriatric assessment in primary care, specialty care, and hospitalized patients are described. Tables outline activities of daily living, sensory changes with aging, major causes of visual impairment in the geriatric population, major neurocognitive disorder diagnostic criteria, medications to avoid or use with caution based on Beers criteria and Screening Tool of Older individuals’ Potentially inappropriate Prescriptions criteria, U.S. Preventive Services Task Force–recommended services relevant to older adults, and vaccinations in older adults. Figures illustrate the key vulnerabilities of older adults; outcomes linked to functional dependence; common disorders associated with cognitive concerns; domains of cognition and examples of impairment in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition; the social and medical domains of geriatric assessment; barriers to medication adherence in older patients; and resources for medication appropriateness in older adults.

This review contains 8 highly rendered figures, 8 tables, 110 references, and 5 MCQs.

The three main elements in the pathophysiology of thrombosis are endothelial injury, a decrease in blood flow, and an imbalance between procoagulant and anticoagulant factors. The latter element can be either hereditary (e.g., antithrombin deficiency) or acquired (e.g., antiphospholipid syndrome). This review details the assessment of patients with thrombotic disorders, hereditary and acquired hypercoagulable states, and the management of venous thromboembolism. Figures show how the degradation of thrombin-activated factor V Leiden by activated protein C (APC) is significantly slower than that of normal activated factor V (factor Va), leading to enhanced thrombin generation; how normal factor V serves as a cofactor of APC in the inhibition of factor VIIIa, whereas factor V Leiden has a poor cofactor function; and how IgG antibodies recognize platelet factor 4–heparin complexes in heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. Tables list inherited and acquired hypercoagulable states, questions for assessing thrombosis, screening tests for patients with suspected hypercoagulable states, clinical features that suggest thrombophilia, frequency and relative risk of venous thrombosis in selected hypercoagulable states, proposed clinical and laboratory criteria for antiphospholipid syndrome, the classification of antiphospholipid antibodies, the 4Ts scoring system for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, and general guidelines for the management of patients with venous thromboembolism.

This review contains 2 figures, 27 tables, and 174 references

Keywords: Venous thromboembolism, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, protein S, protein C, factor V Leiden, heparin-induced thrombosis, antiphospholipid syndrome

Hemophilia is a family of rare bleeding disorders characterized by deficiency of clotting factors. Hemophilia A is an inherited deficiency of factor VIII, whereas hemophilia B (Christmas disease) represents a deficiency of factor IX. Both hemophilia A and B are X-linked diseases, with hemophilia A accounting for 80 to 85% of cases and hemophilia B 15 to 20%. Although hemophilia has historically referred to deficiencies of factors VIII and IX, it is important to recognize that similar bleeding disorders can occur with other missing clotting factors, although this is far more rare. This review covers the definition, history, epidemiology, biology/genetics, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, treatment, complications, measures of quality of care, and prognosis of hemophilia, as well as future directions. Figures show the clotting cascade, the genetic makeup of severe hemophilia A, an algorithm for diagnosing hemophilia, and hemophilic arthropathy in a patient’s knees. Tables list severity in hemophilia A and B, treatment of acute bleeding in hemophilia A and B, frequency of dosing in acute bleeding, and treatment of acute bleeding with inhibitors.

This review contains 4 highly rendered figures, 4 tables, and 59 references.

Von Willebrand disease is the most common hereditary bleeding disorder. The disease is caused by inherited defects in the concentration, structure, or function of von Willebrand protein, a multimeric protein that mediates the initial adhesion of platelets at sites of vascular injury and binds and stabilizes blood clotting factor VIII in plasma. Defects in von Willebrand factor concentration, structure, or function that were not inherited can also occur; this is termed acquired von Willebrand syndrome. These defects occur as a consequence of other medical disorders (valvular heart disease, thrombocythemia, malignant neoplasms, and myeloproliferative and autoimmune diseases). This review examines the laboratory evaluation, clinical variants, and treatment of von Willebrand disease. Figures show the initial assessment of von Willebrand disease, and a treatment algorithm for von Willebrand disease. Tables list types of von Willebrand disease and medications used to treat von Willebrand disease.

This review contains 2 highly rendered figures, 2 tables, and 10 references.

This review provides a general overview of the genetic approach in medical practice, discusses the principles of genetic testing, including interpretation of genetic tests and direct-to-consumer genomic testing, and looks at genetic counseling and approaches to treatment. The internist should become familiar with genetic disorders such as those associated with mutations in single genes or changes in chromosome number or structure. This is the traditional area of focus for medical geneticists and is likely to remain so. The internist should be familiar with basic principles of care for individuals with the more common of these conditions and needs to recognize clues that suggest the presence of these disorders, especially in family history. The section on genetics of common disorders focuses on pharmacogenetics, risk assessment, and prevention. Figures illustrate commonly used standard pedigree symbols and examples of autosomal recessive, autosomal dominant, X-linked recessive, and maternal inheritance. Tables offer different forms of genetic testing and types of gene mutations at genome and DNA levels.

This review contains 2 figures, 2 tables, and 83 references.

This review discusses the epidemiology, pathology, clinical features, laboratory findings, and treatment for Lyme disease, leptospirosis, relapsing fever, and rat-bite fever. Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi. Lyme disease is a progressive infectious disease with a wide array of clinical manifestations. In most persons, the initial sign of infection is the development of erythema migrans. In general, three stages of the illness can be distinguished: early localized disease, early disseminated disease, and persisting late disease. A photograph shows an erythema migrans lesion, and an algorithm for diagnosis of Lyme disease is provided. A table lists the antibiotic regimens used for the different stages and manifestations of Lyme disease. Leptospirosis is a worldwide zoonosis caused by spirochetes from the genus Leptospira; these spirochetes are shown in a photomicrograph. The disease is acquired by contact with infected animals or exposure to contaminated soil or freshwater and can cause illness ranging from asymptomatic infection to severe multisystem disease with a significant mortality. Relapsing fever is an acute louse-borne or tick-borne infection caused by spirochetes of the genus Borrelia and is characterized by recurrent febrile episodes separated by asymptomatic intervals. Rat-bite fever is infection caused by Streptobacillus moniliformis in the United States and Europe or by Spirillum minus in Asia. 

This review 6 figures, 13 tables, and 95 references.

Keywords: Spirochete, borreliosis, tick, Lyme disease, rat bite fever, leptospirosis, zoonosis, target rash, relapsing fever, louse

Syphilis is an infectious disease with complex acute and chronic manifestations that is transmitted primarily through sexual contact. The disease has been recognized for many centuries, although its origin remains unknown. This chapter’s discussion of the epidemiology of syphilis includes figures illustrating the rate of syphilis in the United States by state and county and the rate of syphilis in the United States from 1941 to 2009. The etiology, pathogenesis and disease course, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, treatment, and complications of syphilis are discussed. Special cases of syphilis—in pregnant women, in children, in HIV-infected patients, and congenital syphilis—are also considered. Illustrations include a dark-field microphotograph of treponemes and photographs of a syphilitic chancre, the classic aculopapular rash from spirochetemia, condylomata lata, and a gumma. Tables outline the clinical manifestations of syphilis in adults and the treatment of syphilis. The nonvenereal treponematoses—yaws, endemic syphilis, and pinta—are a group of infections distributed throughout tropical and semitropical areas of the world. They are primarily noted to cause a variety of skin and skeletal lesions. There is little biologic difference between the treponemes that cause these conditions. The epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and treatment of the nonvenereal treponematoses are discussed.

This chapter contains 7 highly rendered figures, 2 tables, 60 references, 1 teaching slide set, and 5 MCQs.

Infective endocarditis is a microbial infection of a cardiac valve or the mural endocardium caused by bacteria or fungi. Forms of this infection include subacute bacterial endocarditis (SBE) and acute bacterial endocarditis (ABE). Etiology and epidemiology are discussed. There is a section on pathogenesis followed by specific clinical presentations, including endocarditis associated with parenteral drug abuse as well as prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE). Diagnosis and cardiac complications of endocarditis, treatment, recommendations for prophylaxis, and prognosis are addressed. There are several figures showing manifestations and anatomic relations from the infection. Tables describe microorganisms that cause native valve endocarditis, the etiology of PVE, the Duke criteria for diagnosis of infective endocarditis, antimicrobial therapy for endocarditis in adults, guidelines to prevent endocarditis, and recommendations and regimens for endocarditis prophylaxis.

This chapter contains 99 references.

Coronaviruses (CoVs) are a group of viral pathogens that infect mammals and birds. The presentation in humans is typically that of a mild upper respiratory tract infection, similar to the common cold. However, in recent years, dramatic attention has arisen for more lethal members of this viral family (e.g., severe acute respiratory syndrome [SARS-CoV], Middle East respiratory syndrome [MERS-CoV], and coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19]). The epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of these viruses are discussed in this review. Importantly, new guideline tables from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as the World Health Organization are provided at the conclusion of the review.

This review contains 12 tables, 3 figure and 48 references.

Keywords: Coronavirus, severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), COVID-19, respiratory infection, antiviral, real-time polymerase chain reaction

Over 1,000 people suffer sudden cardiac death every day in the United States. About half occur in the hospital, the remainder occurring in the home, outpatient medical environments, or public spaces. The ultimate goal of cardiac resuscitation is survival with full neurologic recovery. Interventions that have the greatest potential to provide this outcome are often those interventions that can be performed by trained laypersons. Delay in the initiation of compressions in a cardiac arrest is one of the leading predictors of mortality. This chapter deliberately opens with a discussion of one of the most vital, yet relatively under-appreciated aspects of cardiac resuscitation—teamwork. Following an overview of cardiac arrest, the chapter covers epidemiology and recognition of cardiac arrest, then activation of the emergency response system. Chest compressions, defibrillation and airway management are discussed, then end-tidal CO₂, vascular access, rhythm analysis during cardiac arrest, and drugs used during cardiac resuscitation. The chapter concludes with a look at postresuscitation care, special considerations in cardiac arrest, and future directions. Figures include the foundations of cardiac resuscitation, a management algorithm for the initial treatment of cardiac arrest, coronary perfusion pressure as a function of time, an impedance threshold device incorporated into a bag-valve mask, a colorimetric CO₂ detector, four basic phases of a capnogram, sample capnographs, a battery-powered intraosseous drill, electrocardiogram readouts of ventricular arrhythmias, a sonogram of large pericardial effusion, and electrocardiographic appearance of varying degrees of hyperkalemia. Tables summarize recommendations from the American Heart Association, the components of optimal and suboptimal chest compressions, and underlying causes of nonshockable rhythms and their management.

This chapter contains 11 highly rendered figures, 3 tables, 138 references, 5 MCQs.

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) refers to a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not considered to be part of conventional or allopathic medicine. Common CAM practices (e.g., acupuncture, meditation, and therapeutic massage) are gradually becoming incorporated into conventional care in response to patients looking to alternative sources for information and advice about health matters and increased understanding of various CAM methods through evidence-based testing. However, although the claims of some methods are supported with academic research, well-founded concerns remain in many popularized CAM practices regarding the lack of evidence and placebo effects. It is thus imperative for physicians to be comfortable in discussing CAM-related topics with patients and be able to appropriately and informatively guide them in a way that harnesses potential benefits and avoids potential harm. In this review, the major CAM therapies in the United States are examined, including the settings in which they are being used, evidence base status, and efficacy of some of the most commonly used modalities. 

This review contains 5 figures, 21 tables, and 123 references.

Keywords: Alternative medicine, complementary medicine, acupuncture, homeopathy, osteopathy, chiropractic, massage therapy, naturopathy

Patients facing serious or life-threatening illness experience challenges to their psychological, social, and spiritual lives as well as to their physical function and comfort. Physicians may be accustomed to focusing on the biomedical aspects of illness, but they have a critical role in assessing the patient's psychosocial issues to identify sources of distress and help implement a plan for mitigating them. An appropriate psychosocial assessment requires a methodical and rigorous approach and includes assessment of any psychosocial issue affected by or affecting a patient's experience of illness. This chapter outlines a structured approach to addressing psychosocial issues by discussing (1) the doctor-patient relationship; (2) coping with illness; (3) family dynamics and caregiving; (4) ethnic and cultural issues; (5) religious, spiritual, and existential issues; (6) mental health issues, including adjustment disorder, depression, anxiety, personality disorders, aberrant drug behaviors, and major mental health issues; and (7) grief and bereavement. Tables outline psychosocial assessment questions, factors predisposing patients with serious illness to depression, risk factors for suicide in patients with terminal illness, and classes of antidepressants, anxiolytics, and sedatives. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C) questionnaire is provided, as well as a list of Web sites with further resources about psychosocial issues in serious illness.

This chapter contains 1 highly rendered figure, 6 tables, 216 references, and 5 MCQs.

Affective disorders are among the most common disorders in psychiatry. They are generally classified according to the persistence and extent of symptoms and by the polarity of these symptoms. The two poles of the affective spectrum are mania and depression. Bipolar disorder is characterized by the presence of the mania or hypomania and often depression. Unipolar depression is defined by depression in the absence of a lifetime history of mania or hypomania. These differences are not merely categorical but have important implications for the prognosis and treatment of these conditions. Bipolar disorder, for example, is better treated using mood-stabilizing medication, whereas unipolar depression responds optimally to antidepressant medications. In addition, prognostically, unipolar depression may sometimes be limited to one episode in a lifetime, whereas bipolar disorder is typically a lifelong condition. The course of both conditions, however, is often chronic, and frequently patients can present with unipolar depression only to later develop manic symptoms. A thorough understanding of both conditions is therefore required to treat patients presenting with affective symptomatology. This chapter discusses the epidemiology, etiology and genetics, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of unipolar depression and bipolar disorder. Figures illustrate gray matter differences with lithium use and the bipolar spectrum. Tables list the pharmacokinetics of commonly used antidepressants and medications commonly used in the treatment of bipolar disorder.

This review contains 2 figures, 2 tables, and 135 references.

Somatic symptoms that cannot be attributed to organic disease account for 15 to 20% of primary care consultations and up to 50% in specialized settings. About 6% of the general population has chronic somatic symptoms that affect functioning and quality of life. This chapter focuses on the recognition and effective management of patients with excessive and disabling somatic symptoms. The clinical presentation of somatic symptoms is categorized into three groups of patients: those with multiple somatic symptoms, those with health anxiety, and those with conversion disorder. The chapter provides information to assist with making a diagnosis and differential diagnosis. Management includes ways to improve the physician–patient interaction that will benefit the patient, a step-care model based on illness severity and complexity, and psychological and pharmacologic treatment. The chapter is enhanced by figures and tables that summarize health anxiety, symptoms, differential diagnoses, and management strategies, as well as by case studies and examples.

This review contains  5 highly rendered figures, 10 tables, and 235 references.

Anxiety disorders are the most common psychiatric disorders among adults in the United States. Although anxiety disorders generally result in significant psychosocial impairment, most adults do not seek treatment until many years after the onset of the anxiety disorder. The treatment literature for anxiety disorder has grown tremendously since the 1980s, and both psychotherapy and medications may prove beneficial for people with anxiety disorders. This review presents a general overview of the anxiety disorders.

This review contains 10 tables, and 36 references.

Key words: agoraphobia, anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, separation anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, specific phobia, treatment of anxiety

Anxiety disorders are characterized by excessive fear and anxiety accompanied by associated behavioral disturbances that cause significant impairment in social and occupational functioning. Anxiety is a complex mood state that involves physiologic, cognitive, and behavioral components. This review describes the five anxiety disorders most commonly diagnosed in adults: social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder, and specific phobia. Diagnostic criteria for these disorders are presented along with empirically supported psychological and pharmacologic treatment approaches. Decades of evidence have indicated that for anxiety disorders of mild to moderate severity, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) should be first-line treatment. CBT interventions for anxiety, including psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring, exposure, applied relaxation/breathing retraining, and skills training, are presented with descriptions of how they may be adapted to particular diagnoses, along with data for their efficacy. Data suggest that selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors are pharmacologic treatments of choice for anxiety and may be used in combination with CBT for moderate to severe symptoms. d-Cycloserine is an emerging treatment that may enhance outcomes in anxiety disorders by optimizing exposure therapy through the facilitation of fear extinction.

This review contains 7 figures, 12 tables, and 105 references.

Key words: agoraphobia, anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, phobias, social anxiety disorder

Chest wall and neuromuscular diseases encompass a broad spectrum of illnesses that affect the mechanics of breathing. This chapter reviews the physiology of the respiratory system and the impact of these diseases. A brief discussion of various chest wall and neuromuscular diseases is included. The approach to the evaluation of a patient with suspected chest wall or neuromuscular disease, including key aspects of the history, physical examination, and diagnostic testing, is discussed. Respiratory care, including ventilation, cough, swallowing, and sleep, is described. Tables outline neuromuscular diseases affecting the respiratory system, causes of diaphragm weakness and paralysis, and a comprehensive approach to respiratory care in chest wall and neuromuscular disease. Figures include illustrations of the anatomy of the respiratory system and contraction of the diaphragm, pressure measures above and below the diaphragm, radiographic images of chest wall diseases and measurement of the Cobb angle, a computed tomographic scan of a patient with pectus excavatum, a graph showing patterns of pulmonary function testing in chest wall and neuromuscular disease, and photos of mouthpiece ventilation and a mechanical insufflator-exsufflator device. Videos show a fluoroscopic sniff test demonstrating unilateral diaphragm paralysis and the use of a mechanical insufflator-exsufflator device.

This review contains 9 figures, 2 videos, 22 tables, and 51 references.

The idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs), also known as myositis syndromes, are a collection of heterogeneous disorders that share the common feature of chronic muscle inflammation of unknown cause. These disorders may occur in adults or children and are sometimes associated with other connective tissue disorders and a variety of cancers. A combined clinical, laboratory, and pathologic evaluation is needed to establish the diagnosis of these acquired systemic connective tissue diseases to rule out the many disorders that mimic IIMs. This module reviews the classification of IIMs, including polymyositis, dermatomyositis, inclusion body myositis, myositis associated with other connective tissue diseases and cancer, and antisynthetase syndrome. The epidemiology; etiology, genetics, and environmental factors; pathophysiology and pathogenesis; diagnosis; differential diagnosis; treatment; and prognosis of IIMs are discussed. Tables describe the criteria for polymyositis, dermatomyositis, and inclusion body myositis; well-characterized subgroups of the IIMs in adults and children; presentation of polymyositis; differential diagnosis of muscle weakness or pain; features that assist in discriminating IIMs from other myopathies; goals for managing IIMs; and key factors for achieving adequate corticosteroid response in IIMs. Figures demonstrate skin findings in IIMs, muscle pathology of IIMs, magnetic resonance imaging of three patients with different IIMs, and treatment approaches to the management of myositis patients.

This review contains 4 highly rendered figures, 8 tables, and 80 references.

Intracerebral hemorrhage can be classified as either secondary (due to trauma, vascular malformations, aneurysms, tumors, or hemorrhagic transformation of ischemic stroke) or primary (without a clear secondary cause). Intracerebral hemorrhage is a neurologic emergency, and leads to significant death and disability each year; care should be expedited and emergency departments should be equipped to appropriately care for and manage these patients. This review covers the risk factors, natural history, pathophysiology, stabilization and assessment, diagnosis and treatment, and disposition and outcomes for patients with intracerebral hemorrhage. Figures show head computed tomographic scans demonstrating a left basal ganglia intracerebral hemorrhage, and an algorithm of management of intracerebral hemorrhage in the emergency department. Tables list some common causes of intracerebral hemorrhage, Boston criteria for diagnosis of cerebral amyloid angiopathy, mechanism of action of common anticoagulants, and suggested reversal agents.

This review contains 2 highly rendered figures, 4 tables, and 79 references.

Spinal injury has the potential to dramatically change a patient’s life. Prompt diagnosis, appropriate supportive medical care, early transfer to a spinal injury center and, if necessary, surgical intervention within 24 hours are essential to optimizing outcomes.  Clinical decision rules aid in determining the need for imaging. When needed, non-contrast enhanced CT is the initial imaging test of choice with MRI being used in patients with neurologic findings, significant pathology on CT, and/or high suspicion for injury. CT or MRI with intravenous contrast is preferred in penetrating trauma. Radiographs are of limited utility in evaluating spinal injury in adults. Classification of spinal injury based on appearance on imaging and neurologic exam is important for surgical management decisions. Cervical injury may lead to respiratory distress requiring early intubation. Hypotension is most often a result of hemorrhage from concomitant traumatic injuries to other organ systems. Crystalloid, blood products, atropine and norepinephrine should be used as needed to avoid systolic BP< 90 mm Hg or heart rate< 60 BPM and maintain a MAP of 85-90 mm Hg. Steroid administration within the first 8 hours of significant spinal injury is controversial and the decision to administer steroids should be made through consultation with patient, family and spinal specialist.

The review contains 8 figures, 2 videos, 13 tables, and 59 references.

Keywords: blunt trauma, neurologic assessment, penetrating trauma, spinal anatomy, spinal cord injury, spinal injury, steroid use, vertebrae, vertebral anatomy, vertebral injury