Minerva
BMJ 2006; 332 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.332.7537.372 (Published 09 February 2006) Cite this as: BMJ 2006;332:372All rapid responses
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Minerva described the mnemonic SIGECAPS which is used to diagnose
depression in the USA (British Medical Journal, 332, p372,11 Feb 2006).
An improved version was suggested - C GASP DIE (American Journal of
Psychiatry 2006, 163, 329-30).
Obviously the value and memorability of these exercises depends on
the effort each person puts into it.
I thought it would be simpler to create a mnemonic in which the ten
letters of the word depression represent its ten symptoms as described in
the tenth edition of the International Classification of Diseases (1):
D = DEPRESSED MOOD
E = ENERGY LOSS/FATIGUE
P = PLEASURE LOST
R = RETARDATION OR EXCITATION
E = EATING CHANGED – APPETITE /WEIGHT
S = SLEEP CHANGED
S= SUICIDAL THOUGHTS
I = I’M A FAILURE (LOSS OF CONFIDENCE/SELF ESTEEM)
0 = ONLY ME TO BLAME (GUILT)
N = NO CONCENTRATION
1. World Health Organisation (1992). The ICD-10 Classification of
Mental & Behavioural Disorders, pp119-131, WHO, Geneva.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests
Fat is not the answer
I must question Minerva's support (BMJ 2006; 332: 372) for the
Editorial in 'Anaesthesia' (2006; 61: 107-9) advocating the use of lipid
infusions in the management of severe local anaesthetic toxicity. First,
there is no hard evidence that "fat can reverse refractory cardiovascular
collapse", only some interesting animal research which requires further
work. Second, the clinician dealing with such a situation has greater
priorities than using an untested therapeutic regimen. Third (and most
important), the real encouragement which needs to be given to clinicians
is to use large doses of local anaesthetics in such a way that the
cardiovascular collapse does not happen anyway!
Competing interests:
I have received research funding from AstraZeneca
Competing interests: No competing interests