Shrinkopedia for clinicians.

Shrinkopedia is a plain-language reference written for readers. It is not clinical guidance. Clinicians and trainees find it useful in three specific ways: a differential-diagnosis quick reference, a patient- education resource to share, and a second opinion on how a concept is currently taught. This page organizes the site for those uses.

Editorial infrastructure a clinician can rely on

• Every entry aligns with current DSM-5-TR and ICD-11, cites primary literature, and displays evidence-strength labels (Strong, Mixed, Limited) at the entry level.
• Every entry is medically reviewed by Shariq Refai, MD, MBA, a board-certified psychiatrist. Every entry carries a Published date, Medically-reviewed date, Sources-checked date, and Last-updated date.
• The full editorial standard is public at editorial-strategy and editorial-standards. The evidence methodology is at how we review evidence.
• Corrections are logged transparently at shrinkopedia.com/corrections.

1. Differential-diagnosis quick references

The comparison entries below address the most common differential questions patients arrive with. Each is written as a clinician-adjacent reference the patient can also read.

• ADHD vs autism

  How ADHD and autism differ, where they overlap, and why so many people meet criteria for both. A clear, psychiatrist-reviewed comparison.

• Bipolar I vs bipolar II

  How bipolar I and bipolar II differ, what mania versus hypomania actually means, and why bipolar II is not "milder." Psychiatrist-reviewed.

• Bipolar disorder vs borderline personality disorder

  How bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder actually differ, why they get confused, and what treatment looks like for each. Psychiatrist-reviewed.

• Depression vs burnout

  How depression and burnout differ, why they overlap, and how to know when it is one, the other, or both. A clear, psychiatrist-reviewed guide.

• Major depression vs persistent depressive disorder

  How major depressive disorder and persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) differ, why they often coexist, and what treatment looks like for each.

• OCD vs OCPD

  OCD and OCPD share a name but are two different conditions. How they differ, why the names confuse people, and what treatment looks like for each.

• Panic attack vs anxiety attack

  How panic attacks and anxiety attacks differ, why the terms get mixed up, and what actually helps for each. A clear, psychiatrist-reviewed comparison.

• PTSD vs complex PTSD

  How PTSD and complex PTSD differ, why the distinction is real, and what treatment looks like for each. Psychiatrist-reviewed and up to date with ICD-11.

2. Cornerstone condition entries suitable to share with patients

Each of these entries is 3,000-5,000 words and structured with a Quick answer, symptom cluster, differential considerations, treatment overview, when-to-seek-care section, questions to ask a clinician, reality check, and evidence discussion. They are written to be readable at first-year-college level.

• ADHD

  What ADHD is, how it shows up in children and adults, and what treatment looks like. A clear, psychiatrist-reviewed guide.

• Bipolar disorder

  What bipolar disorder is, how mania and depression show up, bipolar I versus II, and what treatment looks like. A clear, psychiatrist-reviewed guide.

• Borderline personality disorder

  A pattern of instability in emotions, self-image, and relationships, with marked impulsivity. Heavily stigmatized and very treatable; many people improve.

• Generalized anxiety disorder

  What generalized anxiety disorder is, how it differs from everyday worry, the symptoms, and what treatment helps. A clear, psychiatrist-reviewed guide.

• Major depressive disorder

  What depression really is, the symptoms to know, why it happens, and what treatment looks like. A clear, psychiatrist-reviewed guide for a hard day.

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder

  How OCD works, the obsession-compulsion cycle, what intrusive thoughts mean, and why treatment like ERP helps. A clear, psychiatrist-reviewed guide.

• Panic disorder

  What panic disorder is, why attacks feel dangerous but aren't, how avoidance grows, and what treatment helps. A clear, psychiatrist-reviewed guide.

• Post-traumatic stress disorder

  What PTSD is, the four symptom groups, why trauma stays stuck, and how trauma-focused treatment helps. A clear, psychiatrist-reviewed guide.

• Schizophrenia

  What schizophrenia is, the symptoms and the myths, how psychosis works, and why recovery is real. A clear, psychiatrist-reviewed guide.

3. One-page printable explainers

The Library ships 35 one-page explainers on mental-health concepts (cognitive distortions, window of tolerance, attachment styles, stages of change, and more). Each is available as an editable web page and as a printable PDF suitable to hand a patient. See the Library for the full list. Machine-readable registry at /downloads.json.

4. When medication is the topic, use PsychiatryRx

Shrinkopedia's treatment entries include medication class overviews (SSRIs, SNRIs, mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines) but does not publish per-drug monographs. For specific medication pharmacology, dosing, interactions, and prescribing considerations, the network's medication reference is PsychiatryRx. Every important PsychiatryRx page carries clinician and pharmacist review dates.

5. When the topic is the profession, use shrinkiatry

For content on psychiatric practice, training, ethics, economics, and the profession itself, shrinkiatry is the network's profession-layer property. Useful reader-facing entries include why getting a psychiatric appointment is hard, the limits of confidentiality, and the difference between psychiatrist, psychologist, and therapist.

6. When plain-language definitions are the need, use Shrinktionary

For a canonical one-paragraph definition of a specific term (rumination, hypervigilance, anhedonia, etc.), the network's language layer is Shrinktionary. Shrinkopedia entries render Shrinktionary's canonical definitions inline where applicable, so the same concept has one authoritative short definition across the network.

Contribute an expert perspective

Qualified clinicians and researchers can contribute a bounded expert perspective (150-400 words on one specific question) to a specific Shrinkopedia concept page. Named contributor profiles carry Person schema with Wikidata and ORCID linking, generate a permanent citation URL, and provide a formal Vancouver-style citation contributors can list on their CV. Full details, eligibility per credential type, and currently open questions at shrinkopedia.com/contribute and shrinkopedia.com/contribute/topics-we-need.

Machine-readable access

Shrinkopedia publishes several machine-readable feeds:

• /index.json: full page registry with kind, canonical concept id (Shrinktionary spine), audience, published date, and reviewed date.
• /downloads.json: library explainers registered as downloadable assets.
• /llms.txt and /llms-full.txt: AI answer-engine files summarizing the site's scope, reviewer, and editorial standards. /ai.txt sets out usage and attribution terms for AI systems.
• /rss.xml and /feed.json: new entries and material updates, with per-collection RSS feeds at /conditions/feed.xml, /symptoms/feed.xml, /terms/feed.xml, and /treatments/feed.xml.
• /sitemap-index.xml: points to the URL sitemap and the image sitemap.
• /verified/: every independent verification link for the medical reviewer.

Suggested inclusion in institutional resource lists

Medical schools, psychiatric residencies, psychology graduate programs, and social-work programs are welcome to include Shrinkopedia in reading lists, resource pages, and orientation materials without seeking prior permission. Best practice is to link to specific entries (not the homepage) and to note the medical-editor credential when introducing the site. For a shareable recommendation-block or presentation slide, email [email protected].

Reporting an error or suggesting a topic

Errors of fact or interpretation should be sent to [email protected]. Substantive suggestions for coverage should be sent to [email protected]. Both are reviewed by the editorial team; corrections that are supported by primary literature are typically acted on within one review cycle.