14.2. Mood disorders Flashcards
What evidence suggests two types of depression are influ- enced by different genes?
Relatives of people with early-onset depression have a high risk of depression and many other psychological disor- ders. Relatives of people with late-onset depression have a high probability of circulatory problems.
What did Caspi and colleagues report to be the relationship between depression and genetics?
People with the short form of the gene controlling the serotonin trans- porter are more likely than other people to react to stressful experiences by becoming depressed. However, in the absence of stressful experiences, their probability is not increased.
Some people offer to train you to use the right hemisphere of your brain more strongly, allegedly to increase creativity. If they were successful, can you see any disadvantage?
People with predominant right-hemisphere activity show an increased tendency toward depression.
What are the effects of tricyclic drugs?
Tricyclic drugs block reuptake of serotonin and catecholamines. They also block histamine receptors, acetylcholine receptors, and certain sodium channels, thereby producing unpleasant side effects.
What are the effects of SSRIs?
SSRIs selectively inhibit the reuptake of serotonin
What are the effects of MAOIs?
MAOIs block the enzyme MAO, which breaks down catechol- amines and serotonin. The result is increased availability of these transmitters.
In what way does the time course of antidepressants conflict with the idea that they improve mood by increasing neu- rotransmitter levels?
Antidepressants produce their effects on sero- tonin and other neurotransmitters quickly, but their behavioral benefits develop gradually over 2 to 3 weeks.
As opposed to an interpretation in terms of neurotransmit- ter levels, what is an alternative explanation for the benefits of antidepressant drugs?
Antidepressant drugs increase production of BDNF, which gradually promotes growth of new neurons in the hippocampus and new learning
As depression becomes more severe, what happens to the percentage of patients showing improvement while taking antidepressant drugs or placebos?
For more severe cases, the percentage of patients who improve remains about the same for patients taking antidepressant drugs, but fewer patients taking placebos show improvement.
What is an advantage of psychotherapy over antidepressant drugs?
People who respond well to psy- chotherapy have a lower risk of later relapse than people who respond to antidepressant drugs. Also, antidepres- sant drugs produce unpleasant side effects.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of ECT?
ECT helps many people who do not respond to antidepressant drugs or psychotherapy, and its benefits usually develop relatively quickly. However, the probability of a quick relapse is high.
What change in sleep habits sometimes relieves depression?
Going to bed earlier some- times relieves depression.
What are the advantages of bright-light treatment compared
to antidepressant drugs?
It is cheaper, has little risk of side effects, and produces its benefits more quickly.
What are common treatments for bipolar disorder?
The common pharmaceutical treatments for bipolar disorder are lithium salts and certain anticonvulsant drugs— valproate and carbamazepine. A diet that includes omega-3 fatty acids also helps, as does a consistent sleep schedule.
What is one reason why it may be hard to locate genes contributing to depression?
The genes for depression in one population may be rare in another.
