affective disorders Flashcards
what are mood disorders
disorders of mental status and function where altered mood is the core feature
term referring to states of depression and mania
commonest group of mental disorders
how can mood disorders present
can present as a 1y problem or as a consequence of other disorder or illness e.g. cancer, dementia, drug misuse, medical treatment
what are mood disorders often associated with
anxiety symptoms and anxiety disorders
focus on the depressive disorders when treating - the treatment of this often helps with the anxiety symptoms
what is depression - symptom
an emotion within the range of normal experience
describes a mood that can range from normal experience to severe life-threatening illness
systemic symptoms with similarities to fatigue and pain
typically considered as a form of sadness, not just an absence of happiness
depression as an illness
combination of symptoms and signs
can be recurrent
leading cause of disability worldwide
common
when does depression become abnormal
no clear and convenient division
generally:
- persistence of symptoms (at least 2 wks)
- pervasiveness of symptoms (most of the time)
- degree of impairment
- presence of specific symptoms or signs
3 areas of symptoms of depressive illness
psychological
physical
social
psychological symptoms of depression
CHANGES IN MOOD
- depression (may find diurnal variation)
- anxiety (inability to relax)
- perplexity (feeling of being overwhelmed, particularly in puerperal illness)
- anhedonia (inability to experience pleasure in things you normally would)
CHANGE IN THOUGHT CONTENT
- guilt
- hopelessness
- worthlessness
- any neurotic symptoms (hypochondriasis, agoraphobia, obsessions and compulsions, panic attacks)
- ideas of reference
- psychotic symptoms: delusions and hallucinations if severe
what are ideas of reference
an individual is thinking that in their environment something is happening that is specifically relating to them, even when there may be no evidence to suggest that’s true
physical symptoms of depression
CHANGE IN BODILY FUNCTION
- energy (fatigue)
- sleep (too much or disturbed)
- appetite (weight gain/loss)
- libido
- constipation
- pain
CHANGE IN PSYCHOMOTOR FUNCTIONING
- agitation
- retardation
social symptoms of depression
loss of interests
irritability
apathy
withdrawal, loss of confidence, indecisive
loss of concentration, registration and memory
define agitation
a state of restless overactivity, aimless or ineffective
define anhedonia
loss of ability to derive pleasure from experience
define apathy
loss of interest in own surroundings
define anxiety
an unpleasant emotion in which thoughts of apprehension or fear predominate
define retardation
a slowing of motor responses including speech
define stupor
a state of extreme retardation in which consciousness is intact
patient stops moving, speaking, eating and drinking
on recovery can describe clearly events which occurred whilst stuporose