Affective Disorders Flashcards
What are affective disorders?
Mental health conditions whereby mood is affected.
Suggest 2 affective disorders?
- Depression
- Bipolar Disorder
What is Depression?
Depression is a disorder that causes persistent feelings of low mood, low energy and reduced enjoyment of activities.
Suggets 5 risk factors of depression?
- Female gender
- Older age
- Substance abuse
- Childhood adversity
- Genetic
- Chronic health conditions
Depression can result in a wide variety of symptoms.
But what are the 2 core symptoms of depression?
- Low mood
- Anhedonia (a lack of pleasure or interest in activities)
What is Anhedonia?
A lack of pleasure or interest in activities.
Suggest 4 pyschological/emotional symptoms of depression?
- Anixety
- Guilt
- Low self esteem
- Hopelessness about the future
Suggest 3 cognitive symptoms of depression?
- Poor concentration
- Poor memory
- slow thoughts
Suggest 4 physical symptoms of depression?
- Abnormal sleep
- Poor appetite or overeating
- Low energy
- Slow movements
Suggets 4 factors which are essential to explore when taking a history from whom you suspect is depressed?
1.Any dependents e.g. children or caring for adults
2.Alcohol and drug use
3.Forensic history e.g. violence
4.Risk to self and risk to others
When assessing whether someone is a risk to themselves or a risk to others, what things should you consider?
- Self-neglect
- Self-harm
- Suicidal thoughts
- Harming others
What is a PHQ-9 questionaire?
PHQ-9 questionnaire is a tool used to assess the severity of depression
**PHQ-9 questionaire **involves asking 9 questions to evaluate the severity of depression.
What does a higher score suggest?
The higher the score, the more severe the depression.
How is Depression managed?
Managaing the condition using the Biopsychosocial Approach
Bio- Antidepressants- SSRIs
Psych-CBT, counselling, psychotherapy, psychoeducation
Social- Address lifestyle factors e.g. Exercise, diet, stress, alcohol, support with stressors e.g. finances.
Managing Risk- Admission may be required where there is high risk of self-harm, suicide, or if there is a safeguarding concern.
Additional specialist treatments for unresponsive or severe depression are required.
Suggest 3.
- Electroconvulsive Therapy
- Mood stabilsier e.g. Lithium
- Antipsychotic medications e.g. Olanzapine
What is Electroconvulsive Therapy?
Under general anaesthesia, electrodes are placed on the patient’s head, and a brief electrical current is administered, which triggers a short **generalised seizure **lasting around 30 seconds.
Suggest 3 side effects of ECT?
- Memory loss
- Muscle aches
- Headaches
What is Psychotic Depression?
Depression accompanied with psychosis.
Suggest 3 symptoms of psychosis?
- Delusions
- Hallucinations
- Formal Thought Disorder
When psychosis accompanies depression, it generally indicates severe depression, although psychosis can occur with mild or moderate depression.
How would you treat pyschotic depression?
Using the biopsychosocial approach.
Treatment involves a combination of:
-Antipsychotic drugs (e.g.olanzapine or quetiapine)
-Antidepressants.
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) i
What is Postnatal Depression?
Depression which comes on within 12 months of having a baby.
There is a spectrum of postnatal mental health issues. Suggest 3.
1.Postnatal baby blues
2.Postnatal depression
3.Puerperal psychosis
What is baby blues?
Suggest some features and treatment.
- Affects 50% of women in the first week after birth
- Symptoms: mood swings, low mood, anxiety,irritability.
- Symptoms usually resolve within 2 weeks of delivery and no treatment is needed.
What is postnatal depression?
Suggest some features and treatment.
- Similar to depression that occurs outside of pregnancy, affects womens 3 months after birth.
- Features of Low mood, anhedonia and low energy.
- Treatment is similar to treatment of depression
