Affective disorders - Depression Flashcards
Are mood disorders primary or secondary?
Can be both, occur randomly or in resposne to a problem
What changes in mood occur in depression?
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Perplexity
- Anhedonia
What changes occur in thought content in depression?
- Guilt
- Hopelessness
- Worthlessness
- Neuroses - Hypochondriasis, agarophobia
- Ideas of reference
What changes in beliefs and perceptions can occur in a depressed individual?
- Delusions
- Hallucination
What changes in bodily function occur in a depressed individual?
- FATIGUE
- SLEEP DISTURBANCE - most commonly early wakening
- APPETITE - weight loss
- LIBIDO
- CONSTIPATION
- PAIN
What psychomotor changes can occur in depression?
- Agitation
- Retardation
What social changes can occur in someone with depression?
- LOSS OF INTERESTS/APATHY
- IRRITABILITY
- WITHDRAWAL/LOSS OF CONFIDENCE
When classifying depression, what criteria does it have to meet (besides the actual symptomatology)?
- Last for at least 2 weeks
- No hypomania or manic episodes
- Not 2o to drug/alcohol misuse, medications, medical disorder, or bereavement
- Cause significant functional limitation
What are the core symptoms of depression as defined by ICD-10?
- Low mood - most of the day, everyday, for at least 2 weeks
- Anhedonia - loss of pleasure/interest
- Low/decreased energy
What are typical symptoms of depression which are additional to the 3 core symptoms as defined by the ICD-10?
Remember GLASS SAC
- Unreasonable feeling of Guilt
- Decreased Libido
- Change in Appetite
- Sleep disturbance of any sort
- Low Self esteem
- Suicide thoughts/behaviour
- Agitation or retardation
- Decreased Concentration
What are the criteria for the diagnosis of mild depression?
At least 2 core symptoms + 2 additional = 4 symptoms
What are the criteria for the diagnosis of moderate depression?
At least 2 core symptoms + 3-4 additional symptoms = 5-6 symptoms
What are the criteria for the diagnosis of severe depression as per ICD-10?
All 3 core symptoms + at least 4 additional symptoms = 7 or more symptoms
or
Mild/moderate + psychosis/stupor
The presence of what symptom(s) immediately classes depression as being severe?
- Psychosis
- Stupor
How would you diagnose psychomotor retardation?
Objective measurement
What are aetiological factors which can increase the risk of the development of depression?
- Biological - FH
- Psychological - Neuroticism, low self-esteem, childhood experience
- Social - adverse life event, stress, lower social class
If someone presented with symptoms of depression, what would be your differential diagnosis?
- Normal reaction to life event
- Psychiatric - Bipolar, schizophrenia, anxiety, anorexia
- Dysthymia/Cyclothymia
- Substance misuse
- Stroke, tumour, dementia
- Infection
- Medications
- Endocrine - Hypothyroidism, Addison’s, hyperparathyroidism
If someone presented to you with low mood, what endocrine disorders would you think of?
- Hypothyroid
- Addison’s
- Hyperparathyoroidism
If someone presented with low mood, what psychiatric problems would you consider as part of your differential diagnosis?
- Bipolar
- Schizophrenia
- Anxiety
- Anorexia nervosa
If someone presented with low mood, what neurological problems would you consider?
- Stroke
- Dementia
- Tumour
What investigations would you do in someone with low mood/apparent depression?
- Assessment - measurement tools
Beyond this, based on excluding treatable causes:
- Consider Bloods - FBC, ESR, B12/folate, TFTs, LFTs, glucose, Ca2+
- Consider Toxicology screen
- Medication reconcilliation/drug history
How would you manage someone with mild depression?
Psychological intervention
- Improved sleep hygeine
- Anxiety management
- CBT
No pharmacological intervetion unless symptoms extend beyond 8 weeks
How would you manage moderate depression?
- High intensity psychological intervention
- Antidepressant - SSRI is first line
How would you manage someone with severe depression?
Consider contacting mental health services if high risk of self harm
What medications are used to treat depression?
Antidepressants
- SSRI’s
- TCA’s
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
- SNRI’s
What is the mechanism of action of Tricyclic antidepressants?
Monoamine (serotonin and noradrenaline) reuptake is blocked by the TCAs which antagonise the amine transporter, resulting in a greater monoamine concentration in the synapse
What are examples of TCAs?
- Amitriptyline
- Clomipramine
- Nortriptyline
When are TCA’s indicated for use?
- Depression
- Anxiety disorder
- Neuropathy
What are common side effects of TCA’s?
- Anti-cholinergic effects - dry mouth, blurred vision, constuipation, hypotension, urinary retention
- Arrhythmias/Heart block
- Hyponatraemia - due to SIADH
What is the mechanism of action of monoamine oxidase inhibitors?
Amine neurotransmitters (e.g. 5HT, catecholamines, dopamine) are broken down to inactive metabolites by the enzyme monoamine oxidase (MAO), of which two isoforms exist, in nerve terminals:
- MAOA - found principally in the gut and liver
- MAOB - found in the brain
MAO inhibitors prevent breakdown of amine neurotransmitters by irreversibly binding with the enzyme
When are monoamine oxidase inhibitors used?
- Resistant depression
- Parkinson’s Disease
What are side effects of MAOI’s?
- Orthostatic hypotension
- Weight gain
- Dry mouth
- 3 S’s - Sedation, Sexual dysfunction, Sleep disturbance
What is the mechanism of action of SSRI’s?
Serotonin is a monoamine neurotransmitter with a role in regulation of mood. SSRIs selectively inhibit the reuptake of the monoamine serotonin (5-HT) within the synapse. The prolongation of the presence of serotonin in the synapse causes an upregulation of its effects on the postsynaptic neuron.
What are examples of SSRI’s?
- Citalopram
- Fluoxetine
- Paroxetine
- Sertraline