Antidepressants

Question 1

How to diagnose major depressive
disorder?

Answer 1

1. symptoms at least 2 weeks
2. must not be influenced by illness or medication
   This is because symptoms can occur secondary to illnesses such as Hypothyroidism, Parkinson’s disease and Inflammatory conditions.
3. at least five symptoms one (depressed mood or diminished interest or pleasure in activities)

Question 2

What are the other symptoms of depression?

Answer 2

Change in appetite and sleep
Low energy and libido
Poor concentration and difficulty making decisions
Feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt
Psychomotor agitation or retardation
Recurrent thoughts of suicide

Question 3

What are the characteristics of Major depressive disorder?

Answer 3

1. Mood depression without medical or situational causes.
2. inability to cope with ordinary events and pleasures.

Question 4

What are the two hypo these that explain the Pathophysiology of Major Depression?

Answer 4

1. The neurotrophic hypothesis
2. The monoamine hypothesis

Question 5

The neurotrophic hypothesis explains that depression is associated with …..

Answer 5

A drop in
1. brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)
2. levels in the cerebrospinal fluid and serum
3. in tyrosine kinase receptor B activity

Question 6

The monoamine hypothesis explains that depression is caused by ……..

What are the three details that support this hypothesis?

Answer 6

deficiency of monoamine neurotransmitters such as cortical and limbic serotonin (5-HT), dopamine and norepinephrine

1. Reserpine depletes monoamines and has been shown to cause depression in some individuals and rodents.
2. Iproniazid reverses reserpine induced depression in rodents and in a monoamine oxidase inhibitor.
3. chronic activation of monoamine receptors by antidepressants appears to increase BDNF transcription.

Question 7

What is the weaknesses of the monoamine hypothesis?

Answer 7

1. amine levels increase almost immediately
2. maximum beneficial effects not seen for many weeks.
   time to synthesize neurotrophic factors has been
   proposed for this delay of antidepressant effects

Question 8

What types of drugs are used to treat depression?

Answer 8

1. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
2. Serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRIs)
3. Tricyclic antidepressants
4. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
5. Heterocyclic antidepressants- Bupropion

Question 9

What is the most commonly prescribed class of drug for depression?

Answer 9

SSRIs