Anxiety Disorders (ch.18.3) Flashcards
Bipolar Depression:
-Characterized by periods of depression alternating with mania
Mania:
-Overconfidence, impulsitivity, high energy. This unorganized behaviour makes it difficulties to complete projects and meet responsibilities
Rapid Cycling:
- (Some bipolar patients experience this)
- four or more cycles of mania and depression within a year, these can be much more frequent including multiple cycles a day
Cylothymia:
Cycling between dysthymia (mild depression) and hypomania (mild mania)
Bipolar Depression average age:
Average age of onset is earlier than unipolar depression
- First episode commonly between 15- 30 y with an average of 25 year
- Age of onset IS tied to genetics
Bipolar Depressions (are men or women more effected)
Men and women are equally effected
One gene with Bipolar Depression is isolated as a contributing factor that encodes for…
BDNF ( a neurotrophic factor)
Brain changes that are associated with bipolar depression:
- Enlarged ventricles
- Reduced Grey Matter -> this correlated with the number of episodes (the number of episodes the greater the loss of neurons)
- Suggests an accumulation of damage over time
What is a problem with using antidepressants in the treatment of Bipolar Depression?
- The depression is oftener educed but mania is triggered
Typical Antipsychotics (for bipolar disorder)
- Would seem an attractive treatment for mania but generally they are not very effective
Mood Stabilizers:
Mechanisms of actions not completely understood
- Used primarily to combat symptoms of mania but not all symptoms of BP
- side effects: increase in weight, dizziness, lethargy, vision problems
Most commonly used medication for bipolar disorder:
Lithium
Problem with Mania and taking medication:
Mania can feel “pleasant” in comparison to feeling medicated or depressed therefor there are issues with compliance
Anxiety Disorders:
Characterized by chronic fear in the absence of threat
Psychological symptoms of anxiety:
fear and worrying