Chapter 14: Psychological Disorders (Affective Disorders) Flashcards
What is depression?
An intense feeling of sadness
What is major depression?
sadness that lasts from weeks to months at a time
What are the symptoms of depression?
sadness that feels like hopelessness, loss of enjoyment, lack of energy, and sleep disturbance
What is the annual cost of mood disorders?
$24 to $234B
What is unipolar depression?
depression that appears alone
Who is more at risk for unipolar depression?
Women are 3x more likely to experience between 35 and 45. But men’s risk increase with age
What is bipolar depression?
Depression that alternated between depression and mania
What is mania?
excessive energy, a decrease of sleep and increase sex drive, drug use
What can replace mania?
agitation
Are affective heritable?
somewhat
Is bipolar disorder or depression more heritable?
bipolar disorder
Who is more affected in heritability?
women instead of men
What is the percentage of heritability?
29% in men while 42% in women
What is the monoamine hypothesis of depression?
There is reduced activity in the norepinephrine and serotonin synapses
What is the treatment in the hypothesis of depression?
Antidepressants like monoamine oxidase inhibitors that increase the activity of norepinephrine and serotonin. Others include smoking which acts similarly to monoamine oxidase. NMDA receptor antagonist helps as well. Also, cognitive behavior therapy when paired with drugs
What is electroconvulsive therapy?
Also, known as shock therapy, this reduces depression by inducing seizures and synchronizing brain areas.
What is transcranial magnetic stimulation?
magnets over the scalp that help with depression
What is deep brain stimulation?
electrodes placed directly in the brain that helps with depression
What is the circadian rhythm in depression?
A biological rhythm that can adjust a person’s circadian rhythm and relieve depression
What is REM in depression?
Rapid eye movement. Reducing REM can help reduce depressions
What is season affective disorder?
depression that varies through seasons
What is phototherapy?
exposure to high intense lights that help and treat winter depression
Is there an answer to electroconvulsive therapy with antidepressants and neuroplasticity?
No. There is no definite answer but neurogenesis can play a role. Plasticity may be the most promising answer
What is the antidepressant theory?
Adjusting the circadian rhythm and REM can help with depression
What is bipolar disorder?
A cycle of 48 hours to months where there is both depression and mania. Typically, depression is longer than mania. Mania can be triggered by stress
Are cycles predictable in bipolar disorders?
No
What medication is there for bipolar disorders?
Lithium where it stabilizes neurotransmitter and receptor sites to prevent mood swings
What are some brain abnormalities in affective disorders?
Decreased Frontal Activity in Depression
Loss in the hippocampus, volume deficits, and decreased activity in prefrontal areas (dorsolateral cortex)
What are some brain abnormalities in affective disorders?
Increased Activity in the Ventral Prefrontal Cortex
Increased activity in ventral prefrontal cortex and volume/activity of amygdala
What are some brain anomalies in affective disorder?
Connectivity between the cortex, corpus callosum, and thalamus in bipolar patients. Manic episodes increase from 4% to 36%
What areas are responsible for the depression and mania switch?
The ventral prefrontal is responsible for the “depression” switch while the subgenual prefrontal cortex is responsible for the “manic” switch
What are the statistics for suicide among affective disorder patients?
A high of 20% with bipolar patients specifically
What is low in affective disorder patients and suicide?
Serotonin. Higher among those who repeat suicide attempts
What are other symptoms in affective disorders and suicide?
Impulsivity and aggression that is linked to serotonin and BDNF genes
What can affect/trigger depression in those who have affective disorders?
Antidepressants (especially in adolescents)
