Chapter 15 Flashcards
Mental illness results from the combo of…
biological predisposition and experiences
feel sad and helpless every day for weeks at a time
Major Depressive Disorder
Major Depressive Disorder characteristics according to the DSM-IV
little energy, feelings of worthlessness, suicidal thoughts, feelings of hopelessness, difficulty sleeping, difficulty concentrating, little pleasure
showed that for ppl w/2 short forms of the genes, increasing # of stressful experiences led to big increase in probability of depression
Caspi et al. study
viral infection of farm animals, which produces periods of frantic activity alternating with periods of inactivity
Borna disease
depression after giving birth
postpartum depression
4 major categories of antidepressants
tricyclics.
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
MAOIs.
Atypical antidepressants
Operate by blocking transporter proteins that reabsorb serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine into the presynaptic neuron after their release
Tricyclics
Result of tricyclics
prolongs effects of the drug in postsynaptic neuron
Also block histamine receptors, acetylcholine receptors, and certain sodium channels
Tricyclics
- Block reuptake of serotonin – prolongs presence of serotonin in the presynaptic cleft, where it continues to stimulate the postsynaptic cell
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
similar to tricyclics but to serotonin only
SSRIs
Block reuptake of norepinephrine and serotonin
Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)
- Block the enzyme monoamine oxidase (MAO), a presynaptic terminal enzyme that metabolizes catecholamines and serotonin into inactive forms
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)
are usually prescribed when tricylcics or SSRIs do not work
MAOIs
miscellaneous group containing everything other than the other three types (w/antidepressant effects and mild side effects)
Atypical antidepressants
inhibits reuptake of dopamine and to some extent norepinephrine but not serotonin
bupropion (wellbutrin)
an herb; Marketed as nutritional supplement and not regulated by U.S. Food and Drug Administration
St John’s wort
o Has potentially dangerous side effect – increases the effectiveness of a liver enzyme that breaks down plant toxins, but enzyme also breaks down most medicines
St John’s wort
Is depression due simply to having too little of the neurotransmitters?
People with depression have approximately normal levels of release of neurotransmitters
o Most people with depression have lower than average levels of brain-derived neurptrophic factor (BDNF). As a result they show
impaired learning, smaller than average hippocampus, generally increases BDNP production, smaller than avg production of hippocampal neurons
long-term (almost life-long) condition of unhappy mood
dysthymia
ECT
electrically induced seizure
side effects of ECT
Memory loss, although if applied to only right hemisphere.
A high risk of relapsing into another episode of depression within a few months
