Chapter 3

Question 1

What is clinical assessment?

Answer 1

The systematic evaluation and measurement of psychological, biological and social factors in an individual with a possible psychological disorder.

Question 2

What is diagnosis?

Answer 2

The process of determining that psychological, biological and social factors meet all criteria for a specific psychological disorder.

Question 3

What is a Mood Disorder?

Answer 3

• Mood disorders involve disabling disturbances in emotion…from the sadness of depression to the elation and irritability of mania.
• Also known as “affective” disorders, “depressive” disorders

Question 4

What is depression?

Answer 4

A constellation of symptoms reflecting sadness, hopelessness and inertia (not having the energy to do anything

Question 5

What is Mania?

Answer 5

A constellation of symptoms reflecting exaggerate elation (really happy), grandiosity (think they can do anything) and hyperactivity.

Question 6

Depression: diagnostic categories

Answer 6

• Major Depressive Disorder
• Bipolar Disorder
• Other variants include dysthymic and cyclothymic disorders, seasonal affective disorder and post natal depression

Question 7

Major Depressive Disorders

Answer 7

• Characterised by significantly lowered mood and a loss of interest or pleasure in activities that are normally enjoyable.
• Distinguished from “a normal depressed mood” by its severity, persistence, duration and the presence of characteristic symptoms (e.g., sleep disturbance)

Question 8

Manic episodes; diagnostic critera

Answer 8

-Abnormally and persistently elevated mood lasting at least a week
During manic episode, 3 or more of:
-inflated self-esteem / grandiosity
-⬇️d need to sleep
-extremely talkative
-flight of ideas
-distractibility
-⬆️ in activity/agitation
-indiscreet and excessive pursuit of pleasurable activities

Question 9

Bipolar Treatment

Answer 9

• Medication (lithium; thorozine)
• ECT
• Lifestyle management (stress, sleep, alcohol)

Question 10

Dysthymia and Cyclothymia

Answer 10

• Dysthymia is less severe than depression

- Cyclothymia is less severe than bipolar (now like bipolar 2)

Question 11

Symptoms of depression

Answer 11

• Affective / emotional
• Behavioural / Motivational
• Cognitive: hard to concentrate, inertia, hopelessness

Question 12

Major Depressive Disorder DSM-5 Criteria

Answer 12

A. 5 (or more) of the following symptoms have been present during the same 2-week period and represent a change from previous functioning; at least one of the symptoms is either (1) or (2)

(1) depressed mood
(2) loss of interest or pleasure
(3) Significant weight loss/gain or ⬇️/⬆️ in appetite
(4) insomnia or hypersomnia
(5) psychomotor agitation or retardation
(6) fatigue or loss of energy
(7) feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt
(8) diminished ability to think or concentrate or indecisiveness
(9) recurrent thoughts of death

B. The symptoms do not meet criteria for a mixed episode

Question 13

Symptoms of depression

Answer 13

• Affective / emotional
• Behavioural / Motivational
• Cognitive: hard to concentrate, inertia, hopelessness

Question 14

Major Depressive Disorder DSM-5 Criteria

Answer 14

A. 5 (or more) of the following symptoms have been present during the same 2-week period and represent a change from previous functioning; at least one of the symptoms is either (1) or (2)

(1) depressed mood
(2) loss of interest or pleasure
(3) Significant weight loss/gain or ⬇️/⬆️ in appetite
(4) insomnia or hypersomnia
(5) psychomotor agitation or retardation
(6) fatigue or loss of energy
(7) feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt
(8) diminished ability to think or concentrate or indecisiveness
(9) recurrent thoughts of death

B. The symptoms do not meet criteria for a mixed episode