Chapter 7: Mood Disorders and Suicide Flashcards
Postpartum Depression
PPD is often accompanied by:
- Disturbances in appetite and sleep
- Low self-esteem
- Difficulties in maintaining concentration or attention
Genetic factors and history of depression or anxiety can increase risk.
Involves persistent/severe mood changes occurring after childbirth.
How does cyclothymic disorder have a similar diagnostic profile and criteria to persistent depressive disorder?
Chronic cyclical pattern of mild mood swings lasting at least two years.
Generally thought of as “chronic depression”, with symptoms lasting at least two years.
Symptoms of both don’t meet the diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder
Cognitive triad of depression
Negative view of oneself
- Perceiving oneself as worthless, deficient, inadequate, unlovable, and lacking the skills necessary to achieve happiness.
Negative view of the environment
- Perceiving the environment as imposing excessive demands and/or presenting obstacles that are impossible to overcome, leading to continual failure and loss.
Negative view of the future
- Perceiving the future as hopeless and believing that one is powerless to change things for the better. One expects of the future only continuing failure and unrelenting misery and hardship.
Which neurotransmitter is associated with regulation of mood, and found to be influenced by a variation of genetic factors?
Variations of genes regulating serotonin are linked to greater risk of depression in the face of life stress.
Biomedical treatment for depression
SSRI’s are the most commonly used due to lesser risk of negative side effects. TCA’s and MAO’s have with more risk of side effects that can be more serious.
In which cases does ECT tend to be an effective treatment approach?
It can help relieve major depression in many cases in which alternative treatments have failed.
Biomedical treatment of bipolar disorder
- Bipolar disorder is most commonly treated with mood stabilizing drugs.
- Lithium is considered the first recommended medication. Helps reduce mania, stabilize moods, and reduce risk of relapse in bipolar patients.
- In clinical settings, Lithium is often described as “the first line of treatment”.
Which populations tend to be at greater risk for suicidal thoughts and/or attempting suicide?
- Suicide risk greatest among middle-aged and older adults, especially males.
- Women more often attempt suicide but more men succeed.
- Suicides more common among (non-Hispanic) White Americans and Native Americans compared to other groups.
Common features of depression include changes in:
Emotional state
Motivation
Functioning and motor behavior
Cognition
