Depression Flashcards
define a mental health disorder
*psychiatric diagnosis, mental illness
- results in significant changes in a persons thinking, emotional state and behaviour, and ability to function in social and occupational settings
define mental health problem
*poor mental health, minimal mental well-being
- broad term that includes mental health disorders and less severe mentak health symptoms that do not meet diagnostic criteria but may disrupt personal, social, and occupational functioning
history of psychiatry
divine punishment & demonic processes
bodily fluid imbalance
natural physical causes
psychological and social stress
*now = biological causes +/- psychological and social stressors
how can culture influence mental illness?
racial and ethnic minorities are less likely to seek mental health treatment than caucasians
influence treatment decisions and coping
it impacts the way people describe their symptoms
what is the purpose of the mental health services act?
assist people from serious mental illness in receiving treatment
what are the three mental health practitioners?
psychiatrist
psychologist
therapist
what is done for a clinical assessment in psychiatry?
physical exam & clinical interview
- use diagnostic statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5)
pros of the DSM-5
provides criteria for standardizing diagnoses
designs to produce reliable diagnosis
helps guide research in mental health
cons of DSM-5
defines illness to close to “normal” leading to overdiagnoses
largely based on expert opinion
risk of misdiagnoses
stigmatization
what is looked at during mental status exam (MSE)?
general observations
thinking
emotion
cognition
what is the difference between mood and affect?
mood is subjective - it is the inner feeling of emotion
affect is objective - its the external expression of emotional responsiveness
what is the purpose of a physical exam?
rule out medical and/or medication-induced causes
what is measurement-based care?
refers to the systematic use of measurement tools, such as validated scales, to monitor outcomes and support clinical decision-making (such as diagnosis and treatment)
what are some measurement-based scales for depression?
HAM-D
PHQ-9
BDI
what are some measurement-based scales for anxiety?
HAM-A
GAD-7
how can we remember what is measured in the PHQ-9 for depression?
SIG E CAPS
Sleep decreased
Interest decreased in activities
Guilt or worthlessness
Energy decreased
Concentration difficulties
Appetite disturbance or weight loss
Psychomotor retardation / agitation
Suicidal thoughts
what are the limitations of current psychotropic nomenclature?
outdated
does not support clinical decision-making
inconsistent with other areas of medicine
may confuse patients & exacerbate non-adherance
negatively contributes to stigma
what are the goals of the neuroscience-based nomenclature(NbN)?
- based on contemporary scientific knowledge
- help clinicians make informed choices when working out the next ‘pharmacological step’
- system of naming that does not conflict with the actual use of the medications
- be future-proof to accommodate new compounds
- help patients understand and accept a prescribed treatment for a condition
what are the 4 distinct components of stigma?
labeling someone with a condition
stereotyping people who have that condition
creating a division
discriminating against someone on the basis of their label(s)
what should you say instead of mental illness?
mental illnesses or a mental illness
what is the mental health first aid’s 5-step action plan?
A - assess for risk of suicide or harm
L - listen nonjudgmentally
G - give reassurance and information
E - encourage appropriate professional help
E - encourage self-help and other support strategies
what is the definition of major depressive disorder?
persistently and abnormally low mood, characterized by feelings of sadness, emptiness or irritability, and accompanied by other somatic or cognitive changes that significantly affect the individual’s capacity to function
T or F: depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide
False, its the 2nd leading cause
etiology of depression
complex, multifactoral (developmental, biologic, environmental)
can be genetic
what are the proposed pathophysiology theories for the cause of depression?
monoamine hypothesis
neuroplasticity hypothesis
endocrine and immune system abnormalities
structural and functional alterations
what is the monoamine hypothesis?
5HT, NE, DA
dysfunction in monoamine production (low 5HT - serotonin)
dysregulation in monoamine activity (decreased 5HT activity in presynaptic areas = upregulated autoreceptors = less 5HT in synapse)
what is the neuroplasticity hypothesis?
downstream effects -> altered cell growth and adaptation
low levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) ??
what is the endocrine and immune system abnormalities theory?
increased plasma cortisol, increased peripheral cytokine concentrations
chronic stress model - involves hypothalamic-pituitary-axis(stress long term)
what is the structural and functional alterations theory?
alterations identified in brain regions involving emotional processing
- reduced volume or hyperactivity in prefrontal cortex, cingulate cortex, hippocampus, amygdala
risk factors for MDD
genetics - blood relatives
life experiences - traumatic or stressful events
personality disorders
substance use
medical comorbidities
what is DSM-5?
psychiatry diagnostic criteria
- diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders
what are the diagnostic criteria for MDD?
- at least 5 symptoms
- at least 1 symptom must be depressed mood or anhedonia (lack of interest)
- present nearly every day for at least a 2 week period
– symptoms cause significant distress
– episode is not attributable to direct physiological effects of a substance of another medication
– MDD is not better explained by a different mental illness
– there has never been a manic or hypomanic episode
what is considered mild MDD?
5 or 6 symptoms, minimal functional impairment
what is considered severe MDD?
nearly all symptoms, significant functional impairment or motor impairment
what are the symptoms of depression?
*depressed mood
*anhedonia
- feelings of worthlessness or guilt
- suicidal ideation, plan, or attempt
- fatigue or loss of energy
- sleep changes
- weight or appetite changes
- decreased ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness
- psychomotor retardation or agitation
(this is SIG E CAPS)
what are the descriptive factors for MDD?
MDD with…
- anxious distress
- mixed features
- catatonic features
- melancholic features
- atypical features
- peripartum onset
- seasonal pattern
- psychotic symptoms
what medications may be associated with MDD?
CV agents - reserpine
anticonvulsants - phenobarbital
hormonal agents - GnRH agonists
immunologic - interferon alpha
based on the PHQ-9 scale what number corresponds with the severity of depression?
<5 = no symptoms
5-9 = minimal
10-14 = moderate
15-19 = moderately severe
20-27 = severe
what are the risk factors for suicide?
I - ideation
S - substance use
P - purposelessness
A - anxiety
T - trapped
H - hopelessness
W - withdrawal
A - anger
R - recklessnes
M - mood changes
what is the prognosis for MDD?
40% recover in 3 months
60% within 6 months
80% within 12 months
15% never achieve remission
response to antidepressants
40-60% response rate
- response rate decreases with each subsequent treatment trial
what are the predictors of remission?
female sex
white race
employment
higher level of education
higher income
what is the overall goal of therapy for acute treatment of MDD?
symptom remission and restoration of premorbid functioning within 8-12 weeks
what is the overall goal for maintenance treatment of MDD?
prevent recurrence of mood episode
general goals of therapy for MDD?
minimize adverse drug effects
maximize adherence
provide education to patients and family
identify and manage risk factors for comorbid conditions
non-pharmacological treatment for MDD?
positive lifestyle changes
natural products
psychological treatment - counseling
neurostimulation
what are the pharmacological treatments?
antidepressants
adjunct drugs
what are the natural products for treatment?
st. johns wort
s-adenosyl methionine
omega-3 fatty acids
folate L-methylfolate
when is psychological treatment indicated?
for moderate to severe depression or if the patient prefers
what are the psychological treatments?
cognitive behaviuoral therapy (CBT)
behavioural activation (BA)
interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT)
mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT)
what are the neurostimulation treatments?
transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
what is TMS?
used for refractory depression
magnetic fields are used to stimulate nerve cells in regions of the brain involved in mood regulation and depression
how long is TMS course?
4-6 weeks
adverse effects of TMS
headache
scalp discomfort
what is ECT?
used for severe depression, depression with psychosis or catatonic features
electrodes placed on various scalp regions
electrical charge is applied to stimulate the brain and produce a seizure while patient under general anesthetic
seizure lasts 1 minute
efficacy of ECT
80-90% effective for MDD
how many ECT treatments required?
usually 6-12
adverse effects of ECT
confusion during post-ictal period
impaired memory after procedure
headache
muscle ache
what were the conclusions from the cipriani trial?
no strong evidence to conclude that any antidepressant is superior in efficacy
new medications not better than old ones
individualize therapy