Depression

Question 1

What does depression mean ?

Answer 1

disorders of mood rather than disturbances of thought or cognition, it may range from a very mild condition, bordering on normality, to severe (psychotic) depression accompanied by hallucinations and delusions

Question 2

Symptoms

Answer 2

1. Emotional components
   • low mood
   • low self-esteem
   • indecisiveness, loss of motivation
   • anhedonia, loss of reward.
2. Biological components
   • retardation of thought and action
   • loss of libido
   • sleep disturbance and loss of appetite.

Question 3

Symptom of depression

Answer 3

◼ Persistent sadness
◼ Feelings of guilt, worthlessness,
helplessness or hopelessness
◼ Loss of interest
◼ Difficulty concentrating and complaints
of poor memory
◼ Anxiety

Question 4

Causes

Answer 4

-related to a chemical (norepinephrine
and serotonin) imbalance in the brain that makes it hard for the
cells to communicate with one another
-hereditary
-can be linked to stressful events in your life, such as the death of someone you love, a divorce, or loss of
you a job
-certain medicines

Question 5

Antidepressants

Answer 5

work by increasing the action of certain neurotransmitters in the brain, including norepinephrine and serotonin.

MOA: By blocking the enzymatic breakdown of norepinephrine,
◼ By slowing the reuptake of serotonin

Question 6

4 categories of antidepressant

Answer 6

◼ Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)
Eg: amitriptyline, amoxapine, desipramine
◼ Selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRI)
Eg: citalopram, fluoxetine, paroxetine
◼ Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
Eg: isocarboxazid, phenelzine, selegiline
◼ Atypical antidepressants
Eg: bupropion, mirtazapine, vilazodone

Question 7

Tricyclic antidepressants

Answer 7

• inhibiting the reuptake of both norepinephrine and serotonin into presynaptic nerve terminals.
• most common side effects are orthostatic
  hypotension
• Anticholinergic effects such as dry mouth,
  constipation and tachycardia

Question 8

Selective serotonin-reuptake
inhibitors

Answer 8

• Serotonin is a natural neurotransmitter
  in the CNS. Lack of adequate serotonin
  in the CNS can lead to depression.
• SSRIs are drugs that slow the reuptake
  of serotonin into presynaptic nerve
  terminals.
• advantage of the SSRIs is
  their greater safety. Sympathomimetic
  effects (increased heart rate and
  hypertension), anticholinergic effects and
  sedation are less common with this drug
  class.

Question 9

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors

Answer 9

• inhibit monoamine oxidase enzyme that stops the actions of neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine and serotonin.
• side effects of the MAOIs include orthostatic hypotension, headache, insomnia, and diarrhea.
• hypertensive crisis can occur when an MAOI is used together with foods containing tyramine