Depression Flashcards
What are affective disorders? (2)
-Affective disorders impact emotions, including moods which are more stable and can persist for longer periods.
- These disorders result in extended periods of intense negative or positive emotions, often causing dysfunction, distress and even danger.
Describe depressive disorder (unipolar) characterisation
- Characterised by depressive moods of feeling sad, irritable or empty or the loss of pleasure.
- A period which lasts at least 2 weeks.
- Include multiple depressive episodes characterised by their severity.
- Diagnosis can only be made if individual has never experienced a maniac or mixed episode.
State unipolar symptoms. (9)
1- Depressed mood
2- Diminished interest in activities
3- Difficulty concentrating
4- Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt
5- Hopelessness
6- Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide
7- Changes in appetite or sleep
8- Psychomotor agitation or retardation
9- Reduced energy or fatigue
Describe bipolar disorder characterisation.
- Involves extreme mood states of both depression and mania.
- Extreme mood states lasting at least one week , unless shortened by treatment.
State maniac symptoms. (8)
1- Euphoria
2- Irritability
3- Grandiosity
4- Increased energy
5- Rapid speech
6- Decreased need for sleep
7- Impulsivity
8- Recklessness
What is the BDI?
- Beck Depression Inventory.
- A psychometric tool used for assessing depression severity.
- Assists qualified health professionals in diagnosing depression.
Describe the BDI.
-Comprises 21 items such as self-dislike and pessimism.
- Each item consists of 4 statements and the person chooses the items the fits best.
- Scores indicate depression severity; 10 being the minimal for diagnosis and above 30 being severe depression.
Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the BDI.
Strengths: Quantitative date which may be compared to see treatment outcome and improvements.
Weaknesses: People may lie about symptoms and may be low in validity and applicability to some cultures.
What are the biochemical explanations of unipolar disorder?
- Dopamine
- Serotonin
Explain the effect of dopamine.
- Dopamine signals in parts of the brain responsible of feelings of motivation and pleasure.
- When dopamine is reduced, such feelings would be affected causing some of the core symptoms in depression ; low mood, lack of motivation and lack of interest and enjoyment in usual activities.
- Anti-depressants work by increasing dopamine levels.
- Explain the effect of serotonin imbalance.
- Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that regulates sleep and appetite as well as mood and anxiety.
- When serotonin levels are reduced, this causes low mood, anxiety and disruption to sleeping and eating patterns.
- Serotonin levels may fall if we have too much monoamine oxidase, an enzyme that breaks down serotonin .
Explain aim of the Oruc et Al study.
- Determines whether specific polymorphisms of two gene associations with serotonin transporters and receptors were more common to those with bipolar.
What were the procedures of the Oruc et Al study?
- Blood samples of those with and without bipolar disorder, diagnostic interview and hospital case notes.
- 42 patients tested for polymorphism for serotonin transporters and receptors.
- Control group with members of no first degree relatives with psychiatric diagnoses.
- Slight significant in gene variations only in females.
What is Beck’s cognitive triad?
- Negative beliefs about self
- Negative beliefs about world
- Negative beliefs about future
What is the reason behind the development of negative beliefs?
- Occurs in childhood due to experiences of criticism/rejection from significant individuals.
- Various experiences such as neglect, abuse, overprotecting parentings and bereavement.
