Depression Flashcards
Pathogenesis of Depression
5 factors that contribute?
- Genetics
- Early Life Adversity
- Social Factors
- Psychological Factors
- Secondary Depression (general medical disorders/medications/substance of abuse)
How does ealry life adversity predispose pts to major depression?
by altering sensitivity to stress and response to negative stimuli
- Pathologically how does early life stress affect the stress response?
- How can this affect the child for life?
- hyperactive corticotropin releasing factor cells in hypothalamus – increased stress response. (HPA axis)
- Stress responses can be set for life and modify the activation of certain genes (epigenetics!) and transmitted to offspring
WHat are epigenetics?
Epigenetics – changes in expression of genes caused by early life experiences or chronic stress.
genes + environment + environmentally altered gene expression
Social Factors- May lead to depression onset or lead to depressive episodes. What are some examples of this?
4
How can this affect behavior about medical care and their own symtpoms?
- Isolation
- Poor social relationships
- Criticism from family members (expressed emotion)
- Depression in social networks
Influence symptoms expressed and willingness/ability to access care.
How can Cognitive/Behavioral factors lead to depression?
Negative/distorted patterns of thinking predispose to depression
- These patterns worsen in the depressed person
Describe Neuroticism (personality trait)
anxiety, moodiness, envy, frustration, loneliness – respond poorly to stressors, interpret ordinary situations as threatening, and minor frustrations as hopelessly difficult.
Pathogenesis - Secondary Depression
can be caused by?
3
- General Medical Conditions
- Medications
- Drugs of Abuse
Medical conditions that can lead to depression?
Top 5
Other?
- Sleep Apnea
- Hypothyroidism/Vitamin D deficiency/Diabetes
- Chronic Pain
- Stroke
- Heart Disease – ischemic, HF, cardiomyopathy
Parkinson's MS Epilepsy Head injury Cancer COPD Dementia HIV/Neurosyphilis
Medications that may cause depresison?
5
- Interferon
- Corticosteroids
- Benzodiazepines/Opiods
- Varenicline (Chantix)/
- Beta-Blockers
Drugs of abuse that may cause depression? 8
- PCP
- Amphetamines
- Cocaine
- Marijuana
- Sedative-hypnotics
- Alcohol
- Opiates
- Steroids
Neurobiology of Depression
Structural abnormalities that may cause this?
4
- increased ventricular-brain ratio
- smaller frontal lobe volumes
- smaller hippocampal volumes
- number/density/size of neurons and glial cells are abnormal
Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis) excess excretion of glucorticoids may lead to what?
suppression of neurogenesis and hippocampal atrophy
Sleep/Circadian rhythms – leads to decreased?
REM latency and slow wave sleep Inflammation – higher levels of inflammatory markers
Symptoms of Major Depression
three categories?
- Psychological
- Neurovegetative
- Psychomotor/physical
Psychological symptoms?
7
- Depressed Mood (Dysphoria)
- Numbness
- Anhedonia (inability to experience joy)
- Decreased Interest
- Irritability/Anxiety
- Guilt/worthlessness
- Suicidal Ideation
Neurovegetative symtpoms?
4
- Appetite
- Sleep
- Energy
- Concentration
Psychomotor symptoms? 2
Phsyical symptoms? 3
Psychomotor
- retardation (walking through mud or having bricks tied to feet)
- agitation
Physical
- aches/pain
- weakness/malaise
- GI distress
Qualifiers for Dx of depression?
55
- Symptoms occur in the same two weeks
- Most of the day nearly every day
- Distress or impairment
- R/O substances/general medical condition
- R/O bereavement
Subtypes of Depression
8
- Anxious
- Atypical
- Catatonic
- Melancholic
- Mixed Features
- Peripartum
- Psychotic
- Seasonal
What are the subcategories of depression?
- Bipolar
2. Secondary
Secondary causes of depression? 3
- Medical illness
- Medications
- Drugs of abuse
Comorbid Psychiatric Conditions
2
- Anxiety Disorders
2. Substance Abuse
Types of anxiety disorders?
4
- Generalized Anxiety
- Panic Disorder
- Obsessive compulsive disorder
- PTSD