Depression

Question 1

In terms of the demographics of depression, it is more common in women than men, has a lifetime prevalence of… & age of onset of…. Rates may be rising

Answer 1

10-15% i.e. 10-15% of people will experience depression at some point in their lives. Mid-20s

Question 2

Depression rates for women are _x as high as for men. Overall rates have ___ed from 1991/2 to 2001/2

Answer 2

2x. Doubled

Question 3

Depression is highly recurrent: __% of sufferers have a second episode, highly comorbid with ___ disorders and is deemed the most ___ “brain disorder” in Europe

Answer 3

60%. Anxiety. Costly

Question 4

Place in order of severity from least to most: pure depression, pure anxiety & comorbid depression + anxiety

Answer 4

Pure anxiety, comorbid depression + anxiety & pure depression

Question 5

Give 2 ways in which “candidate gene association studies” can be conducted

Answer 5

1) By comparing the frequency of a certain functional allele in controls vs. cases of the disorder, 2) By comparing depression scores in Pp with different functional alleles

Question 6

What do SNP and VNTR stand for? What is a polymorphism?

Answer 6

SNP = single nucleus polymorphism, VNTR = variable number of tandem repeats. A polymorphism is when different versions of the same gene exist e.g. with one different base pair (SNP)

Question 7

What is a candidate gene?

Answer 7

A gene which we suspect to be linked with disorder X because of its known link with neural systems which are altered in X

Question 8

Does the serotonin transporter gene have a VNTR or a SNP?

Answer 8

VNTR

Question 9

Khan (2000) found that after 4 weeks ___ antidepressants were slightly more effective than ___ antidepressants. The % of decrease in symptoms was __% for ADM vs. __% for placebos

Answer 9

SSRIs > TCAs. 40% vs. 30%

Question 10

Does the serotonin transporter gene have a VNTR or a SNP?

Answer 10

VNTR

Question 11

Khan (2000) found that after 4 weeks ___ antidepressants were slightly more effective than ___ antidepressants. The % of decrease in symptoms was __% for ADM vs. __% for placebos

Answer 11

SSRIs > TCAs. 40% vs. 30%

Question 12

Distinguish between a state factor, trait factor and risk factor

Answer 12

State factor i.e. a factor associated only with the state of being depressed = a feature which disappears when symptoms fade. Trait factor = a feature which remains even after symptoms have gone. Risk factor = a feature present prior to disorder onset

Question 13

The amygdala is important for recognising the need for a fight/flight response. Name 3 of its specific functions:

Answer 13

1) Detecting threats, 2) Directing attention to emotionally salient stimuli to engage further processing, 3) Emotional learning

Question 14

According to the lecture slides, PFC performs 2 functions:…

Answer 14

1) It maintains representations of goals & means to achieve them (EFs) & 2) It regulates & controls emotional responses

Question 15

From anterior (front) to posterior (back) order the following: PFC, motor cortex & PMc. Where is the limbic system in relation to these areas?

Answer 15

PFC, premotor cortex & motor cortex. Beneath them

Question 16

On the diagrams shown in the slides, ___ PFC falls either side of medial PFC when you look up at the brain from the bottom. Lateral PFC falls…

Answer 16

Orbital. At the top of the brain at the very front

Question 17

Orbitofrontal cortex is responsible for subjective ___ processing

Answer 17

Hedonic

Question 18

The ACC is __ the frontal gyrus

Answer 18

beneath

Question 19

Mayberg (2005) found that severe depression patients who had not responded to alternative treatments showed increased ___ activity prior to treament, which was reduced if they ___ to DBStimulation

Answer 19

sgACC, reduced

Question 20

In Mayberg (2005) how many Pps responded to DBStimulation after 1 month, 2 months & 6 months?

Answer 20

1m: 2 Pp, 2m: 5 Pp & 6m: 4 Pp (3 of whom were near or in remission)

Question 21

Depressed Pp show better memory for ___ content & worse memory for ___ content. This effect is most reliable during __-___ encoding

Answer 21

-ve, +ve. Self-referent

Question 22

Life ___ units indicate the stress which an event causes

Answer 22

change