Depression Flashcards
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
10-15% i.e. 10-15% of people will experience depression at some point in their lives. Mid-20s
Depression rates for women are _x as high as for men. Overall rates have ___ed from 1991/2 to 2001/2
2x. Doubled
Depression is highly recurrent: __% of sufferers have a second episode, highly comorbid with ___ disorders and is deemed the most ___ “brain disorder” in Europe
60%. Anxiety. Costly
Place in order of severity from least to most: pure depression, pure anxiety & comorbid depression + anxiety
Pure anxiety, comorbid depression + anxiety & pure depression
Give 2 ways in which “candidate gene association studies” can be conducted
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
What do SNP and VNTR stand for? What is a polymorphism?
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)
What is a candidate gene?
A gene which we suspect to be linked with disorder X because of its known link with neural systems which are altered in X
Does the serotonin transporter gene have a VNTR or a SNP?
VNTR
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
SSRIs > TCAs. 40% vs. 30%
Does the serotonin transporter gene have a VNTR or a SNP?
VNTR
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
SSRIs > TCAs. 40% vs. 30%
Distinguish between a state factor, trait factor and risk factor
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
The amygdala is important for recognising the need for a fight/flight response. Name 3 of its specific functions:
1) Detecting threats, 2) Directing attention to emotionally salient stimuli to engage further processing, 3) Emotional learning
According to the lecture slides, PFC performs 2 functions:…
1) It maintains representations of goals & means to achieve them (EFs) & 2) It regulates & controls emotional responses
From anterior (front) to posterior (back) order the following: PFC, motor cortex & PMc. Where is the limbic system in relation to these areas?
PFC, premotor cortex & motor cortex. Beneath them
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…
Orbital. At the top of the brain at the very front
Orbitofrontal cortex is responsible for subjective ___ processing
Hedonic
The ACC is __ the frontal gyrus
beneath
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
sgACC, reduced
In Mayberg (2005) how many Pps responded to DBStimulation after 1 month, 2 months & 6 months?
1m: 2 Pp, 2m: 5 Pp & 6m: 4 Pp (3 of whom were near or in remission)
Depressed Pp show better memory for ___ content & worse memory for ___ content. This effect is most reliable during __-___ encoding
-ve, +ve. Self-referent
Life ___ units indicate the stress which an event causes
change
