Depression Flashcards
What are the symptoms of depression
Core symptoms of low mood, lack of energy and lack of enjoyment and interest (anhedonia)
Depressive thoughts
Biological symptoms - lack of appetite, poor sleep, lack of libido, poor concentration
Psychotic symptoms
Lose contact with reality
Believe they are the cause of all problems around them
Name some differences between an adjustment reaction to a depressive event and clinical depression
Adjustment - symptoms develop suddenly, symptoms fluctuate, is time limited, energy not low, preoccupied with event, feelings of anger or frustration
Depression - symptoms develop slowly, symptoms are continuous, at least 2wks of symptoms, lack of interest, guilt, loss of appetite/weight, sleep disturbances, low energy
Name some causes of depression
Genetics
Childhood experiences - affected by quality of attachment, quality of parental relationships, loss of a parent, bullying
Female gender
Stressful job or studies
Relationship difficulties or break downs
Financial strain or unemployment
Isolation from family or friends
Losing a loved one
What is the treatment for a patient with depression
Antidepressants - SSRIs, SNRIs, TCAs. Do not give in mild depression
Mood stabilisers - lithium, sodium valporate. Are teratogenic
Social and psychological intervention - e.g. CBT
Name some symptoms of mania/hypomania
Elevated mood
Increased energy
Pressure of speech
Reduced sleep
Flight of ideas - jump from topic to topic
Short attention span
Normal social inhibition lost
Inflated self-esteem, often grandiose
Psychotic symptoms in mania
How is a diagnosis of bipolar disorder made and what are the two types of bipolar disorder
Diagnosis of bipolar made following 2 episodes of mood disorder, at least one of which is mania or hypomania
Bipolar 1 - episodes of mania. More severe as have psychotic symptoms
Bipolar 2 - episodes of hypomania. No psychotic symptoms
What is the treatment for bipolar disorder
Mood stabilisers - lithium, sodium valporate, carbamazepine, lamotrigine
Antipsychotics - quetiaprine, aripiprazole, olanzapine
NEVER GIVE ANTI-DEPRESSANTS FOR BIPOLAR
Which structures in the brain are involved in mood disorders
Limbic strucutre - emotion, memory, motivation
Frontal lobe - attention, memory, mood, social and moral reasoning
Basal ganglia - emotion, cognition, behaviour
Name some physical disorders that cause mood disorders
Hormone disturbances, e.g. thyroid dysfunction
Vitamin deficiencies - e.g. B12
Heart and lung diseases
Blood vessels not functioning
Kidney disease
Liver disease
What neurotransmitters are targetted in the treatment of psychiatric disorders and which are the main two
Main two are NA and serotonin
Others include dopamine, ACh, GABA, glutamate
What are the functions of NA within the brain
Mood
Behaviour
Memory
What are the functions of serotonin within the brain
Sleep
Impulse control
Appetite
Mood
