Depression Flashcards by Tooks yh

What is neurology?

Neurology is a branch of medicine, diagnosis and treatment of disorders that affect the mind or psyche

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What is human behaviour the product of?

Human behaviour is the product of brain activity

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What is the brain the product of?

The brain is the product of genetics and environment

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What are the characteristics of affective disorders?

Disorders of mood rather than thought/condition

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What are the 2 types of depression?

Unipolar depression

2. Bipolar depression

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What happens in unipolar depression?

Mood swings in one direction

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What is the most common depressive illness?

Unipolar depression

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What percentage of cases are reactive(environmentally induced)?

75% cases are reactive

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What percentage of cases are endogenous(Genetic)?

25% cases are endogenous

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What happens in bipolar depression?

Oscillation between depression and mania

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What is mania?

Mania is excessive exutenance, enthusiasm, self confidence

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When is the onset of bipolar depression usually?

Onset usually in adult life

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What tendency does bipolar depression have?

Strong hereditary tendency

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What is a depressive disorder?

Is a low state marked by significant levels of sadness, lack of energy, low self-worth

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What is major depressive disorder?

Is a severe pattern of depression that is disabling and is not caused by factors such as drugs or a general medical condition

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What is dysthymic disorder?

Is similar to major depressive disorder but less severe and more long lasting

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What do doctors use to diagnose patients with depression?

Doctors use DSM-IV to diagnose patients with depression

What are the emotional symptoms of depression?

Apathy, pessimism, negativity
Low self esteem
Loss of motivation

What are the biological symptoms of depression?

Reduced activity
Loss of libido
Sleep disturbance
Loss of appetite

In what gender is depression more common in?

Depression more common in females than males

What are the factors to consider in depression?

Suicide

- Comorbidity

What medical conditions usually comorbidity with depression?

Terminal illness
Chronic illness
Thyroid dysfunction
Parkinson’s
Anxiety

What causes depression according to the monoamine theory of depression?

-Caused by deficit of monoamines in the brain

What evidence is there tested on mice for the monoamine theory of depression?

Mice were injected with reserpine which depletes the brain of NA and 5-HT
This induces depression

What is evidence against the monoamine theory of depression?

- Most antidepressant drugs take several weeks for therapeutic effect - Cocaine blocks amine uptake but has no antidepressant effect - Decrease on 5-HT in dipolar is linked to aggression rather than depression

What causes depression according to the neuroendocrine theory?

-Caused by hypersensitivity of the HPA axis

What is the evidence for the neuroendocrine theory?

- There's hyperactivity of the HPA meaning there's increased [cortisol]plasma in depressed patients - There's reduced negative feedback from the hippocampus

What happens in the brain in a depressed patient according to the neuroendocrine theory?

-High activity of amygdala stimulates the HPA increasing release of cortisol -High activity of the hippocampus will suppress HPA axis activity ~Cortisol acts on cortisol receptors on the hippocampus to inhibit HPA axis

What does hyperactivity of the amygdala or hypoactivity of the hippocampus lead to?

Hyperactivity of the amygdala or hypoactivity of the hippocampus effects levels of cortisol which can lead to depression

What is glucocorticoid receptor gene expression regulated by and how?

Glucocorticoid receptor gene expression is regulated by early experience - Tactile stimulation just after birth activates 5-HT pathways to hippocampus - 5-HT triggers long lasting increase in expression of glucocorticoid receptor gene - This increases glucocorticoid receptors in hippocampus

What do SSRI's do to glucocorticoid receptors?

SSRI's increase glucocorticoid receptors in hypothalamus

What is depression caused by according to the neuroplasticity and neurogenesis theory?

Depression could be caused by neuronal loss or decrease of neurogenesis or decreased activity in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex

What do antidepressants and ECT do in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex?

Antidepressants and ECT promote neurogenesis in these regions

What does 5-HT during development?

5-HT promotes neurogenesis during development

What is ECT and what does it do?

ECT is localised electrical stimulation | -There's evidence of neurogenesis

What stage of depression is psychotherapy for and what does it do?

Ideal for mild to moderate depression | -Overcomes negative views

What do all drugs used to treat depression increase?

All drugs used to treat depression increase 5-HT or NA

What do tricyclic antidepressant drugs do?

These inhibit 5-HT and NA transporters, therefore increase 5-HT and NA levels in cleft

What do fluoxetine antidepressant drugs do?

These inhibit 5-HT transporter, increasing concentration of 5-HT in cleft

What do MAO inhibitors do?

MAO inhibitors inhibit MAO, therefore preventing the breakdown of monoamines

What does reboxetine do?

Inhibits NA selective reuptake