Depression pathophysiology Flashcards
what are affective disorders?
unipolar depression and bipolar disorder
what two symptoms must one have to be diagnosed with depression and for how long?
- Low mood
- Anhedonia
- For more than 2 weeKS
What symptoms must one have at least 4 of to be diagnosed with depression?
- Guilt
- Hopelessness, despair
- Suicidality
- Disturbed sleep
- Altered appetite
- Poor concentration, cognitive dysfunction
- Fatigue
- Restlessness/slowed movement
what two episodes do people with bipolar disorder experience?
- Mania or hypoania
2. Depression
what happens in bipolar 1?
- depressed and manic
- function is impaired
what happens in bipolar 2?
- extremely depressed and hypomanic
- function is not impaired
why do those suffering from bipolar disorder have a reduced lifespan?
- suicide
- lifestyle
- reduced access to healthcare
what lifestyle interventions help with unipolar depression?
- sleep hygiene improved
- exercise
- socialising
- good diet
- reduced alcohol and drug intake
- talking
Explain the process of glucocorticoid signalling?
- Lipophilic CORT(CORTISOL) diffuses across membranes
- Binds to (intracellular) Glucocorticoid Receptors (GR) and Mineralocorticoid Receptor(MR) in brain
- Activated GR binds to glucocorticoid response element (GRE) in promotor regions of genes
- GREs can repress or increase gene transcription
- e.g. In the hypothalamus and pituitary GR reduces production of peptides CRH and ACTH-feedback
Is the glucocorticoid level higher, lower or the same in people with depression/bipolar than those without?
they have higher glucocorticoid levels
what is the monoamine theory of depression?
Relative decrease in NA and/or 5-HT neurotransmission underlies the symptoms of depression
where in the brain is 5-HT stored/contained?
dorsal and median raphe nuclei
where in the brain is noradrenaline contained?
in the locus coerlus
what type of release does serotonin undergo?
tonic release
what type of release does noradrenaline undergo?
phasic release
