Depression psychoeducation

Question 1

What is the reference for the diagnostic criteria for depression?

Answer 1

APA (2013)- contained in the DSM-V.

Question 2

The 9 most common symptoms of depression are:
1. Feeling down, depressed or \_\_\_\_\_
2. A loss of \_\_\_\_\_ in doing things
3. Changes to \_\_\_\_\_\_
4. Changes to \_\_\_\_\_
5. \_\_\_\_\_ agitation/retardation 
6. 
7. 
8.
9.

Answer 2

The 9 most common symptoms of depression are:

1. Feeling down, depressed or hopeless
2. A loss of pleasure in doing things
3. Changes to appetite
4. Changes to sleep
5. Psychomotor agitation/retardation
6. Fatigue
7. Difficulty concentrating
8. Feelings of worthlessness
9. Thoughts about dying/suicidal ideation

Question 3

According to the DSM-V (APA, 2013) in order for a diagnosis to be made, an individual must be suffering from at least ____ of the 9 symptoms, for more days than not, for at least ___ weeks.

The ___ symptoms must include either feeling down/depressed/hopeless OR a loss of interest/pleasure.

Importantly, symptoms must not be attributable to what?

Answer 3

According to the DSM-V (APA, 2013) in order for a diagnosis to be made, an individual must be suffering from at least 5 of the 9 symptoms, for more days than not, for at least 2 weeks.

The 5 symptoms must include either feeling down/depressed/hopeless OR a loss of interest/pleasure.

Importantly, symptoms must not be attributable to substance misuse.

Question 4

Beck (1967) argued that depression can be conceptualized in what way?

Answer 4

Beck (1967) argued that depression can be conceptualised as having negative thoughts about the self, the world and the future.

Question 5

What is the lifetime prevalence of depression?

Answer 5

16% (Kessler et al, 2005).

Question 6

Who argued that the lifetime prevalence of depression is 16%?

Answer 6

Kessler et al (2005) argued that the lifteime prevalence of depression is 16%.

Question 7

Depression is more prevalent in ____ than _____ (_____ et al, 2013).

Answer 7

Depression is more prevalent in women than men (Kessler et al, 2013).

Question 8

Who argued that women are 70% more likely to suffer from depression than men?

Answer 8

Kessler et al (2003) argued that women are 70% more likely to suffer from depression than men.

Question 9

Silverstein et al (2013) argue that the gender differences in the prevalence of depression can be explained by studying a specific ____ of depression termed _____ depression; a depression characterised by specific physical symptoms of a marked severity, of which far more ______ are diagnosed than men.

Answer 9

Silverstein et al (2013) argue that the gender differences in the prevalence of depression can be explained by studying a specific phenotype of depression termed somatic depression; a depression characterised by specific physical symptoms of a marked severity, of which far more women are diagnosed than men.

Question 10

According to Fava (2006), what percentage of individuals who are suffering from their first depressive episode will suffer from another episode at some point in their life?

Answer 10

80% of individuals who are suffering from their first depressive episode will suffer from at least one other episode at some point in their life (Fava et al, 2006).

Question 11

Who argued that 80% of individuals who are suffering from their first depressive episode will suffer from at least one other episode at some point in their life?

Answer 11

Fava et al (2006).

Question 12

Who found that around 50% of individuals diagnosed with depression recovered from their first episode and remained well, whether treated or not?

Answer 12

Eaton et al (2008), found that around 50% of individuals diagnosed with depression recovered from their first episode and remained well, whether treated or not.

Question 13

According to Eaton et al (2008), what percentage of individuals suffering from their first depressive episode will suffer from at least one other episode at some point in their life?

Answer 13

50% of individuals suffering from their fist depressive episode will suffer from at least one other episode in their life (Eaton et al, 2008).

Question 14

What percentage of individuals suffering from their first depressive episode will suffer from chronic reoccurrence?

Answer 14

15% of individuals suffering from their first depressive episode will experiene chronic reoccurrence (Eaton et al, 2008).

Question 15

McGuffin et al (1996) conducted a study in order to establish the concordance rates for depression in MZ vs. DZ twins. What did they find? What does this suggest?

Answer 15

MZ= 46%
DZ= 20%
This suggests a genetic basis for depression (McGuffin et al, 1996).

Question 16

What is the reference to use when talking about the twin study which suggests a genetic basis for depression?

Answer 16

McGuffin et al (1996).

Question 17

What is the main critique of the twin study into the genetic basis for depression by McGuffin et al (1996).

Answer 17

The study by McGuffin et al (1996) does not tell us about the NATURE of the genetic link.

Question 18

According to Pezawas (2005), the short allele of which gene has been linked to depression?

Answer 18

The short allele of the 5 HTT gene has been linked to depression.

Question 19

Who found a statistically significant difference in the prevalence of depression between a sample with, vs. without, the 5 HTT gene?

Answer 19

Pezawas (2005).

Question 20

Who found evidence to suggest that there is a positive correlation between stressful life events, such as bereavement and redundancy, and depression?

Answer 20

Michl et al (2013) found evidence to suggest that there is a positive correlation between stressful life events, such as bereavement and redundancy, and depression.

Question 21

Michl et al (2013) found that self-reported stressful life events were associated with increased _____ in day-to-day thinking, which was in turn associated with depressive symptoms. That is, _____ mediates the relationship between stressful life events and depressive symptoms.

Answer 21

Michl et al (2013) found that self-reported stressful life events were associated with increased rumination in day-to-day thinking, which was in turn associated with depressive symptoms. That is, rumination mediates the relationship between stressful life events and depressive symptoms.

Question 22

Following the findings of Michl et al (2013), what should future research seek to do?

Answer 22

Explore the neurobiological mechanisms which underlie an individual’s propensity to engage in rumination.

Question 23

What is a wider implication of the findings of Michl et al (2013)?

Answer 23

Effective interventions for depression will specifically target rumination. E.g. BA thought to work in party by reducing an individual’s capacity to engage in ruminatory thinking.

Question 24

Why is it important to treat depression as early on as possible?

Answer 24

Of all the noncore symptoms of depression (symptoms other than low mood and loss of pleasure), suicidality is the symptom which reoccurs most consistently in subsequent episodes (Williams et al, 2006).

Question 25

Arguably, even if the suicidality is not resulting in suicidal behaviour, suicidal ideation represents a serious problem in its own right because with each episode, the risk of detrimental outcomes ____ (____ _____ et al, 2010).

Answer 25

Arguably, even if the suicidality is not resulting in suicidal behaviour, suicidal ideation represents a serious problem in its own right because with each episode, the risk of detrimental outcomes increases (Van Order et al, 2010).

Question 26

Who that is of paramount importance that evidence-based interventions are used, in order to prevent the escalation of depressive symptoms into suicidality?

Answer 26

Barnhofer et al (2015) argue that is of paramount importance that evidence-based interventions are used, in order to prevent the escalation of depressive symptoms into suicidality.

Question 27

If there is a comorbidity of depression and anxiety, which should we aim to treat first?

Answer 27

Depression (NICE recommendations).

Question 28

What are the 3 first line NICE recommendations for the treatment of mild-moderate depression?

Answer 28

1. Individual CBT-based GSH (particularly BA and PS)
2. A structured group physical activity programme
3. CCBT

Question 29

Why do NICE guidelines warn against the use of antidepressants for the treatment of mild-moderate depression?

Answer 29

The risk-benefit ratio is poor for mild-moderate cases.

Question 30

Under what circumstances might it be suitable to prescribe anti-depressant medication for someone with mild-moderate symptoms?

Answer 30

1. Symptoms persist after applying first line interventions e.g. GSH, structured activity programme, cCBT
2. There is past history of moderate-severe depression
3. The individual has subthreshold symptoms but they have persisted for at least 2 years