Lecture 11

Question 1

What is Depression

Answer 1

“the common cold of mental illness” 3% of the population in the USA experiences a depressive episode in any 6 month period. 6% experience a major depressive episode in their life time. In western societies clinical depression has increased since 1945. Effects females twice as men. Less than 20% of individuals with symptoms seek treatment

Question 2

Outlook for Depression as chronic illness

Answer 2

Over 80% of patients treated with drugs improve within 6 months
Less than 1/3 remain well; 2/3 will relapse.

Question 3

What are some symptoms of Clinical Depression

Answer 3

A recurrent, persistent, deep depression with no clear trigger, Anhedonia, Weight loss
Lethargy, Insomnia, Decreased feelings of self worth, Increased feelings of guilt
Thoughts of death and suicidal ideation

Question 4

Hormones and Depression

Answer 4

Individuals with depression have reduced Thyroid function.

Question 5

Whats the result of exogenous THR?

Answer 5

Exogenous TRH results in a decrease in depression symptoms. Depressed patients displayed blunted TSH in response to TRH. Deficit is noticeable across system.

Question 6

what is often present in patients with clinical depression?

Answer 6

High levels of antibodies against the thyroid gland (autoimmune??) High TRH levels in the CSF. Enhancement of antidepressant efficacy when T3 is co-administered

Question 7

Growth Hormone and Depression

Answer 7

GH response in induced -Hypoglycemia is impaired in depressed patients (acute vs chronic stress). TRH causes an abnormal increase in GH in depressed patients.

Question 8

Prolactin and Depression

Answer 8

Elevated plasma levels of prolactin are associated with depression.

Question 9

Depression and inhibition of the HPA via cortisol.

Answer 9

Cortisol would normally inhibit HPA. The negative feedback actions of the HPA are impaired in depressed patients. 50% of individuals with depression have elevated levels of cortisol.

Question 10

Dexamethasone Suppression Test

Answer 10

Dexamethasone is a synthetic steroid similar to gluccorticoids. It should activate negative feedback, resulting in decreased synthesis of cortisol, but fails. Suggesting failure of neural mechanism.

Question 11

Depression, Cortisol and Dexamethasone.

Answer 11

Cortisol levels are usually at their peak in the early morning. In depressed patients, cortisol levels are at their highest 3-4 hours after start of sleep. Dexamethasone results in early suppression of cortisol followed by a surge in circulating levels.

Question 12

Cortisol and Adrenal disorders

Answer 12

Addison disease: Insufficient cortisol secretion
Associated with depression
Cushings Disease: Excessive cortisol secretion
Associated with depression.

Question 13

Depression and Estrogens

Answer 13

Depressed women have low levels of estradiol. Physiological doses of estrogen alleviates depressed mood in post-menopausal women and improves mood in healthy women
Supraphysiological doses reduces symptoms in women with severe clinical depression

Question 14

Postpartum Depression and CRH Involvement

Answer 14

Elevated mid-gestational CRH levels are predictive of postpartum depression
Source of elevated CRH is the placenta
Relationship between CRH and postpartum depression is not known.

Question 15

Postpartum Depression and progesterone

Answer 15

Highest difference between gestational and Post-Partum progesterone levels in post-partum depressed women
Progesterone replacement may ameliorate some symptoms.

Question 16

Postpartum Depression and role β-endorphin

Answer 16

Levels of β-endorphins rise in third trimester of pregnancy and plummet 3-4 hours post-parturition. Highest levels of β-endorphin during gestation correlates with more depression postpartum
“Maternity blues” might results from withdrawal of β-endorphin

Question 17

Seasonal Affective Disorder

Answer 17

Also Known as Winter depression. Characterized by: Depressed affect
Lethargy, Loss of libido, Anxiety, Inability to concentrate, Hypersomnia, Hyperphagia
Carbohydrate craving, Symptoms go away as days get longer. Some may have hypomania/ mania. 1-10% of the population women more than men (3.5:1)

Question 18

Seasonal Affective Disorder and Serotonin (5HT)

Answer 18

Serotonin is synthesized from Tryptophan
A diet rich in carbohydrates increases tryptophan levels in the brain.
High levels of serotonin decrease carbohydrate consumption
It is possible that patients with SAD have cyclic disruptions of the serotonin-carbohydrate regulatory system

Question 19

Describe the increasing Serotonin Path way

Answer 19

Glucose and insulin stimulate uptake of NON-tryptophan AA into peripheral cells. the more tryptophan in brain the more serotonin in brain

Question 20

what do High levels of serotonin stimulate?

Answer 20

High levels of serotonin decrease carbohydrate consumption. It is possible that patients with SAD have cyclic disruptions of the serotonin-carbohydrate regulatory system.

Question 21

Seasonal Affective DisorderRole of Serotonin (5HT)

Answer 21

Serotonin transporter (5HTT) a transmembrane molecule that brings Serotonin back into the presynaptic neuron. Elevated 5HTT binding reflects low levels of 5HT. More 5HTT in winter produces less 5HT, which leads to sad mood.

Question 22

Melatonin is a major regulator of the circadian rhythm what are its effects in SAD

Answer 22

5HT is converted to melatonin in the pineal gland. Melatonin levels are higher during the night than during the day. Shifting sleep patterns also shifts melatonin secretion pattern.

Question 23

how does exposure to light affects Melatonin

Answer 23

Brief exposure to light inhibits night time secretion of melatonin. Light has two functions
To synchronize the daily melatonin rhythm
Acutely suppress daily melatonin secretion

Question 24

Melatonin Light Transduction and SAD

Answer 24

1500 lux (high levels of light) stimulates the suppression of melatonin. People with SAD are 5.6x more likely to have a mutation in melanopsin, which causes a deficits in light transduction.

Question 25

What is the two classification of Anorexia Nervosa?

Answer 25

Restricting: Maintain low weight by excessive dieting and exercise.
Binge eating-purging
ONLY psychiatric disorder that requires a endocrine dysfunction (menstrual abnormalities) as a diagnostic criteria.