Lecture 12 - Depression I Flashcards
What are the two key symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder?
Single or recurrent depression episodes with a depressed mood most of the day nearly everyday, and markedly diminished pleasure/interest in activities in a 2 week period.
What is the MD with Anxious Distress subtype?
Accounts for those with MD and anxiety symptoms, but not an anxiety disorder.
What is the Seasonal Pattern subtype?
Those who are more depressed during certain seasons (usually autumn and winter)..
What is the Peripartium Onset (Postnatal Depression) subtype?
Marked depression after the birth of a child.
What is involved in the Atypical features specifier? (3)
Weight gain, oversleeping, rejection sensitivity.
What are melancholic features of MD?
Cannot feel positive affect and no longer derive pleasure from anything. Distinctive depression but unsure how.
What is the generational shift in depression? What may explain this? (4)
Those born 60 years ago reported less than 0.05% of depressive symptoms at age 20. But the current generation reports 0.15%. May be due to changes in stressors, decreased family/social support, more acceptance in disorders, or overdiagnosis.
What are biological factors regarding depression? (4)
High concordance in identical twins than fraternal twins (mixed adoption study results).
Low levels of noradrenalin, dopamie and serotonin but no evidence for dysfunction.
May be related to the HPA axis.
Some kind of interaction between vulnerability and negative life events.
Describe Persistent Depressive Disorder.
Known as dysthymia in DSM-IV.
Depressed mood more days than not, and no more than 2 ‘normal’ months over 2 years. Lower levels of depression but MD episodes can develop which intensify it more.
What is the key characteristic of Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder?
Recurrent temper outburst that are grossly out of proportion in intensity or duration to the situation or provocation. This anger/irritability is recogiseable by others.
What is the key characteristic of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder?
Marked increase in affect, irritability, depression in the final week before menses, and improves within the first few days of menses, and absent/minimal post-menses.
