Lecture 14 - Depression III Flashcards
What are the effects of SSRIs?
Specifically block reuptake of serotonin, with few side effects (insomnia, sexual dysfunction, nausea). Increased suicide risk in children and adolescence (off label treatment).
Does serotonin cause depression?
No. SSRIs lift the mood of everyone who takes them, not just depressed patients. Moreover, serotonin levels rise quickly after first dosage (48 hours) but depressive symptoms remain for weeks.
What are the aims of CBT when treating depression?
To address cognitive errors in thinking (not ‘positive thinking’). Focuses on interpreting events differently, e.g. my friend did not ignore me, they just did not see me.
What techniques does CBT use?
Reactivate notice of positive events, and reinforce this. Often depressed people cannot notice positive events without guidance, so they are asked to write down one positive event per day.
How effective is CBT with treating depression?
70-80% effectiveness, which is the same as biological treatments but lower rates of relapse (30% vs 60%). Appears to be more successful if the client is introspective, an abstract thinker, organised, etc.
What is the role of Mindfulness-Based Therapies in depression?
Not a treatment for depression, but effective for preventing relapse. Tries to prevent future MD episodes by changing how people view depressing events and to stop identifying with/ruminating over these events.
Why are males less diagnosed with depression than females? (4)
Mis-diagnosed with substance-use disorders, less reporting from males, and hormonal differences (only slight variance). Males tend to ruminate less than females as well.
What social factors may increase depressive symptoms in females? (5)
Body image concerns, higher stress exposure, higher sexual victimisation, more interpersonal negative events and stress in social networks.
