Major Depressive Disorder Flashcards
What is major depressive disorder?
persistent and abnormally low mood, characterized by feelings of sadness, emptiness or irritability, and accompanied by other somatic or cognitive changes that significantly affect the individuals capacity to function
What is the global lifetime prevalence of major depressive disorder?
11-18%
Where does major depressive disorder rank in worldwide disability?
2nd
Describe the disease burden of major depressive disorder.
2nd leading cause of disability worldwide
increased CVD risk & morbidity/mortality in those with established CVD
increased complications from other medical conditions
impaired QOL
impaired social & occupational functioning
Describe the onset of major depressive disorder.
average age of onset is late 20s
-can occur at any age
increase between ages 12-16, up to early 40s
can develop over weeks or suddenly
may occur after significant life stressor
What is the etiology of major depressive disorder?
complex, multifactorial
-genetics, neurobiological, developmental, biologic, environmental
What are the proposed theories for major depressive disorder?
monoamine hypothesis
neuroplasticity hypothesis
endocrine and immune system abnormalities
structural and functional alterations
Describe the monoamine hypothesis.
dysfunction in monoamine production
-5HT, NE, DA
dysregulation in monoamine activity
Describe the neuroplasticity hypothesis.
downstream effects–>altered cell growth and adaptation
brain-derived neurotrophic factor
-lower levels observed in ppl with depression
-chronic stress may suppress BDNF expression in hippocampus
What is BDNF?
brain derived neurotrophic factor
-growth factor that regulates survival of neurons, important for structural integrity & neuroplasticity
Describe the endocrine and immune system abnormalities theory of depression.
increased plasma cortisol, increased peripheral cytokine concentrations
overstimulation of HPA-axis
Describe the structural and functional alterations theory of depression.
changes in brain regions involving emotional processing
-reduced volume or hyperactivity in prefrontal cortex, cingulate cortex, hippocampus, amygdala
What is the key takeaway regarding the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder?
complex & not completely known
What are the risk factors for major depressive disorder?
genetics
-relatives with history of MDD, bipolar, alcoholism or complete suicide
life experiences
-traumatic/stressful events, relationship or financial problems
personality disorders
-low self-esteem, dependent, self-critical, pessimistic
substance use
-alcohol or recreational substances
medical comorbidities
-anemia, HIV, HF, thyroid, CVA, MS, epilepsy, Parkinsons, cancer, pain
What is the diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder?
A:
-at least 5 symptoms
-at least 1 symptom must be depressed mood or anhedonia
-present nearly every day for at least 2 wk period
B: symptoms cause distress or impairment
C: episode not attributable to meds/substance
D: not explained by a different mental illness
E: never had a manic or hypomanic episode
Differentiate between mild and severe depression.
mild: 5 or 6 sx, minimal functional impairment
severe: nearly all sx, significant functional impairment or motor impairment
What are the symptoms of depression?
depressed mood
anhedonia
feelings of worthlessness or guilt
suicidal ideation, plan, or attempt
fatigue or loss of energy
sleep increase or decrease
weight or appetite increase or decrease
decreased ability to think or concentrate
psychomotor retardation or agitation
What is the abbreviation to help with remembering the symptoms of depression?
SIG E. CAPS
Sleep changes
Interest (loss)
Guilt (worthless)
Energy (lack of or fatigue)
Cognition/Concentration (reduced)
Appetite (wt. loss, usually declined)
Psychomotor (anxiety, lethargic)
Suicide
What is persistent depressive disorder?
aka dysthymia
depressive mood for >2yrs with symptom free period no greater than 2 months
-+2 additional depressive symptoms
-no MDD episode in first 2 years of onset
What is a substance/medication induced depressive episode?
prominent, persistent disturbance in mood predominates the clinical picture with diminished interest in almost all activities
symptoms develop during or shortly after substance intoxication or withdrawal and the substance is known to cause the disturbance
What are some conditions involved in the differential diagnosis process for MDD?
bipolar depression
-history of mania or hypomania
anxiety (may co-occur)
substance use disorder (may co-occur)
another medical condition
premenstrual syndrome
grief
irritable or labile emotions
feeling sad
What are some medications associated with MDD?
CV: clonidine, methyldopa, reserpine
anticonvulsants: phenobarbital, topiramate, vigabatrin
hormonal agents: CS, GnRH agonists, tamoxifen
immunologic: interferon alpha
What are some objective findings for MDD?
poor hygiene
changes in weight
social isolation
no lab test or imaging to confirm diagnosis
What are some standardized rating scales for measurement based care of depression?
PHQ-9
QIDS
Beck Depression Inventory
HAM-D
MADRS
Describe the PHQ-2.
screening tool for depression
high sensitivity in primary care
if patients answer yes to either of the two questions, further investigation is warranted
What are the two questions used in the PHQ-2?
little interest or pleasure in doing things?
feeling down, depressed or hopeless?
What does MDD increase the risk for?
suicide
-especially if untreated
-lifetime risk of untreated MDD is ~20%
-risk increases with each episode of depression
What should occur during all patient interactions regarding MDD?
assessment for suicide risk
What are the suicide risk factors?
IS PATH WARM
Ideation
Substance use
Purposelessness
Anxiety
Trapped
Hopelessness
Withdrawal
Anger
Reckless
Mood changes
Describe the prognosis of MDD.
40% recover within 3mo, 60% within 6mo, 80% within 12mo
40% have fluctuating course
20-30% experience residual symptoms
15% never achieve remission
Describe response to antidepressants.
40-60% response rate, 30-50% response rate to placebo
response declines with each subsequent treatment trial
some response typically seen within first 2 wks; peak clinical effect usually at 4-6wks, may take up to 12 wks
Describe recurrence of MDD.
25-40% will have recurrence within 2yrs, 50-80% have more than one episode in life
functioning usually returns to baseline between episodes
True or false: MDD is considered an acute disease
false
chronic disease
What is partial remission?
continued presence of some symptoms but full criteria not met
What is full remission?
absence of significant symptoms (return to baseline)
What is recovery?
full remission for at least 2 months
What is relapse?
new episode before achieve recovery
What is recurrence?
new episode any time after achieving recovery
What is chronic MDD?
full criteria for MDD met for a minimum of 2 years
What is treatment resistance?
episode that has failed to respond to 2 separate trials of different antidepressants of adequate dose and duration
What are the predictors of remission?
female sex
higher income
white race
higher level of education
employment
What are the consequences of failure to achieve remission?
brain changes
chronicity
increased relapse rates
increased # of chronic depressive episodes
impairment in work and relationships
increased use of medical services
increased mortality
increased medical comorbidity
suicidal attempts
What are the goals of therapy for acute treatment of MDD?
overall goal: symptom remission and restoration of premorbid functioning, within 8-12 wks
prevent harm, ongoing
restore optimal functioning, within 8-12wks
What is the overall goal of therapy for maintenance treatment of MDD?
prevent recurrence of mood episode
What are some general & important goals for psych conditions?
minimize adverse drug effects ongoing
maximize adherence ongoing
provide education to patient and family ongoing
identify and manage risk factors for comorbid conditions ongoing
What is involved in the initial assessment and approach to treatment of MDD?
complete history
physical exam & labs
mental status exam and suicide risk assessment
current medications and substance use
past psychotropic medications and response
identify target symptoms, treatment preferences and goals of treatment
develop safety plan
support education and self-management
What are the non-pharmacological treatment options for MDD?
positive lifestyle changes
natural products
psychological treatment
-self help, counselling, psychotherapy
neurostimulation
What are the pharmacological treatment options for MDD?
antidepressants
adjunct drugs
Describe St. Johns Wort.
monotherapy for mild-mod symptoms
evidence is modest
MOA: non-selective MAO inhibitor
AE: GI, sexual dysfunction, photosensitivity
CYP450 inducer=lots of drug interactions
increases risk of serotonin syndrome, bleeding
Describe S-Adenosyl Methionine.
adjunct for mild-moderate symptoms
evidence is weak/inconsistent
MOA: unknown
AE: GI, flatulence, dry mouth
Describe omega-3 fatty acids.
monotherapy or adjunct to antidepressants
evidence is weak/inconsistent
3-PUFA deficiency has been shown to be associated with depression
Describe folate/L-methylfolate.
adjunct to antidepressants if already on antidepressant
low risk intervention
efficacy is extremely limited
low folate levels found in depressed patients
Describe initial psychological treatment recommendations based on depression severity.
mild:
-psychological alone
moderate:
-psychological guidelines vary
-pharmacological treatment
severe:
-psychological plus pharmacological
Why is psychological treatment recommended for severe or moderate (?) depression?
seems to work about as well as antidepressants
antidepressants have a lot more side effects
Which psychological treatments have the best evidence available?
cognitive behavioral therapy
behavioral activation
interpersonal psychotherapy
mindfulness-based cognitive therapy
What is transcranial magnetic stimulation used for?
refractory depression
How does TMS work?
magnetic fields are used to stimulate nerve cells in regions of the brain involved in mood regulation and depression
How long is the course for TMS? What are some side effects?
4-6 weeks
headache, scalp discomfort
What is electroconvulsive therapy used for?
severe depression
depression with psychosis or catatonic features
severe SI
How effective is ECT for MDD?
80-90% (older patients have better outcomes)
What is the procedure for ECT?
electrodes placed on various scalp regions
electrical charge is applied to stimulate the brain and produce a seizure while patient under anesthetic
seizure lasts 1 minute
How many treatments are involved in ECT? How long does it take for a response?
6-12 treatments
10-14 days
may require maintenance
Which concurrent medications are significant if a patient is to undergo ECT?
anticonvulsants
-dose should be minimized and avoid/minimize benzos to improve efficacy
lithium
-may increase delirium risk, prolong seizure
can continue antidepressants but use bupropion can cause prolonged seizure risk
What are the adverse effects of ECT?
confusion during post-ictal period
impaired memory after procedure
headache
muscle ache
What did the Cipriani trial show us?
no strong evidence to conclude that any antidepressant is superior in efficacy
no impressive effect sizes
relatively higher response and lower dropout:
-escitalopram, sertraline, vortioxetine, mirtazapine, paroxetine
relatively lower response and higher dropout:
-trazodone, fluvoaxmine, clomipramine
individualize therapy
From meta-analyses, which antidepressants might have the best balance of efficacy and tolerability?
sertraline
escitalopram
vortioxetine
venlafaxine
mirtazapine
True or false: international guidelines agree there is insufficient evidence to routinely recommend one first-line drug over another
true
What did the STAR*D trial show us?
no difference in remission rates or times to remission
-between medication strategies at any treatment level
-between any of the switching options or between any of the augmenting options
longer time to remission, greater number of treatment steps=higher relapse rates
no difference in remission/response between primary or psychiatric care
What is the symptom response rate across all antidepressant trials?
40-60%
placebo response rates 30-50%
What are the CANMAT 2016 1st line interventions for mild depression?
psychoeducation
psychological treatment
self-management
pharmacotherapy
complimentary treatment
St Johns Wort
What are the CANMAT 2016 1st line interventions for moderate-severe depression?
psychoeducation
psychological treatment
pharmacotherapy
ECT
What are the CANMAT 2016 2nd line interventions for depression?
non-response
-alt antidepressant, TMS, ECT, light therapy, omega-3
partial response
-augment with 1st line adjunct, adjunctive exercise, SJW, omega-3, light therapy, yoga
What are the CANMAT 2016 3rd line interventions?
augment with other AD or different med
-brexpiprazole, bupropion, lithium, mirtazapine, modafinil, olanzapine, T3, stimulants, TCA, MAOI, ketamine
neurostimulation monotx or augmentation
adjunctive acupuncture
Which antidepressants have evidence for superior efficacy based on meta-analyses?
escitalopram
mirtazapine
sertraline
venlafaxine
citalopram
What are the factors to consider in selecting antidepressants?
patient
-clinical features and dimensions
-comorbid conditions
-response and AE from previous use of AD
-patient preference
medication
-comparative efficacy
-comparative tolerability
-potential drug interactions
-simplicity of use
-cost and availability
How can we provide patient-centered care with antidepressants?
shared decision making
psychoeducation
transparent, accurate medication education
empathy
What are the CANMAT 1st line agents for MDD?
5 SSRIs
-escitalopram, citalopram, sertraline, fluoxetine, paroxetine
2 SNRIs
-venlafaxine, duloxetine
5HT modulator
-vortioxetine
a2 antagonist, 5HT2 antagonist
-mirtazapine
NDRI
-bupropion
What are all the SSRIs available in Canada?
citalopram
escitalopram
sertraline
fluoxetine
paroxetine
fluvoxamine (not 1st line due to AE and DI)
What is the MOA of SSRIs?
inhibition of presynaptic 5HT reuptake by inhibition of the 5HT transport=increased 5HT in synaptic cleft
Describe the onset of action for SSRIs.
1st few days:
-decreased agitation & anxiety, improved sleep + appetite
1-3 weeks:
-increased activity + sex drive, improve self-care, concentration, memory, thinking, movements
2-4 weeks:
-relief of depressed mood, return of pleasure
-fewer hopeless feelings, suicidal thoughts
What is the acronym to remember the adverse effects of SSRIs?
HANDS
headache
anxiety (start at low dose, esp if comorbid anxiety)
nausea
diarrhea & other GI disturbances
sleep disturbances (insomnia, sedation)
also anticholinergic effects (dry mouth, constipation, etc)
usually dose related, transient (1-2wks)
Asides from HANDS, what are some other adverse effects of SSRIs?
sexual dysfunction (male or female)
-switch, dose decrease, use PDE5i
-may persist after dc
emotional blunting/detachment
other: tremor, yawning, sweating, enuresis
SIADH
What is SIADH?
syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone
symptoms: lethargy, mental changes, hyponatremia, hyperosmolar urine
What kind of drugs can cause SIADH?
carbamazepine
opioids
SSRIs
NSAIDs
SNRIs
mirtazapine
What is a warning/precaution for all antidepressants?
increased risk of suicide in children, adolescents, and young adults <24yo