Module 3 study guide Flashcards
Define a major depressive episode
A persistent sad or low mood that is severe enough to impair a person’s interest in or ability to engage in normally enjoyable activities.
Understand the key criteria for an MDD diagnosis (Criteria A and B) and how that might look for someone with this disorder
A. Five (or more) of the following symptoms have been present during the same 2-week period and represent a change from previous functioning; at least one of the symptoms is either (1) depressed mood or (2) loss of interest or pleasure.
B. The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
Explain what it means when said “MDD is an episodic illness.”
This means that some individuals have only one episode but others experience multiple episodes separated by periods of normal mood. A single episode, according to DSM-5-TR must last at least two weeks, but episodes can and often do persist for several months.
Persistent Depressive Disorder
can best be conceptualized as a chronic state of depression. The symptoms are the same as those of major depression, but they are less severe and more chronic.
MDD
Whereas major depressive disorder is an episodic disorder with patients often achieving normal mood (euthymia) between episodes, dysthymia is the consistent persistence of depressed mood.
How common is MDD
Major depressive disorder is the most common psychiatric disorder in the United States. Lifetime prevalence of major depressive disorder in the United States in 20.6%, or almost 50 million U.S. adults.
Describe the relationship between anxiety and depression noting why we see them so often comorbid
Both anxiety and depressive disorders are moderately heritable (approximately 40%), and the evidence suggests there is a shared genetic risk, which is the highest for major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.
Understand the difference between depression disorders and bipolar disorders
Depression disorders don’t include states of mania, just states of depression or lack of depression.
Mania episode
high or euphoric mood that is clearly excessive and is often accompanied by inappropriate and potentially dangerous behavior, irritability, pressured or rapid speech, and a false sense of well-being.
Hypomania episode
mood elevation that represents a distinct increase in mood, but not as elevated as a manic episode.
Bipolar I
Full blown mania alternates with major depressive episodes; it also includes a single manic episode without periods of depression.
Bipolar II
hypomania alternates with episodes of major depression. This can be hard to diagnose because a person experiencing hypomania may associate these episodes with periods of high productivity or creativity and is less likely to report their symptoms are distressing or problematic.
Rapid Cycling Bipolar Disorder
Manic depressive illness characterized by frequent mood swings or rapid shifts between high and low phases. This an occur with any type of bipolar disorder, and for some people it may be a temporary condition.
How common is bipolar disorder?
Much less common than major depressive disorder, the lifetime prevalence of bipolar I and II is approximately .6% and .4%, respectively.
How are suicide rates globally vs in the US?
They are the 10th leading cause of death in the US, and globally close to 800,000 people die by suicide every year. Rates of suicide globally are somewhat in decline, but in the United States there has been a steady increase in suicide rates in recent years.
