Mood Disorders Flashcards
What are the features of depressive disorders?
Patient usually have the symptoms continually for 2 weeks and consist of:
Low mood
Lack of energy
Lack of enjoyment and interest (anhedonia)
They must have at least 2 of these three symptoms.
Can go from mild (still at work) to severe (psychotic) - If severe, can be too depressed too not bothered to kill themselves. Sometimes patients could die because they don’t eat / drink
Depressive thoughts
Biological symptoms - lack of appetite, sleep, concentration, libido
Psychotic symptoms
What is an adjustment reaction?
Symptoms develop sudden afte an ‘event’
Symptoms fluctuate
Time limited
Preoccupation with ‘event’
Energy not low
No particular pattern to sleep disturbance
Reduced increased appetite
Feelings of anger and frustration more typical.
How is depression different to adjustment?
Symptoms develop gradually.
Symptoms continuous
Usually at least 2 weeks.
Lack of interest
Low energy
Sleep disturbance with typically EMW
Loss of appetite and weight loss are typical.
Low self esteem and feelings of guilt and blame are typical.
How can our personality be a cause for depressive symptoms?
Our personality is defined by:
How we get on with people, ability to make relationships.
Extrovert or introvert
How empathetic we are
How anxious and nervous we are; or how confident
How we can make plans and stick to these plans
How we respond in stressful circumstances
Our overriding mood.
Some people have a sense of not being happy within themselves, sometimes related to a feeling of emptiness. This does not necessarily mean that they are depressed.
What is the difference between mania and hypomania?
Hypomania - at home
Mania - At psychiatric hospital
What are the symptoms of mania / hypomania?
Elevated mood Increased energy Pressure of speech Reduced sleep Flight of ideas Normal inhibitions lost - dangerous Attention cannot to sustained Self esteem is inflated, often grandiose May have psychotic symptoms
Only require these symptoms for a week
What is bipolar disorder?
A diagnosis made following 2 episodes of a mood disorder at least one of which is mania or hypomania.
Therefore, you dont ever have to have a diagnosis of depression to be given the diagnosis of bipolar disorder
What are the two different types of bipolar?
Type 1 - episodes of mania
Type 2 - No mania, only hypomania (no psychotic symptoms)
What physical disorders could cause mood disorders?
Hormone disturbance such thyroid dysfunction Vitamin deficiencies such as vitamin B12 Heart and lung diseases Blood vessels not functioning well Kidney disease Liver disease
How do alcohol and drugs affect mood?
People drinking too much over a period is well known cause of developing depressive symptoms. -Only drink when happy.
A number of recreational drugs cause depressive symptoms, especially drugs that initially induce a feeling happiness and well beoing such as ecstasy or amphetamines.
What brain structures are involved in mood disorders?
Limbic system
Frontal lobe
Basal ganglia
What are the main functions of the limbic system?
Emotion
Motivation
Memory
What are the functions of the frontal lobes?
Motor function Language Executive functions Attention Memory Mood Social and moral reasoning
What are the functions of the basal ganglia?
Emotion
Cognition
Behaviour
What neurotransmitters are involved in psychotic (particularly depressive) disorders?
The two main neurotransmitters for depressive disorders are:
Noradrenaline
Serotonin
Other neurotransmitters important in psychiatric conditions include: Dopamine (mania nd psychosis) Acetylcholine GABA Glutamate
