Mood Disorders

Question 1

What is the role of BDNF in MDD?

Answer 1

BDNF works pro-depressant in the NAc/VTA, but anti-depressant in hippocampus/mPFC. This is why it not a great treatment, as it is hard to treat the two pathways separately.

Question 2

What are morphological changes in depression?

Answer 2

• The volume of the NAc, hippocampus, mPFC, amygdala is decreased.
• The volume of the VTA is not affected.
• BOLD signal is decreased in NAc, hippocampus, mPFC
• BOLD resting state signal is increased in amygdala.
• Glial cell density is decreased in hippocampus, amygdala, mPFC
• Expression of synaptic remoddeling gene RAC1 is decreased.

Question 3

What are two main mouse model depression tests?

Answer 3

Tail suspension, forced swim test. Antidepressants increase the time the animals struggle in both cases. (Want to fight again)

Question 4

What is a solution to current mouse models?

Answer 4

Measuring uninterrupted, innate behaviour.

Question 5

What is typically seen in schizophrenia brains?

Answer 5

• More gray matter loss.
• Increase number of D2 receptors.
• Decreased number of NMDA receptors.

Question 6

How are large population studies on genetic risks performend?

Answer 6

Search the genome for small variations (SNPs) that occur

more frequently in people with a particular disease than in people without the disease.

Question 7

How is a mental illness/disorder defined?

Answer 7

A disgnosble disorder of thought, mood, or behaviour that causes distress or impaired functioning.