Mood disorders Flashcards
What are the symptoms of depression?
Core symptoms:
- Low mood
- Anhedonia (inability to derive pleasure)
- Lack of energy
Other symptoms:
- Difficulty concentrating
- Sleep problems
- Poor appetite
- Ideas/acts of self harm and suicide
etc. …
Describe the classification of depression
Mild, moderate and severe
Mild:
- 2 core symptoms + 2 other symptoms
Moderate:
- 2 core symptoms + 3 other symptoms
Severe:
- 3 core symptoms and 4+ others
How long do these symptoms have to be present to make diagnosis of depression?
At least 2 weeks
Describe the biological and psychological management of depression
Biological:
- SSRI
Psychological:
- CBT
What is the name of the tool used to screen for depression?
Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9)
What is ECT?
Electroconvulsive therapy
What is ECT used for?
Severe, treatment resistant (also known as refractory) depression
Give some examples of short and long term side effects of ECT
Short term:
- Headache
- Nausea
- Cardiac arrhythmias
Long term:
- Memory impairment
What is meant by…
i) Bipolar affective disorder type I
ii) Bipolar affective disorder type II
iii) Cyclothymia
i) Mania + severe depression
ii) Hypomania + severe depression
iii) hypomania + mild depression
What are the differences between mania and hypomania?
Mania:
- Lasts > 1 week
- Impacts on daily functioning
- May also have psychotic symptoms
Hypomania:
- Lasts 4+ days
- Does not impact on daily functioning
Describe the biological and psychological management of bipolar affective disorder
Biological:
- Mood stabiliser, e.g. lithium, anticonvulsants (sodium valproate, carbamazepine, lamotrigine)
- Antipsychotic (if indicated)
Psychological:
- CBT
