Mood Disorders: An Overview Flashcards
A group of disorders involving severe and enduring disturbances in emotionality, ranging from elation to severe depression
Mood disorders
Disorder in which the mood remains at 1 pole of the usual depression-mania continuum
Unipolar mood disorder
Most common and severe experience of depression, including feelings of worthlessness, disturbances in bodily activities, and inability to experience pleasure, persisting at least 2 weeks
Major depressive episode
How long should symptoms last for a major depressive episode?
At least 2 weeks
How many symptoms are required to meet the criteria for a major depressive episode?
At leats 5 symptoms, one of which should be either depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure
Loss of energy and inability to engage in pleasurable activities or have any fun
Anhedonia
A symptom commonly observed in depression in which the person moves their limbs and body slowly
Psychomotor retardation
A symptom commonly observed in depression in which the individual is restless, pacing and unable to sit still
Psychomotor agitation
State characterized by abnormally excessive elation or euphoria
Mania
A less severe and less disruptive version of a manic episode that does not cause marked impairment in functioning and need only last 4 days
Hypomania
How long should symptoms last in a manic episode?
At least 1 week
How many symptoms are required to meet the criteria for a manic episode?
At least 3 symptoms (4 if mood is only irritable)
True or False: Manic episodes induced by antidepressants can warrant a bipolar I diagnosis.
True
A full manic episode that emerges during antidepressant treatment but persists at a fully syndromal level beyond the physiological effect of that treatment is evidence of a manic episode and, therefore, a bipolar I diagnosis.
How long should a hypomanic episode last?
At least 4 days
How many symptoms are required to meet the criteria for a hypomanic episode?
At least 3 symptoms (4 if mood is only irritable)
A symptom of mania that involves a rapid shift in conversation from one subject to another with only superficial associative connections
Flight of ideas
A gene implicated in mood disorders that influences dopamine function
DRD4.2 gene
What substances in the body show dysfunction in mood disorders?
- Low serotonin
- High G-protein levels in mania and low levels in depression
- Elevated cortisol
Etiological model of mood disorders positing that, when serotonin levels are low, other neurotransmitters are permitted to range more widely, become dysregulated, and contribute to mood irregularities
Permissive hypothesis
Which mood disorder has a higher genetic contribution?
Bipolar disorder
Serious thoughts about committing suicide
Suicidal ideation
The formulation of a specific method of killing oneself
Suicidal plans
Efforts made to kill oneself
Suicide attempt
The intentional taking of one’s life
Suicide
Behaviors that are meant to cause immediate bodily harm but are not intended to cause death
Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI)
Postmortem psychological profile of a suicide victim constructed from interviews with people who knew the person before death
Psychological autopsy
A socially sanctioned suicide committed by people who believe that taking their own lives will benefit society
Altruistic suicide
Suicide provoked by the loss of social supports
Egoistic suicide
Suicide committed by people who experience a severe disorientation and role confusion because of a large change in their relationship to society
Anomic suicide
Suicide resulting from a loss of control over one’s own destiny
Fatalistic suicide
Among depressed patients, what is the strongest predictor of suicidal behavior?
Family history of suicide
Phenomenon when at least 2 suicides or attempted suicides nonrandomly occur closely together in space or time
Suicide cluster
Phenomenon in which the suicide of a well-known person is linked to the acceptance of suicide by people who closely identify with that person
Suicide contagion
Etiological model of suicide suggesting that hopeless feelings about being a burden on others and about never belonging with others are especially linked to suicide
Interpersonal theory of suicide
Community-based program that aims to reduce the risk of an imminent suicide attempt by providing suicidal persons someone to talk with who understands their feelings and problems
Crisis intervention program
What medication is most consistently chosen to reduce the risk of suicide?
Lithium
An institution staffed primarily by paraprofessionals who are trained to be empathetic and to encourage suicidal callers to consider nondestructive ways of dealing with what is bothering them
Suicide prevention center
