Psychological disorder - depression self-harm and suicide

Question 1

What are the three main types of depression (as described in the lecture)?

Answer 1

Bipolar, unipolar and dysthymia.

Question 2

What sort of questions are asked when diagnosing depression?

Answer 2

Is it an illness or normal unhappiness? Secondary to a physical illness or alcohol/drugs? Presenting with physical symptoms? Co-occurring with anxiety? Placing person at risk of suicide?

Question 3

What are the core features of depression?

Answer 3

Pervasive low mood. Loss of interest and enjoyment (anhedonia). Reduced energy/diminished activity.

Question 4

What biological changes are risk factors for depression in women?

Answer 4

Childbirth, menstrual cycle, menopause

Question 5

What evidence is there for the biological basis of depression?

Answer 5

Similarity across all cultures/ethnicities. Effectiveness of certain drugs (apparently!!!). Side-effect of other medication.

Question 6

What are the pharmacological treatments for depression?

Answer 6

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), tricyclics, SSRIs, SNRIs, other atypical drugs.

Question 7

What are the other (non-psychological) treatments for depression.

Answer 7

Physical activity - maybe as effective as antidepressants or CBT in mild depression.
ECT - intractable or psychotic depression.

Question 8

Who devised the cognitive theory of depression and what was this the basis for?

Answer 8

Aaron T. Beck - CBT

Question 9

What is the cognitive triad?

Answer 9

Negative view of self, experience and future.

Question 10

What are the ‘errors in logic’ that may occur during depression?

Answer 10

Overgeneralisation - fail one thing so useless at everything

Magnification and minimisation - making disasters, failure to take praise.

Personalisation - taking all of the blame.

Question 11

How effective is CBT/CT/BT?

Answer 11

As good as antidepressants in mild-moderate depression.

Question 12

What techniques might be used in CBT/CT/BT

Answer 12

Reality testing automatic thoughts - elicit and check evidence for and against.
Changing depressongenic assuptions eg - in order to be happy I have to be successful in everything I do.

Question 13

What is self-harm?

Answer 13

Intentional self-poisoning or self-injury, irrespective of motivation.

Question 14

How many hospital episodes are associated with self-harm each year?

Answer 14

220,000

Question 15

Which has a strong link to mental illness: self-harm or suicide?

Answer 15

Suicide.

Question 16

Does self-harm incidence increase or decrease with age?

Answer 16

Decrease.

Question 17

Does suicide incidence increase or decrease with age.

Answer 17

Increase.

Question 18

In which gender is suicide more common?

Answer 18

Male.

Question 19

What are the similarities between self-harm and suicide?

Answer 19

Increasing in young men. Associated with alcohol abuse. Occur in the same people.

Question 20

Are suicide rates increasing or decreasing?

Answer 20

Decreasing.

Question 21

Are self-harm rates increasing or decreasing?

Answer 21

Increasing.

Question 22

What is the strongest single predictor for suicide.

Answer 22

Self-harm.

Question 23

Apart from self-harm, what are the other risk factors for suicide?

Answer 23

Loneliness and loss, substance misuse, presence of mental disorder (esp. affective disorder), physical illness

Question 24

What percentage of firearm suicide attempts are fatal?

Answer 24

85%