Psychological Disorders - Mood Disorders Flashcards
Mood Disorders
Class of psychological disorders that alter our emotional disposition, either destabilizing our emotional state, or making the state overly rigid (Unable to to change etc)
Major Depressive Disorder (Unipolar Depression)
SYMPTOMS
Symptoms include lethargy (lack of energy), difficulty sleeping, difficulty experiencing pleasure, appetite disturbances
DIAGNOSIS
Is diagnosable if symptoms persist for longer than 2 weeks.
DEMOGRAPHICS
Is common, around 1/5 north americans will battle with it once in their lives
Average duration is 3 months
TREATMENT
Major depression is treatable, without treatment, recurring episodes are common (80% of untreated individuals)
Recurring episodes tend to last LONGER and have more SEVERE symptoms
Gender and Depression
More likely to affect women than men
THEORIES
Social economic status between genders
Hormonal differences
Differences in coping strategies and reporting
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Our bodies production of MELATONIN changes when the light changes between seasons
TREATMENT
Light therapy is used to stimulate natural sunlights
The effectiveness is controversial
NUTRITION
More common in northern climates, except in japan where fish consumption is high
This means sunlight produces vitamins that are obtainable through food
Bipolar Disorder
Major depressive is referred to as UNIPOLAR DEPRESSION
BIPOLAR is characterized by cycle through abnormal and high moods, mania and depression, with some periods of wellness
DEMOGRAPHIC
Affects 3/100 individuals
The diagnosis rate is identical for men and women, unlike most other psychological disorders
TREATMENT
Less common (Who wants treatment while they’re in the middle of a maniac episode?)
DURATION
For bipolar, individuals cycle through 4 episodes of mania or depression a year (lasting 2 weeks)
CAUSES
Has a high heritability rate compared to other psychological disorders (70% concordance between identical twins)
Both maniac and depressive episodes often come before stressful moments.
This suggests environmental effects (diathesis model)
Depressive Bipolar vs Major Depression
Is often indistinguishable
Manic episodes vary in severity
The Creative Illness
Its suggested that mild cases of mania may generate creativity in arts and sciences
Mania instills positive affect, energy, ambition etc. Which can lead to innovation
There is a higher rate of bipolar disorder between writers, artists, and academics
Academics with bipolar produce a higher quantity of publications. Burst of productivity tied to manic episodes
