Psychology (Unipolar Depression: Biological explanation Treatments) Flashcards
What are SSRIs?
Selective Serotonin Reuptake inhibitors
Helps neurogenises (growth of neurons in the brain)
Regulate serotonin, by reducing serotonin (inhibition)
What was the first antidepressant and when?
Isoniazid in the 1950s
initially created to treat tuberculosis
Side effect of sending you in the state of pleasure (euphoria)
Worked by blocking brain enzymes called monoamine oxidase (mao)
If Mao inhibited too much, instead of being cheerful, they will get aggressive.
What did come after Isoniazid?
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
Reducing monoamines, increasing blood pressure however - which is why they are only used as a last resort.
what are trycyclic antidepressants? when were they invented and how do they work?
Elavil became popular in the 1960s
It works by boosting Serotonin and noradrenaline activity without inhibiting Mao. Less dangerous than Maois.
Side effects of memory loss, blurrd vision
What is the third generation of drugs?
Prozac in 1980s and 1990s
Works by preventing the reuptake of serotonin and boosting it in active synapses. Known as SSRIs.
Most prescribed antidepressant in America.
Neusea
Weight gain
Evaluate drug therapy for depression in terms of positives
Revolutionized treatment as antidepressants are more ethical than the before used “Electroshock therapy” which often led to memory loss.
Supported by the monoamine hypothesis bringing charge to neurotransmitters impacting depression.
Antidepressants work, but act more as a “placebo” - they only work because people believe that they’ll work. Even if it doesn’t do anything, the perception that it will work, will positively impact the patient’s depression.
Evaluate drug therapy for depression in terms for negatives
Drug therapy doesn’t work for everyone. Although more patients respond to the SSRIs than to the first generation antidepressants, this is still not all patients. It is estimated only 70% of patients benefit from drug treatments.
All the drugs used to treat depression have adverse reactions; these could include weight gain, nausea and drowsiness and caused withdrawal symptoms when people tried to stop taking them.
Irving kirsch (2008) showed that antidepressants arent even better than placebos when it came to mild depression.
What is Electroshock therapy / Electroconvulsive Therapy
This therapy involves passing electric currents through a patient’s brain to trigger a brief seizure. ECT seems to cause changes in brain chemistry that can quickly reverse symptoms of certain mental health conditions.
What are the pros of ECT?
Safer today than previous ECT treatments
No medication side effects
What are the cons of ECT?
May not be able to return to work or drive for up to 2 weeks after treatment
Treatment sessions are done 2 to 3 times a week for up to 4 weeks
Requires sedation through anesthesia and muscle relaxers
Confusion post-treatment
Typically not well tolerated in the elderly population
Memory loss (retrograde amnesia) which usually improves within a couple months of the procedure
Physical side effects related to tension (nausea, headache, jaw aches, and muscle aches)
Not tolerated well in people with heart problems
