Quick revision Flashcards
Depression as a symptom?
an emotion within the range of normal experience
Depression as a syndrome?
a constellation of symptoms and signs
Depression as a recurrent illness?
“recurrent depressive disorder”
What are the three core symptoms of depression?
The three core symptoms are:
1) Low Mood
2) Anhedonia = A complete inability to feel pleasure
3) Low Energy
What are the other symptoms outside of the three core symptoms (Low Mood, Anhedonia, Low Energy) of depression?
> Poor appetite
> Poor sleep
> Poor concentration
> Reduced libido
> Tearfulness
> Negative thoughts
> Suicidal thoughts
….. this list is not exhaustive
What is psychosis?
a mental disorder characterized by symptoms such as delusions or hallucinations, that indicate impaired contact with reality
What are delusions?
Usually negative or guilty in nature
e.g. “My body is rotting”, “I have committed a great crime and am being punished”
What are hallucinations?
Usually Auditory
Second Person (talking directly to the patient) e.g. A voice telling them they are 'worthless', that they smell bad or criticising what they are wearing
Can also be:
> Visual (e.g. spiders)
> Tactile (e.g. feeling things crawling on their skin)
> Olfactory (e.g. smelling rotting flesh)
> Gustatory (e.g. bad taste in mouth
What medical history would you want to know about in depression?
> Thyroid disorders (hypothyroidism can mimic depression)
> Chronic illness/pain
What psychiatric history would you want to know about in depression?
Admissions, suicide attempts
What family history would you want to know about in depression?
Psychiatric disorders, suicide
What personal history would you want to know about in depression?
Adverse experiences which may have effected their ways of thinking
…and their current situation
Which medications would you want to know about in depression?
Prescribed drugs such as beta-blockers can cause depression
What social history would you want to know about in depression?
Current social or financial difficulties
Use of alcohol/drugs
Within depression what features can be seen on the mental state examination - appearance?
Poor self-care, Reduced range of facial expressions
Within depression what features can be seen on the mental state examination - speech?
Slow, Quiet, Monotonous
Within depression what features can be seen on the mental state examination - mood and affect?
Subjectively and Objectively depressed mood
Reduced range and intensity of affects
Within depression what features can be seen on the mental state examination - thought?
Form = Thoughts may be slowed
Content:
1) Negative, guilty or suicidal thoughts
2) Depressive delusions if psychotic
Within depression what features can be seen on the mental state examination - perceptions?
Possible auditory hallucinations if psychotic
Reduced Eye Contact
Within depression what features can be seen on the mental state examination - cognition?
Not usually impaired
Within depression what features can be seen on the mental state examination - insight?
Usually present
Within depression what features can be seen on the mental state examination - behaviour?
Psychomotor retardation or agitation
Reduced Eye Contact
Treatment options in depression?
1) Biological:
- Antidepressants
- Electro-convulsive therapy
2) Psychological:
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT)
3) Social:
- No specific treatments but modification of lifestyle factors may be helpful
Treatment options in depression - Biological?
Biological:
- Antidepressants - Electro-convulsive therapy
Treatment options in depression - Psychological?
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT)
Treatment options in depression - Social?
No specific treatments but modification of lifestyle factors may be helpful
How long should antidepressants be used for in depression?
6-12 months in normal circumstances
Can be continued for long-term use in the case of chronic depression or in a prophylaxis nature
Complications of depression?
> Suicide
> Psychosis
> Social and Occupational dysfunction:
- Unemployment or problems at work - Family and relationship problems - Socially isolation
What is deliberate self harm?
Is self-mutilation or self-poisoning, which a person carries out in order to relieve (or attempt to relieve) distressing emotional states
What is self-mutilation?
Is usually by cutting
Can be burning with flame or caustic substances
What is self-poisoning?
Is usually by overdoses of pharmaceutical agents e.g. Paracetamol
What is parasuicide?
An attempted suicide
What are the most common group of individuals to be affected by an eating disorder?
> Women - around 10 times as common
> Younger age groups - 15-40 years
> Western cultures
> Groups where a thin physique is highly-prized
e.g. modelling, ballet
What are the main two types of eating disorders?
Anorexia Nervosa
Bulimia Nervosa
What are the four features of anorexia nervosa?
1) The patient has a dread of being overweight and imposes a low target weight (Often a disturbance of perception)
2) The patient restricts their food intake, and uses other methods to reduce weight e.g. vomitting, diuretics, laxatives, excessive exercise
3) BMI <17.5 (at least 15% less than expected)
4) Sex hormone failure:
> Amenorrhea in women
> Impotence and loss of libido in men
> Failure of development of secondary sexual characteristics if the onset is prepubertal
What is often associated with elevated or irritable mood (mania)?
Increased energy & activity
Elevated mood
Increased talkativeness & sociability
Inflated self-esteem & grandiosity
Decreased need for sleep
Poor concentration & distractibility
Increased libido
Overspending
Reckless behaviour
Racing thoughts
No longer working
Relationship difficulties