Session 11 - Depression Flashcards
What are the symptoms of depression?
Patients usually have the symptoms continually for 2 weeks and consist of: CORE SYMPTOMS - low mood - lack of energy - lack of enjoyment and interest Depressive thoughts Weight loss Problems with sleep
Give examples of illnesses that can cause depressive symptoms.
Thyroid dysfunction Vitamin deficiencies e.g. vit B12 Heart and lung disease Cerebrovascular disease Kidney disease Liver disease Alcohol and drug misuse
Which brain structures are involved in depressive symptoms?
Limbic system
Frontal lobe
Basal ganglia
What structures make up the limbic system?
Cingulate gyrus Hippocampus Amygdala Hypothalamus Septum Olfactory bulb Dentate gyrus Anterior nucleus of the thalamus Mammillary bodies
What are the main functions of the limbic system?
Emotion
Motivation
Memory
What are the functions of the frontal lobe?
Motor function Language (Broca’s area) Executive functions (purposeful goal related behaviours) Attention Memory Mood Social and moral reasoning
What are the functions of the basal ganglia?
Motor function Psychological function: - emotion - cognition - behaviour
What are the two main neurotransmitters affected in psychiatric disorders?
Noradrenaline
Serotonin
What the functions of noradrenaline in the brain?
Mood
Arousal and attention
Memory functions
What is the function of serotonin in the brain?
Sleep
Impulse control
Appetite
Mood
What things contribute to people becoming clinically depressed?
Predisposing factors
Perpetuating (maintaining) factors
Precipitating factors
What are the predisposing factors for depression?
Genetic
Childhood experiences
Female
Give examples of childhood experiences that affect the likelihood of someone getting depression.
Quality of attachment
Quality of parental relationships
Loss of a parent
Bullying
Why are women more likely to suffer from a depressive disorder?
Social and occupational role:
- marriage is protective for men, but not as much for women
- child care is stressful and often falls to the woman
- number of depressive episodes relates to the number of children
Men are more likely to distract themselves from depressed mood.
Women are more willing to admit than men that they are depressed.
Give examples of social stressors that are perpetuating causes of depression.
Social economic status
Unemployment
Financial hardship
Isolation from friends and family
