Session 12 - Lecture 1: Mood Disorders Flashcards
What are the core symptoms of depressive disorders?
Low mood, lack of energy, lack of enjoyment and interest. Depressive thoughts, somatic/biological symptoms e.h. reduction in appetite and psychotic symptoms in severe cases.
How do symptoms of depressive disorders develop?
Symptoms develop gradually, over at least 2 weeks.
Describe the symptoms of hypomania and mania.
Elevated mood, increased levels of energy, pressure of speech, reduced speech, flight of ideas, normal social inhibitions are lost, attention cannot be sustained, self esteem is inflated, often grandiose, may have psychotic symptoms, only require these symptoms for one week.
Define bipolar disorder.
2 episodes of a mood disorder at least one of which is mania/hypomania (not a requirement to be depressed).
What is the difference between bipolar 1 and 2?
Bipolar 1 - episodes of mania
Bipolar 2 - no episodes of mania, only hypomania
What are the major functions of the limbic system?
Regulates emotion, motivation and memory.
What are the major functions of the basal ganglia?
Motor, emotion, cognition and behaviour.
How are the limbic system and basal ganglia linked?
Mood is determines by functional circuits between these brain areas.
What are the functions of NA in terms of mood?
Regulates mood, behaviour, memory, made in locus coeruleus in brainstem, transported to cortex, transmits its actions via alpha receptors –> arousal and mood.
What are the functions of serotonin in terms of mood?
Sleep, impulse control, appetite and mood. Produced in brainstem in raphe nuclei and transported to cortical areas and limbic system.
What treatments can be used for major depressive disorder?
TCAs such as amitriptyline and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors e.g. venlafaxine, duloxetine. SSRIs such as sertraline, citalopram, fluoxetine. Mood stabilisers such as lithium or sodium valproate (teratogenic) and antipsychotics such as quetiapine, can also do ECT. Note: cannot give anti-depressants to bipolar patients.
Name other substances of which their depletion can lead to depression.
Tryptophan, is a precursor to serotonin
5HIAA depletion in CSF can also cause depression (metabolite).
What are the causes of major depressive disorder?
Predisposition e.g. genetics, childhood trauma, gender, etc.
Perpetuating/maintaining factors e.g. job, studies, relationships, etc.
Precipitating factors e.g. life events such as loss.
What treatments can be used for bipolar mania and depression?
Mood stabilisers - lithium, sodium valproate, carbamazepine and lamotrigine
Antipsychotics - quetiapine
DO NOT GIVE ANTI-DEPRESSANTS!
