Task 6

Question 1

Name some symptoms of depression

Answer 1

• Anhedonia
• Weight fluctuations or change in appetite
• sleeping problems
• psychomotor agitation or retardation
• feelings of worthlessness
• thoughts of death
• problems with concentration

Question 2

What is the prevalence of Depression?

Answer 2

between 3 and 16%

Question 3

Which age group is most commonly affected?

Answer 3

18 - 29

Question 4

What can you say about prevalence of depression in elderly people?

Answer 4

From the age of 65 on, the likelihood of depression declines, but rises again in people over 85, where it is often severe and chronic.

Question 5

What is the gender difference when it comes to prevalence of depression?

Answer 5

Women are twice as prone to develop it.

Question 6

What is a problem when it comes to defeating depression?

Answer 6

Relapse rate is up to 75%

Question 7

What is the role of genes in depression?

Answer 7

• First degree relatives are two to three times more likely to also develop it.
• Depression with an early onset is often more genetic
• Abnormalities in the Serotonin Transporter Gene cause the individual to be more likely to develop depression as a result of an adverse experience

Question 8

Which neurotransmitters are especially important for explaining depression?

Answer 8

• Monoamines: Serotonin and Norepinephrine

Question 9

What are biological symptoms of depressed patients in the PFC?

Answer 9

• Reduced metabolic activity
• reduced gray matter
• slower brainwave activity

Question 10

What brain structures other than the PFC are affected in depression?

Answer 10

• Anterior Cingulate Cortex
• Hippocampus
• Amygdala
• Pituitary Gland
• > HPA Axis

Question 11

Which hormone is often found in excessive amounts in the brain of depressed patients?

Answer 11

Cortisol

Question 12

What kind of abnormality is found in the HPA Axis of depressed patients?

Answer 12

Hyperactivity

Question 13

What are possible psychological factors that might cause depression?

Answer 13

• Life stress and aversive experiences
• > 80% of patients report a traumatic event
• Accidental positive reinforcement of symptoms by peers
• Learned Helplessness

Question 14

What makes up the negative triad?

Answer 14

Negative views about oneself, the world and the future

Question 15

Explain the reformulated learned helplessness theory.

Answer 15

It focuses on people’s causal attribution for events:

Negative events are interpreted internally, globally and stable, which leads to self-blame and expectation of repetition

Question 16

What does the ruminative response style theory say?

Answer 16

That depressed people focus on their feelings and come up with many causes for them. They don’t make an attempt to change them however, which leads to rumination.

Question 17

Why is rejection sensitivity so problematic?

Answer 17

Depressed people require a high degree of social support, and are also sensitive to rejection. As depressed people are very insecure, they doubt whether the support they get is sincere. This often leads to frustration in the individuals offering the support, which the depressed person notices and leads them to withdraw.

Question 18

What can be said about the course of a Bipolar I Disorder?

Answer 18

Most patients will experience a depressive episode

Question 19

When can a bipolar disorder be classified as rapid cycling?

Answer 19

If more than 3 mood episodes are present in one year

Question 20

Diagnosing Bipolar in youth is difficult, which is why there is a distinct disorder for this case. What is it called?

Answer 20

Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder

• > Severe and disproportionate temper tantrums
• > 3 outbursts er week for 12 months in more than one setting.

Question 21

What is Cyclothymic Disorder?

Answer 21

• A less severe form of Bipolar
• Alternating between hypomanic and depressive symptoms for 2 years
• Otherwise subclinical

Question 22

What is the lifetime prevalence of the Bipolar Disorders?

Answer 22

Bipolar I: 0.6%

Bipolar II: 0.4%

Question 23

When do most cases of Bipolar Disorder have their onset?

Answer 23

In late adolescence or early adulthood

Question 24

How does having a first degree relative that is Bipolar affect your probability of also having it?

Answer 24

It makes it 5 to 10 times more likely

Question 25

Which brain structures are found to have abnormalities in Bipolar?

Answer 25

Amygdala
PFC
Striatum
- Especially white matter structures

Question 26

What is the effect of dysregulated dopamine levels in Bipolar people?

Answer 26

Extensive reward-seeking in manic phase and diminished motivation in depressed phase

Question 27

What is a characteristic of the life in Bipolar disordered individuals?

Answer 27

Lack of daily rhythm

Question 28

What is the interplay between diet and depression?

Answer 28

• The Mediterranean diet is often referred to as preventive of depression
• Diet can effect endocrine household

Question 29

What is the relationship of sleep and depression?

Answer 29

• Sleep problems precede a depressive episode in 40% of the cases
• Free radicals accumulate during waking hours, so long periods without sleep can lead to oxidative brain damage
• Chronic sleep reduction leads to hippocampal shrinkage

Question 30

What are main mediators, through which lifestyle affects depressive symptoms?

Answer 30

• Neuroprogression
• Neurotransmitter imbalances
• Oxidative Stress
• HPA imbalances

Question 31

Name some cognitive biases that are prominent in depressed people.

Answer 31

• Selective Attention
• Negative Attributional Style
• More access to negative memories

Question 32

What is a dangerous side effect of SSRIs and SNRIs in Bipolar patients?

Answer 32

Can induce suicidal thoughts