unit 6a Flashcards
mood disorder: depression
limbic system
collection of brain regions that controls mood & attitude
- is involved in storage of highly charged emotional memories + cntrls appetite + sleep cycles
depression
set of neuropsychiatric disorders characterized by symptoms including:
- a pervasive low mood, low self-esteem, changes in sleep (insomnia/hypersomnia), weight changes, anhedonia/loss of pleasure, thoughts of death, fatigue & loss of energy, psychomotor agitation/retardation, feelings of worthlessness & guilt, lack of concentration, & sometimes delusions/hallucinations (psychotic depression)
anhedonia
inability to experience pleasure or interest in formerly pleasurable or satisfying activities
psychomotor agitation
series of unintentional + purposeless motions that stem f/ mental tension & anxiety of an individual.
- includes: pacing around, wringing hands, uncontrolled tongue mvmts, pulling off & on clothing + similar actions
psychomotor retardation
AKA psychomotor impairment
- visible slowing of physical activity such as mvmt & speech
major depressive disorder (unipolar depression; clinical depression)
having 5 or more depressive symptoms that last w/o remission for at least 2 wks
Usually is characterized by loss of pleasure in most or all activities, psychomotor retardation, weightless, guilt, & insomnia
2 types: Melancholic & Atypical
Melancholic depression
MDD- the most ‘classic’ type of depression
- w/ a low mood ( melancholic = sad), insomnia, loss of appetite/weight loss, anhedonia
Dysthymia
less severe, but long lasting depression that lasts for at least 2 or more yrs
Atypical depression
MDD- type of depression w/ mood reactivity (moods are overall affected by environ.
**Paradoxical anhedonia **despite apparent positive, signif. weight gain or incr. appetite f/ comfort eating, hypersomnia (incr sleep), leaden paralysis (sensation of heaviness in limbs) & signif. social impairment f/ hypersensitivity to perceived interpersonal rejection
Adjustment disorder w/ depressed mood
mood disturbance appearing as psych. response to an identifiable event/stressor where resulting emotional or behavioral symptoms are signif. but DONT meet criteria for major depressive episode
Catatonic depression
rare & severe form of major depression involving disturbances of motor behavior & other symptoms
- patient is mute, immobile/ exhibits purposeless or even bizarre mvmts
Postpartum depression
intense, sustained & sometimes disabling depression experience by women w/ in 3 months after giving birth
- can last as long as 3 months
Likely due to sudden withdrawal of placental hormones at birth
Postpartum psychosis (postpartum mania ) is also possible
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
severe, debilitating PMS w/ abnormal response to normal hormonal lvls.
Symptoms can be any combo of depression symptoms & typically start abt 1 wk prior to period but abruptly end when menstruation begins
Treatment: may include low-dose anti-depressants taken only during week of symptoms
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
depressive disorder related to circadian rhythms in which depressive episodes come on in autumn/winter & resolve in spring
winter time: patients experience intense hunger, weight gain, hypersomnia & lower mood in the evening
Treatment: light therapy (phototherapy) to increase daylight exposure time
Biological causes of depression
monoamine neurotransmitter, hormonal changes (postpartum, PMDD), circadian rhythm changes (SAD), stress responses f/ increased cortisol
includes:
- monoamine hypothesis
- specific monoamine hypothesis
NEW 2022 STUDY HAS CALLED INTO QUESTION ROLE OF SEROTONIN in depression
Monoamine hypothesis
early hypothesis abt biological basis for depression based on observation medications that affect monoamine neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine, & serotonin, may have psychological side effects affecting mood
specific monoamine hypothesis
theory that depression results f/ presynaptic and/or post-synaptic changes in noradrenergic (norephinephrine) and/or serotonergic (5-HT) pathways
