Depression

Question 1

Different types of depression

Answer 1

Unipolar depression
Bipolar depression
Depressive disorder
Major depressive disorder
Dysthmia

Question 2

Unipolar depression

Answer 2

Mood swings in one direction
Most common
More likely to be environmental than genetic

Question 3

Bipolar depression

Answer 3

Oscillations between depression and mania
Onset happens in adulthood
Strong hereditary tendency

Question 4

Depressive disorder

Answer 4

Significant levels of sadness, low energy, low self worth, guilt

Question 5

Major depressive disorder

Answer 5

Severe pattern of depression, disabling, not caused by drugs or medical conditions

Question 6

Dysthmia

Answer 6

Chronic and less disabling but similar to major depressive disorder

Question 7

Ways to diagnose depression

Answer 7

1. Interview
2. Fill out a questionnaire
   Score given tells you whether mild, moderate or severe
3. DSM diagnostic statistical manual - need to have five or more symptoms that have been present for two week period

Question 8

Symptoms of depression

Answer 8

1. Depressed mood
2. Loss of interest/pleasure
3. Weigh loss/gain; increase/decrease in appetite
4. Insomnia/hypersomnia
5. Psychomotor agitation or retardation
6. Fatigue/loss of energy
7. Feeling of worthlessness or guilt
8. Less able to concentrate/think, indecisiveness
9. Recurrent thoughts of death
10. Loss of libido

• Need atleast 1 or 2 to be diagnosed with depression
• Need tohave five or more symptoms present for TWO week period

Question 9

Factors affecting depression

Answer 9

• More likely in female
• First episode occurs in late adolescent early adulthood years
• May be co-morbid with other psychiatric disorders
• Causes hyperactivity of prefrontal cortex

Question 10

Monoamine theory of depression

Answer 10

• Overall reduction in central monoamine NT i.e. 5-HT and NA

Question 11

Evidence against monoamine theory of depression

Answer 11

• Difficult to show deficits of 5-HT and NA
• Would expects effects to be exhibited immediately but takes two-three weeks to show effects
• Cocaine blocks monoamine transporters so you’d expect it to have anti-depressive effects but it doesn’t