Depressive Disorders, Bipolar Disorders, and Suicide Review

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to depressive disorders, bipolar disorders, and suicide as discussed in the lecture notes.

Depressive Disorders

Mental health conditions characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest in previously enjoyable activities.

Bipolar Disorder

A mental health condition that includes mood swings ranging from depressive lows to manic highs.

Major Depressive Episode (MDE)

A period characterized by a severely depressed mood and/or loss of interest or pleasure in nearly all activities for at least two weeks.

Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD)

A chronic form of depression lasting for at least two years in adults, or one year in children and adolescents.

Manic Episode

A period of elevated or irritable mood lasting at least one week, accompanied by at least three additional symptoms like grandiosity and decreased need for sleep.

Hypomanic Episode

A less severe form of mania lasting at least four days, without marked impairment in social or occupational functioning.

Suicidal Behavior

Actions that indicate a desire to end one’s life, which can range from thoughts and plans to actual attempts.

Interpersonal Theory of Suicide

A theory suggesting that suicidal behavior arises from a combination of perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

A structured, time-limited therapy that focuses on changing negative thought patterns and behaviors to improve mood.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

A class of medications used to treat depression by increasing the levels of serotonin in the brain.

Cognitive Distortions

Faulty thinking patterns that contribute to feelings of depression, such as all-or-nothing thinking and catastrophizing.

Cyclothymic Disorder

A mood disorder characterized by chronic fluctuating mood with periods of hypomanic symptoms and periods of depressive symptoms that do not meet the full criteria for a MDE.

Antidepressant Medications

Drugs designed to alleviate symptoms of depression, including MAOIs, tricyclic antidepressants, SSRIs, and SNRIs.

Anhedonia

A diminished ability to experience pleasure in normally enjoyable activities, often a symptom of depression.

Mood Disorders

Psychiatric conditions that primarily impact a person's emotional state, including unipolar and bipolar disorders.

Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder

A mood disorder in children characterized by severe temper outbursts that are out of proportion to the situation.

Suicide Prevention

Efforts aimed at reducing the incidence of suicide through education, intervention, and support.

Mild Depression

A lesser degree of depression characterized by a few symptoms that may not significantly impair functioning.

Severe Depression

A major depressive disorder characterized by numerous, severe symptoms that impair daily functioning.

Crisis Intervention

Immediate, short-term assistance given to individuals experiencing an acute mental health crisis.

Coping Skills

Strategies and techniques that individuals use to manage stress, anxiety, and emotional pain.

Monoamine Theory of Depression

A biological theory suggesting that depression results from an imbalance or deficiency of monoamine neurotransmitters (serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine) in the brain.

Genetic Predisposition to Depression

The increased likelihood of developing depression due to inherited genetic factors, often involving multiple genes interacting with environmental influences.

Reward Sensitivity (in depression)

A reduced ability to experience pleasure or motivation from rewarding stimuli, often linked to anhedonia and contributing to depressive symptoms.

Cognitive Behavioral Model of Depression

A framework proposing that depression is maintained by a reciprocal interaction among negative thoughts, maladaptive behaviors, and distressing emotions.

Beck's Cognitive Triad

Three forms of negative thinking (about oneself, the world, and the future) proposed by Aaron Beck as central to the development and maintenance of depression.

Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT)

A time-limited therapy that focuses on improving interpersonal relationships and social functioning to alleviate depressive symptoms.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

A non-invasive brain stimulation treatment that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain to improve symptoms of depression.

Behavioral Activation (BA)

A component of CBT for depression that focuses on increasing engagement in positive, rewarding activities to improve mood and reduce depressive symptoms.