Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing: Mood Disorders and Suicide

These flashcards cover key concepts related to mood disorders, their definitions, symptoms, treatment approaches, and relevant factors related to self-harm and suicide.

What are mood disorders?

Disturbances in a person’s emotional state that are intense, long-lasting, and not necessarily tied to any specific event or situation.

• can impair a persons ability to funcstion socially, occupationally and acedemically

What constitutes a normal mood variation?

Feelings that do not impair daily functioning and are generally short-lived, linked to specific events or circumstances.

What are common types of mood disorders according to DSM-5?

• Major depressive disorder

• bipolar disorder

• persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia)

what is depression

feelings of sadness and/or loss of interest in activities once considered enjoyable

what is Bipolar disorder

recurrent illness that involves changes in mood and energy that may be severe and involves both depression and mania, or hypomania

what is persistent depressive disorder

previously dysthymia): milder, but longer lasting form of depression

what is mania

condition in which a person’s mood is abnormally elevated and is accompanied by high energy or activity

what are specificers

descriptors that can be added to the core diagnosis to offer more specific information about the presentation of the disorder

what are some specifers that are used

• With Anxious Distress: Describes individuals who exhibit two or more symptoms of anxiety

  • Feeling on edge, experiencing restlessness

• With Mixed Features: Signifies the presence of at least three manic symptoms, though not enough for a full-blown manic or hypomanic episode

• With Melancholic Features: Characterized by profound anhedonia or lack of reactivity to positive stimuli, along with other symptoms, such as early morning awakening or significant weight loss

• With Atypical Features: Includes mood reactivity (e.g., mood brightens in response to positive events) and two or more additional symptoms, such as increased appetite or hypersomnia

• With Rapid Cycling: Indicates the occurrence of at least four mood episodes within a twelve-month period

  • Depressive, manic, hypomani

How do you treat Mood disorders

a combo of psychotherapy and lifestyle changes

• the use of meds is an essential componet

what meds can eb useed to treat mood disorders

• Antidepressants

  • SSRIs and SNRIs (MDD and dysthymia)

• Mood stabilizers

  • Lithium and certain anticonvulsants

• Antipsychotic

  • Indicated where psychotic symptoms are present

  • Hallucinations, delusions

How can CBT help mood disorders

•Helps identify and modify maladaptive thought patterns and behaviors that may contribute to their mood disorder

•Teaches coping strategies to manage stress and prevent future depressive episodes

How can Interpersonal Psychotherapy(IPT) help mood diorders

•Focuses on improving interpersonal relationships and social functioning (mood disorders often affect negatively)

•Helps navigate relationship difficulties, role transitions, and unresolved grief that contribute to depressive symptoms

What is major depressive disorder (MDD)?

A common and serious medical illness characterized by persistent feelings of sadness and loss of interest or pleasure in activities.

What are the key symptoms of major depressive disorder?

Persistent sadness, lack of interest in activities, significant weight changes, sleep disturbances, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness, and recurrent thoughts of death.

What are key specifiers used in mood disorders?

Descriptors that can be added to core diagnoses to provide more specific information about the nature and presentation of the disorder.

What is the Spectrum Model of Mood Disorders?

An inclusive approach that acknowledges variability in symptoms and offers a flexible framework for diagnosing and treating mood disorders.

What are common approaches to treating mood disorders?

Combination of psychotherapy (CBT, IPT), lifestyle changes, and pharmacotherapy (antidepressants, mood stabilizers).

What is bipolar disorder?

A recurrent illness characterized by significant mood changes, energy variations, and episodes of both depression and mania or hypomania.

What role do lifestyle changes play in treating mood disorders?

They complement traditional treatments by enhancing mood stability and overall well-being.

What is self-harm?

Behaviors such as cutting or burning used as maladaptive coping strategies for emotional pain or distress.

What factors are assessed in a lethality assessment for suicide risk?

Presence of a detailed plan, availability of means, previous suicide attempts, and current mental state.

What is persistent depressive disorder?

A chronic form of depression characterized by a steady, low-grade depressive mood lasting at least two years.

How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect mental health?

Increased symptoms of anxiety and depression among all age groups due to disruptions in daily routines and social interactions.

What are the differences between SSRIs and SNRIs?

SSRIs selectively inhibit the reuptake of serotonin, while SNRIs inhibit reuptake of both serotonin and norepinephrine.

What is the goal of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in treating depression?

To identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors contributing to depression.

what is seasonal affective disorder

• Depression that corresponds with the seasons

• Seen more frequently during the fall and winter months when there is less sunlight

• Symptoms: low mood, lack of energy, increased sleep, weight gain

• Subside during spring and summer

what are the diff types of depression(4)

Major depressive disorder (MDD)

Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia)

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

Perinatal depression

what are possible cause for depression

• Genetics

  • Significant role in the development of depression

  • Research indicates that individuals with a family history of depression have a higher likelihood of experiencing the condition themselves, suggesting hereditary component

• Alterations in brain structure and function

  • Imbalances in neurotransmitters: serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine

  • Neuroendocrine system is implicated in depression

    • Chornic stress can lead to dysregulation in the system leading to increased production of cortisol (linked to depression)

• Environmental factors

  • Exposure to trauma, abuse, neglect, stressful life events – trigger onset of depression

  • Lead to an emotional response that overwhelms an individual’s capacity to cope, leading to depression

• Psychological factors

• Personality traits (significant contributors)

what is a lethality assessment

Structured evaluation of the risk factors associated with a person’s potential for engaging in a life-threatening behavior (suicide)

• Guage the immediacy and severity of the risk to help determine appropriate level of intervention or treatment required

• Factors examined: presence of detailed plan, availability of means, availability to carry out the plan (weapons/drugs), previous suicide attempts/violent behavior, current mental state, other situational factors (social support and recent life events)

• Standardized instruments: Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), SAD PERSONS Scale, other clinical interview protocols to guide lethality assessment

• Hospitalization, close monitoring, outpatient treatment, individuals who are at higher risk require more intensive interventions