PS 370:Affective Disorders after Exam 2

Social Neuroscience

Interdisciplinary field that seeks to identify the neural, hormonal, and genetic correlates of social behavior

What is loneliness , effects?

• perceived” social isolation— subjective, not number of friends

• Evolved as an early warning that connectivity at risk

• Compromises health

• Cyclical: attentional networks

Define Neuropsychiatric illness. How long?

A syndrome characterized by clinically significant disturbance in an

individual’s cognition, emotional regulation, or behavior that reflects a

dysfunction in the psychological, biological, or development processes

underlying mental functioning.”

• Prevents normal functioning

• Persists > 2 weeks

• Context matters

3 ways of explaining disorders

• Biological approach

• Psychological approach

• Sociocultural approach

Biological approach

• Genetics

• Brain structural abnormalities

• NTs

Psychological approach

• Experiences

• emotions

• personality characteristics

Sociocultural approach

• social pressures

• cultural norms

diathesis stress model

a psychological theory that explains how psychological disorders develop through the interaction of a person's predisposition (diathesis) and external stressors. It suggests that individuals with a genetic or psychological vulnerability may develop disorders like depression or anxiety when faced with significant life stress.

Precursors/risk factors of DSM

• Genetic factors

• brain disease

• early learning experiences

• bad family dynamics

What do the risk factors lead to

vulnerability

What kind of things/ stress leads to psychological disorder in DSM?

• Vulnerability

• Poor self-understanding

• Stressful family dynamics

• social stresses

Draw the dsm model

yipee

Define mood disorders, and what are the types

Elevating or lowering of a mood, outside of the normal range of emotion

• DSM-5 categorizes into depressive disorders and bipolar disorders

1. Major depressive disorders

• Withdrawal from pleasurable activities

• Disturbances in appetite, energy levels, sleep, and cognition

• Feelings of hopelessness, guilt, worthlessness

Causes of MDD

• Biological

• Psychological

• Sociocultural

Sociocultural causes of MDD

Women more than

men

• Low socioeconomic

status

• Unemployment

• Global crises

Psychological causes of MDD

Learned helplessness

• Rumination - continuous dwelling on negative thoughts.

• Attributional style - putting blame on one self

Biological causes of MDD

• Gene expression

• Low numbers of receptors for serotonin and norepinephrine

• Disrupted neural activity in the PFC could be due to rumination

Gene + MDD

Gene (5-HTTLPR) leads to a higher likelihood of depression is high

Monoamine hypothesis and what are the evidence in suport of it.

Theory that depression is caused by insufficient activity of MAergic

neurons

• Evidence in support of this hypothesis: serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine

• Drugs that ↑ MA activity ↓ symptoms of depression;

• Drugs that ↓ MA activity → depression

Brain structure and function in MDD

People with MDD show increased

• activity in medial PFC

• activity in amygdala

People with MDD show reduced

• activity in ventral striatum

• hippocampal volume

Effect on sleep

1. do not reach stage 3 / deep sleep

2. waking up more frequently in sleep

3. Sleep stages are inconsistent

4. Earlier REM.

therapies for MDD

• lifestyle changes

• drug therapies

• brain stimulation

Pharmacological treatments for MDD/ drug therapies

• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)

• Tricyclic antidepressants

• Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (NRIs)

antidepressants and placebo

Antidepressants are only 20% more effective than placebos • In an fMRI study, placebos and antidepressants caused the same neural changes (Peciña et al., 2015)

Brain stimulation techniques

Electroconvulsive Shock Therapy

• Controlled seizure

• Treatment-resistant depression

• Effective, can lead to memory loss

Deep Brain Stimulation

• Electrodes implanted in brain

• Treatment-resistant depression

• Effective

Bipolar disorder

mental disorder characterized by periods of depression and abnormally elevated mood, lasting days to weeks, and in some cases months.

changes in NT and brain structure during bipolar disorder

• decrease in grey matter

• hippocampus shrinkage

• Dopamine: Elevated levels can lead to manic episodes, while decreased levels may contribute to depressive states.

• Serotonin and Norepinephrine: Fluctuations in these neurotransmitters are linked to mood instability, affecting both manic and depressive phases.

• increased activity in the amygdala and decreased activity in the prefrontal cortex, leading to challenges in emotional regulation and cognitive functioning

What are the negative brain and life consequences of bipolar disorder?

Bipolar disorder can lead to structural changes in the brain, such as reduced gray matter in areas responsible for emotion and decision-making, which may affect memory and cognitive functioning. Additionally, it can result in significant life challenges, including strained relationships, difficulties at work or school, and an increased risk of suicide and substance abuse.

Pharmacological treatments for bipolar disorder

• Lithium - mood stabilizer

  • elimates manic episodes

  • rapid therapeutic effetcs