Mood Disorders: Bipolar Disorder, Unipolar Depression, and Gender Differences

Vocabulary flashcards covering the symptoms, diagnostic criteria, biological and psychological causes, pharmacological and neurostimulation treatments, and gender theories related to Bipolar Disorder and Unipolar Depression.

988

The three-digit nationwide Mental Health Crisis Hotline number.

Bipolar Disorder

A mood disorder defined by cycling between distinct mood states: mania and depression.

Mania

A mood state characterized by euphoria (extreme happiness), grandiosity (belief in self-importance), excessive energy, rapid disorganized thought patterns, lack of negative emotions, and potentially hallucinations, delusions, or reckless actions.

Depression

A state of hopelessness and low self-worth characterized by lack of energy, excessive sleep, guilt, sadness, inability to feel positive emotions, slowed speech, brain fog, and loss of volition.

Bipolar I

A subtype of bipolar disorder where the individual experiences major depressive episodes alongside full manic states.

Bipolar II

A subtype of bipolar disorder where the individual experiences depression alongside only hypomanic states.

Manic State

A high-energy state lasting at least $1$ week, characterized by reduced sleep, racing thoughts, rapid speech, potential hallucinations and delusions, and posing a severe threat to functioning.

Hypomanic State

An elevated mood state lasting at least $4$ days, characterized by reduced sleep, increased energy, racing thoughts, and rapid speech, presenting a moderate threat to functioning without hallucinations or delusions.

Lithium

A chemical element used as a highly effective treatment for bipolar disorder that prevents both manic and depressive states, though carrying a high risk of overdose, drug interactions, and tolerance.

Volition

Drive, interest, and activity level; an absence of volition is a primary motivational symptom of depression.

Brain Fog

A cognitive symptom of depression characterized by being unable to concentrate, forgetful, and easily distracted.

Major Depressive Episode

A depressive pattern in which most depressive symptoms are present every day for at least $2$ weeks.

Persistent Depressive Disorder

A chronic depressive pattern in which most depressive symptoms are present most of the time for at least $2$ years.

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

A mood pattern where an individual experiences depressive episodes specifically during the week before menstruating.

Postpartum Depression

A depressive episode that occurs in a parent shortly after giving birth.

Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis

The physiological endocrine system regulating the body's stress response; it is found to be over-active in individuals with depression.

Learned Helplessness

A psychological phenomenon occurring when past experiences teach an individual that bad things will happen regardless of their actions and that they cannot change outcomes, generating hopelessness, negativity, and a loss of motivation.

Serotonin Theory of Depression

The hypothesis proposing that low serotonin levels cause depression; largely supported by industry-funded research and challenged by publication bias, showing SSRIs relieve symptoms in approximately $50\%$ of users.

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAO-Is)

The first-generation class of antidepressant medications used to relieve depression by inhibiting the monoamine oxidase enzyme.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

The second-generation class of antidepressant drugs that block the reuptake of serotonin in the synaptic cleft, providing relief for approximately $50\%$ of users.

Ketamine

A psychedelic drug producing hallucinations and delusions that increases openness to suggestion, functioning as a potential fourth-generation antidepressant and an adjunct to talk therapy.

Treatment-Resistant Depression

Depression in individuals who do not show clinical improvement from standard treatments, affecting approximately $35\%$ of clients using antidepressant drugs and $25\%$ of clients in talk therapy.

Electro-convulsive Therapy (ECT)

A brain stimulation technique that is highly effective at quickly and thoroughly relieving depression with few physical risks, but causes memory loss, especially with repeated use.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

A non-invasive brain stimulation therapy utilizing magnetic coils; it has fewer side effects than ECT and lower effectiveness, while sharing a similar mechanism of action.

Deep Brain Stimulation

A brain stimulation technique requiring neurosurgery to implant a stimulating device into specific brain structures; highly effective but rarely used due to high infection risks.

Vagus Nerve Stimulation

A treatment modality involving surgical implantation of a stimulation device along the vagus nerve; highly effective for depression but rarely used due to infection risks.

Artifact Theory

The theory that depression is under-diagnosed in men because women outwardly express distress more often, whereas men may die by suicide without ever receiving treatment.

Hormone Theory

The theory proposing that hormonal fluctuations during menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause increase depression vulnerability in women, with estrogen acting as a chemical messenger in the HPA axis.

Life Stress Theory

The theory suggesting women experience higher rates of depression because they face disproportionate exposure to abuse, poverty, discrimination, and violence, increasing susceptibility to learned helplessness.

Body Dissatisfaction Theory

The theory that societal pressures socialize women into self-hatred to promote decorative standards and consume beauty products, raising their vulnerability to depression.

Lack-of-Control Theory

The theory asserting that having fewer options and less societal control causes hopelessness and depression, disproportionately impacting women.

Rumination Theory

The theory attributing higher rates of depression in women to their greater tendency to dwell on and mentally re-examine sources of distress without taking action to change them.