Overview of Depressive Disorders and Schizophrenia

These flashcards summarize key concepts from the lecture on depressive disorders and schizophrenia, focusing on cognitive theories, pharmacological treatments, and symptom differentiation.

Cognitive Triad

A concept by Aaron Beck indicating that people with depression have negative views about themselves, their situation, and their future.

Learned Helplessness

A theory by Seligman and Meier suggesting that depression comes from a perceived lack of control over life situations.

Monoamine Hypothesis

The theory proposing that depression is caused by decreased levels of dopamine, norepinephrine, and/or serotonin.

Antidepressants

A class of medications aimed at treating depression, believed to increase levels of monoamine neurotransmitters in the brain.

Placebo Effects

The improvement of condition observed in patients receiving treatment that has no therapeutic effect compared to a control.

Schizophrenia

A psychological disorder characterized by drastic alterations in thought, perceptions, and consciousness leading to a break from reality.

Psychosis

A condition marked by an inability to distinguish reality from imagination.

Positive Symptoms of Schizophrenia

Symptoms including delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, and disorganized behavior, typically associated with increased dopamine.

Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia

Symptoms such as apathy, lack of emotion, slowed speech, and slowed movement, generally associated with decreased dopamine.

Delusions

False beliefs held by individuals with schizophrenia, persistent despite contradictory evidence.