Mood Disorders and Suicide Unit

Mood Disorders

Extreme alterations in emotion ranging from deep depression to intense euphoria.

Unipolar depressive disorders

Mood disorders that involve only depressive episodes.

Bipolar disorders

Mood disorders that involve both depressive and manic episodes.

Depressive Episode

Markedly depressed mood or loss of interest lasting at least 2 weeks.

Symptoms of Depressive Episode

Include changes in sleep and appetite, feelings of worthlessness, difficulty concentrating, and thoughts of death.

Manic Episodes

Abnormally elevated mood lasting at least 1 week, accompanied by additional symptoms.

Symptoms of Manic Episodes

Include inflated self-esteem, decreased sleep, pressured speech, racing thoughts.

Hypomanic Episodes

Similar to manic episodes but less severe, lasting at least 4 days with no marked impairment.

Lifetime prevalence of Unipolar Depression

Nearly 17%, with a 12-month prevalence of about 7%.

Gender differences in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Women are approximately twice as likely as men to experience major depression.

Lifetime risk of Bipolar Disorder

Estimated at about 1% with no significant gender differences.

DSM 5 Criteria for Manic Episodes

Include a distinct period of elevated mood, three additional symptoms, and marked impairment.

Key Symptoms of MDD

Include depressed mood, diminished interest, significant weight change, sleep disturbances, and feelings of worthlessness.

Persistent Depressive Disorder

Depressed mood most of the day for at least 2 years, with additional symptoms.

Double Depression

Co-occurrence of persistent depressive disorder and intermittent major depressive episodes.

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

Symptoms appear in the final week before menses and improve soon after onset.

Postpartum Blues

Common mood changes occurring in new parents within 10 days of childbirth.

Biological influences on mood disorders

Diseases and drugs can affect mood; higher prevalence among blood relatives of affected individuals.

Monoamine theory

Proposal that depression results from a depletion of neurotransmitters at key receptor sites.

5-HTT gene

A gene studied for its role in the development of depression related to stressful life events.

HPA Axis

Regulates cortisol release in response to stress; elevated cortisol levels are linked to depression.

Circadian rhythms in depression

Abnormalities in these rhythms are commonly observed in depression and can be linked to seasonal mood changes.

Sleep disturbances in depression

Include difficulty falling asleep, early morning awakening, and changes in REM sleep patterns.

Stressful Life Events

Severe events can often precipitate major depressive episodes, distinguishing between independent and dependent events.

Cognitive vulnerabilities

Dysfunctional beliefs activated by stressful events may trigger depressive symptoms.

Freud’s Mourning and Melancholia

Theory noting similarities between mourning and depression, with a focus on loss and anger turned inward.

Beck's negative cognitive triad

Negative views about the self, the world, and the future that sustain depressive thoughts.

Learned helplessness theory

The model suggesting that exposure to uncontrollable negative events may lead to a sense of helplessness.

Hopelessness theory of depression

Posits that pessimistic attribution styles and negative life events lead to hopelessness and depression.