Chapter 20 - Mood Disorders

“Mood Disorders”

mental health class that health professionals use to broadly describe all
types of depression and bipolar disorders
○ Not indicative of an actual DSM-5 category of disorders

Depressive disorders

share certain common features such as the presence of sad, empty, or
irritable mood, accompanied by related changes that significantly affect the individual’s capacity to function
○ duration, timing, or presumed etiology differs between disorders

Bipolar and related disorders

typically categorized by (a) distinct period(s) of abnormally
and persistently euphoric, expansive, or irritable mood and persistently increased goal-directed
activity or energy coupled with depressive like symptoms
○ found between the chapters on schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders and depressive disorders in DSM-5-TR

Bipolar Disorder I:

includes 1 lifetime episode of mania (7+ days
of symptoms, or symptoms severe enough for hospitalization)

Bipolar Disorder II:

episode of hypomania (4+ but <7 days of
symptoms)

treatment of depression

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI)
○ Most common antidepressant, Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxi

Selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI)

These types of medication take a long time to work (4-6 weeks) and do not work well for some patients

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
People learn to recognize and replace the negative thoughts or behaviors that contribute to depression.
Medication along with CBT is the most effective treatment

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)

Bipolar & treatment

lithium salts → most effective therapy for bipolar disorder -
how it works remains unknown

Other drug treatments → anticonvulsant drugs: valproate and carbamazepine
cognitive behavioral therapy (cbt) → Supports individuals in adapting cognitions and behaviors
○ One important behavioral change that may aid in symptom reduction (intensity of the mood swings) is maintaining a consistent sleep schedule
Adjunctive Psychosocial Treatment
Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy (IPSRT)

Suicide & Mood disorders

high overlap

risk factors of suicide→ lack of social support, maternal depression

Anhedonia

Loss of interest or pleasure in activities one previously found enjoyable or rewarding.

Attributional style

The tendency by which a person infers the cause or meaning of behaviors or events.

Chronic stress

Discrete or related problematic events and conditions which persist over time and result in prolonged activation of the biological and/or psychological stress response (e.g., unemployment, ongoing health difficulties, marital discord).

Early adversity

Single or multiple acute or chronic stressful events, which may be biological or psychological in nature (e.g., poverty, abuse, childhood illness or injury), occurring during childhood and resulting in a biological and/or psychological stress response.

Grandiosity

Inflated self-esteem or an exaggerated sense of self-importance and self-worth (e.g., believing one has special powers or superior abilities).

Hypersomnia

Excessive daytime sleepiness, including difficulty staying awake or napping, or prolonged sleep episodes.

Psychomotor agitation

Increased motor activity associated with restlessness, including physical actions (e.g., fidgeting, pacing, feet tapping, handwringing).

Psychomotor retardation

A slowing of physical activities in which routine activities (e.g., eating, brushing teeth) are performed in an unusually slow manner.

Social zeitgeber

Zeitgeber is German for “time giver.” Social zeitgebers are environmental cues, such as meal times and interactions with other people, that entrain biological rhythms and thus sleep-wake cycle regularity.

Socioeconomic status (SES)

A person’s economic and social position based on income, education, and occupation.

Suicidal ideation

Recurring thoughts about suicide, including considering or planning for suicide, or preoccupation with suicide.