Psychiatric Disease Review: Depression, Anxiety, and ADHD

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers key concepts, symptoms, and biological hypotheses for Depression, Dysthymia, Various Anxiety Disorders, and ADHD based on the lecture notes.

Major Depression

A disorder where symptoms are persistent and severe enough to interfere significantly with the ability to function in everyday life, differing from normal sadness or passing moods.

Dysthymia

A chronically depressed mood that occurs for most of the day, more days than not, for at least $2$ years, usually characterized by less severe symptoms than major depressive disorder.

Anhedonia

Mood symptom of Major Depressive disorder characterized by the loss of enjoyment or interest in previously pleasurable activities.

Hypersomnia

A physical symptom of depression involving an increase in sleep.

Insomnia

A physical symptom of depression involving a decrease in sleep or disturbed sleep, such as early morning awakening around $4-5$ am.

Bradypsychia

A psychological symptom of Major Depressive disorder characterized by slowed thinking.

Monoamine hypothesis

A biochemical postulate for depression suggesting it results from a functional decrease in the activity of norepinephrine ($NE$) and serotonin ($5HT$) in pathways that express mood.

Monoamine oxidase

An enzyme responsible for the degradation of neurotransmitters; its excessive activity can contribute to depression by depleting neurotransmitter levels.

Anxiety disorders

A group of disorders characterized by intense episodes of fearfulness and symptoms caused by the activation of the sympathetic nervous system.

Panic disorder

An anxiety disorder involving unexpected panic attacks that usually last for $15$ to $30$ minutes, categorized by neurologic, cardiac, and respiratory symptoms.

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

A condition characterized by prolonged ($> 6$ months), excessive, and uncontrollable worry, muscle tension, and poor vigilance.

Obsessive Compulsive disorder (OCD)

An anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent obsessions (repeated thoughts) and compulsions (repeated acts) that are distressful and time-consuming.

Social Phobia

An intense, irrational, and persistent fear of being scrutinized or negatively evaluated by others, leading to avoidance of social situations.

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder)

A neurobiological condition characterized by developmentally inappropriate levels of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness occurring across various settings.

Prefrontal noradrenergic pathway

A pathway using norepinephrine ($NE$) that is essential for sustaining and focusing attention, implicated as a primary disorder in ADHD.

Mesocortical pathway

A pathway using dopamine ($DA$) important for cognitive functions, vigilance, and executive functioning, implicated in ADHD.

Psychostimulants

The first-line pharmacotherapy for ADHD that works by increasing levels of norepinephrine ($NE$) and dopamine ($DA$).