Mood Disorders Lecture Notes

Vocabulary flashcards covering mood disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, clinical diagnostics, suicide assessment scales, psychiatric medications, and therapeutic interventions.

Dysthymia

A mild, chronic depressive disorder characterized by a persistent low mood that is constant over extended periods.

Hypomania

A mild to moderate form of mania seen in bipolar spectrum disorders that is elevated above normal mood but less severe than full mania.

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

A mood disorder characterized by distinct episodes of depression that can be specified as mild, moderate, or severe, with psychotic features, postpartum onset, or seasonal patterns.

SIGECAPS

A diagnostic mnemonic for the symptoms of major depression: Sleep disturbances, lost Interest, Guilt, low Energy, Concentration/cognition deficits, Appetite changes, Psychomotor agitation or retardation, and Suicidality.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

A nonpharmacologic psychotherapy where a trained therapist empowers the client to modify maladaptive behaviors by altering dysfunctional thinking patterns.

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

A medical procedure for treatment-refractory depression where brief seizures are electrically induced via electrodes placed on one or both sides of the forehead under general anesthesia and muscle relaxants.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

A nonpharmacologic procedure that utilizes magnetic pulses to stimulate focal cortical areas of the brain to reset neural circuitry, performed without anesthesia.

Light Therapy

A nonpharmacologic treatment involving exposure to full-spectrum light placed $1\text{ to }3\text{ feet}$ away, indicated for seasonal affective disorder caused by reduced sunlight.

St. John's Wort

An herbal alternative antidepressant therapy that must not be taken concurrently with SSRIs due to additive serotonergic effects and the risk of toxicity.

Suicide

A self-directed injurious behavior resulting in death with explicit or implicit intent to die; clinically classified as a behavior rather than a psychiatric disorder.

Suicide Attempt

A non-fatal, self-directed, potentially injurious behavior carried out with the intent to die, which may or may not cause physical injury.

Suicidal Ideation

The clinical term describing thinking about, considering, or planning suicide.

SAD PERSONS Scale

A clinical assessment scoring system for suicide risk evaluating Sex (male), Age ($<19$ or $>45$), Depression, Previous attempt, Ethanol, Rational thinking loss, Social support lacking, Organized plan, No partner, and Sickness.

IS PATH WARM

An acronym identifying immediate warning signs of suicide: Ideation, Substance Abuse, Purposelessness, Anxiety, Trapped, Hopelessness, Withdrawal, Anger, Recklessness, and Mood changes.

Bipolar Mood Spectrum

A continuum of mood presentations ranging through severe mania, hypomania, mixed states, rapid cycling ($4$ or more episodes in $12\text{ weeks}$), euthymia (balanced/normal), dysthymia, and depression.

DIGFAST

An acronym outlining the key clinical signs of mania: Distractibility, Indiscretions (pleasure-seeking), Grandiosity, Flight of ideas, Activity increase, Sleep deficit, and Talkativeness.

Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)

A $21\text{-item}$ self-administered assessment instrument evaluating characteristic cognitive, affective, and behavioral signs of depression in adolescents and adults.

PHQ-9

A $9\text{-question}$ self-administered clinical tool completed by clients to determine the presence, frequency, and severity of depressive symptoms.

Hamilton Depression Scale (Ham-D / HDRS)

A clinician-rated depression assessment scale available in $17\text{-item}$ and $21\text{-item}$ versions.

Geriatric Depression Scale

A depression screening tool designed specifically for older adults containing $15$ yes-or-no questions.

Altman Self-Rating Mania Scale

A $5\text{-question}$ self-assessment instrument measuring elevation in mood, self-confidence, speech volume/rate, sleep pattern, and motor activity.

Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs)

A drug category including amitriptyline, imipramine, and doxepin that carries a narrow safety margin and severe risks of fatal cardiac toxicity in overdose situations.

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)

Antidepressant medications (e.g., phenelzine, selegiline) that block monoamine oxidase enzymes, preventing breakdown of norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin in synapses.

Dietary Tyramine

An amino acid derivative found in aged cheeses, cured meats, soy sauce, and red wine that causes dangerous catecholamine release and hypertensive crises when ingested during MAOI therapy.

Hypertensive Crisis (MAOI-Induced)

A life-threatening toxic reaction presenting with severe headache, profuse sweating, tachycardia, lightheadedness, and vomiting triggered by consuming tyramine or SSRIs while taking an MAOI.

Trazodone (Desyrel)

An atypical antidepressant agent distinguished clinically by its adverse side effect of prolonged, painful erection (priapism).

Mirtazapine (Remeron)

An atypical antidepressant frequently associated with significant appetite increase and weight gain.

Bupropion (Wellbutrin)

A norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor (NDRI) prescribed for depressive disorders and smoking cessation that carries a black-box warning for dose-related seizure risk.

FINISH Mnemonic

An acronym outlining antidepressant discontinuation syndrome: Flu-like symptoms, Insomnia, Nausea, Imbalance, Sensory disturbances, and Hyperarousal (anxiety/agitation).

Lithium Carbonate

A naturally occurring salt and gold-standard mood stabilizer that reduces suicidality in bipolar mania, maintaining an effective blood level between $0.5\text{ and }1.5\text{ mEq/L}$.

Lithium Toxicity

A toxic condition emerging at serum levels $\\ge 1.5\,\text{mEq/L}$, presenting with vomiting, diarrhea, ataxia, sedation, coarse tremors, muscle weakness, and seizures.

Hypothyroidism

An endocrine disorder that can mimic depressive symptoms and can develop as a long-term complication of lithium therapy; manifestations include fatigue, cold intolerance, constipation, weight gain, and bradycardia.

Valproic Acid (Depakote)

An anticonvulsant and mood stabilizer requiring routine serum level monitoring, with an established therapeutic reference range of $50\text{ to }100\,\mu\text{g/mL}$.

Carbamazepine (Tegretol)

An anticonvulsant used for mood stabilization in bipolar disorder with an optimal therapeutic blood concentration of $4\text{ to }12\,\mu\text{g/mL}$.

Lamotrigine (Lamictal)

An antiepileptic mood stabilizer with a target serum range of $2\text{ to }20\,\mu\text{g/mL}$, carrying a major risk for Stevens-Johnson syndrome.

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome

A severe, life-threatening medical emergency involving blistering and sloughing of skin and mucous membranes, organ failure, and sepsis, linked to lamotrigine use.

Lurasidone (Latuda)

A second-generation atypical antipsychotic indicated for bipolar depression that must be administered with at least $350\,\text{calories}$ of food for adequate absorption.

Aripiprazole (Abilify)

An atypical antipsychotic indicated for schizophrenia, bipolar mania, and adjunctive therapy in major depression, noted for causing motor restlessness (akathisia).