Psychology Depressive Disorders and Bipolar and Related Disorders

Section 4 Lecture 2

Mood Disorder

A prolonged and intense disturbance in mood

what are the 2 major categories of mood disorders in DSM-5?

Depressive Disorders and Bipolar (and Related) disorders

what characterizes depressive disorders?

primarily sadness and/or irritability

what characterizes bipolar disorders?

periods of both elation (mania/hypomania) and sadness (depression)

mood varies along what type of scale?

a continuum ranging from extreme sadness to extreme elation

what is Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)?

a depressive disorder in which at least 5 symptoms occur during the same 2-week period

what emotional symptoms are common in MDD?

sadness, worthlessness, and hopelessness

what cognitive symptoms occur in MDD?

difficulty concentrating and impaired thinking

what physical symptoms occur in MDD?

low energy, sleep problems, and appetite problems

what serious symptom may occur in MDD?

thoughts of death or suicide

Anhedonia

loss of pleasure or inability to enjoy activities that were once enjoyable

Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)?

a chronic, less severe depressive disorder in which at least 2 symptoms persist for 2 years or more

how does Dysthymia differ from MDD?

it’s generally less severe but much more chronic

Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)?

a childhood disorder involving severe recurring temper outbursts and chronic irritability

what age group is DMDD diagnosed in?

6-18 years of age

how often do temper outbursts occur in DMDD?

about 3 times per week

how long must DMDD symptoms last?

at least 12 months, with no symptom-free period longer than 3 months

in how many settings must DMDD symptoms occur?

at least 2 settings (e.g., home, school, peers)

what is Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)?

a depressive disorder associated with severe mood symptoms related to the menstrual cycle

Bipolar I Disorder

a disorder involving at least one manic episode and usually, but not always, a major depressive episode

Mania

a period of abnormally elevated mood, extreme energy, increased activity, racing thoughts, and reduced need for sleep

what behaviors are associated with mania?

grandiosity, risky behavior, excessive activity, and poor judgment

Bipolar II Disorder

A disorder involving at least one hypomanic episode and one major depressive episode

Hypomania

a less severe form of mania

Cyclothymic Disorder

A milder bipolar-related disorder involving less severe symptoms for at least 2 years

which disorder involves full manic episodes?

Bipolar I Disorder

which disorder involves hypomania rather than full mania?

Bipolar II Disorder

some mood disorders show what type of pattern?

seasonal patterns

during which season is depression commonly worse in seasonal mood disorders?

winter

during which season might mania increase?

spring

what neurotransmitter group is most associated with depression

monoamines

according to the monoamine theory, depression is associated with what?

reduced monoamine activity, especially serotonin

according to the lecture, mania may be associated with what neurotransmitter changes?

increased norepinephrine and dopamine, and decreased serotonin

which neurotransmitter is emphasized most strongly in depression?

serotonin

what evidence supports the monoamine theory of depression?

drugs that reduce monoamine activity can trigger depression symptoms

what do antidepressants generally do?

increase postsynaptic monoamine activity

what does SSRI stand for?

selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor

what does SSRI do?

they block serotonin reuptake, increasing serotonin activity in the synapse

why are SSRIs called “reuptake inhibitors”?

because they prevent serotonin from being reabsorbed too quickly by the sending neuron

how long does symptom relief from SSRIs usually take?

about 2-3 weeks

what are examples of SSRIs?

prozac, zoloft, and lexapro

Wellbutrin

an antidepressant that affects dopamine and norepinephrine rather than acting as an SSRI

what else is Wellbutrin commonly used for?

smoking cessation

what are MAO inhibitors?

an older class of antidepressants used less commonly today

what are tricyclic antidepressants?

older antidepressant medications that predated SSRIs

what medication is most classically associated with treating Bipolar Disorder?

Lithium

what are common side effects of lithium?

weight gain, tremors, and possible kidney damage

what are mood stabilizers?

medications used to control mood swings in bipolar disorders

what mood stabilizers are mentioned in the lecture?

carbamazepine, abilify, and seroquel

what does ECT stand for?

Electroconvulsive therapy

when is ECT typically used?

in severe cases of depression

what are the 3 monoamine neurotransmitters?

serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine

depression is associated with ____ activity of monoamines

reduced activity

what is the difference between Bipolar I and Bipolar II?

Bipolar I includes full mania; Bipolar II includes hypomania plus major depression

Major Depressive Disorder vs Dysthymia

MDD is more severe and requires 5 symptoms in a 2-week period; Dysthymia is less severe but chronic for at least 2 years

what is the mechanism of SSRIs?

they block serotonin reuptake, increasing serotonin availability

which medication is the classic treatment for Bipolar Disorder?

lithium