10/03 - Mood Disorders and Suicide - Flashcards

Mood Disorders

Severe alterations in mood which are intense and persistent enough to be maladaptive, often leads to serious problems

2 main moods in mood disorder, elaborate

• Euphoria (mania): Intense and unrealistic feelings of excitement and euphoria

• Dysphoria (depression): Feelings of extraordinary sadness and dejection

Mixed Episode

Symptoms of both mania and depression

Depressive disorder

involves periods of symptoms in which an individual experiences an unusually intense sad mood.

aka. dysphoria 

Major depressive disorder

: a disorder in which the individual experiences intense but time limited episodes of depressive symptoms.

Major depressive episodes and how long does it last

a period in which the individual experiences intense psychological and physical symptoms accompanying feelings of overwhelming sadness.

Experiences for most of the day, everyday, for at least 2 consecutive weeks

Symptoms include: sleep and appetite disturbances, low energy/fatigue, low self-esteem, difficulty concentrating or making decisions, poor hygiene, feelings of hopelessness.

Recurrent Major Depressive Disorder

2 or more episodes w/in an interval of at least 2 consecutive months

Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia) and how long does it last minimum, average, and max

chronic but less severe mood disturbance in which the individual does not experience a major depressive episode but a blue mood for a minimum of 2 years (1 year for children and adolescents).

Average duration is 4 to 5 years but can last for 20 or more.

What distinguishes MDD from PDD

As compared to MDD, symptoms of PDD are mild to moderate but last much longer (are chronic).

Normal moods occur but only last a few days to a few weeks, max 2 months. In MDD, this doesn't happen

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Mood disorder w/ episodes of depression typically during fall and winter and subside during the spring
More common among women and those who live in northern latitudes.

Unspecified Mood Disorder:

applies to symptoms characteristic of a depressive disorder and cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning, however, symptoms do not meet the criteria for a depressive or bipolar disorder diagnosis

Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder
Frequency and how long it lasts, and age range including onset

Depressive disorder in children who exhibit chronic and severe irritability and have frequent temper outbursts.

Occur on average 3 or more times/week over at least 1 year and in at least 2 settings.
Diagnosis for children between ages 6 to 18. Onset must be before age 10.

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD):

disorder that involves depressed mood or changes in mood, irritability, dysphoria and anxiety during the premenstrual phase that subside after the menstrual period begins

for most of the cycles of the preceding year.

2 Causes for depressive mood disorder, elaborate

• Biological: Genetic, neurotransmitters

• Psychological: Stress, grief, adversity, learned helplessness, neuroticism(primary vulnerability variable for anxiety and depression)

Learned helplessness model of depression and it's 3 critical dimensions

When perceived lack of control occurs, helplessness may result in depression. They make attributions to whether they get depressed or not. 3 critical dimensions:

1. Internal/external (Ex. feels like it’s their fault, like they’re alone)

2. Global/specific (Ex. feels like everything is bad)

3. Stable/unstable (Ex. never going to feel better)