Emotion and Clinical Psychology: Depression and Bipolar Disorder

Comprehensive flashcards covering clinical psychology perspectives on emotion, diagnostic challenges of the DSM, characteristics and causes of major depression, and treatments for mood disorders.

How does the study of emotional disorders benefit the understanding of emotions in general?

Just as fixing a machine helps one understand its function, learning about disordered emotions helps psychologists understand "normal" emotions and develop treatments.

According to the transcript, what emotion is specifically associated with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?

OCD is marked by excessive guilt feelings.

In the early days of clinical psychology, how were neurosis and psychosis differentiated?

Neurosis was conceptualized as a psychological problem, whereas psychosis was a presumed neurological problem.

What is the full title of the manual published by the American Psychiatric Association (2013) for mental disorders?

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).

According to Galatzer-Levy & Bryant (2013), how many possible symptom combinations exist for a diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder?

More than 636,000 possible combinations.

What are the four major aspects of emotion that psychologists consider?

1. Cognitive appraisals, 2. Feelings, 3. Physiological responses/changes, and 4. Behaviours.

How does the prevalence of depression change between genders across different life stages?

Depression is more common in women during the reproductive era, but rates are about equal before puberty and after menopause.

According to research (e.g., Peters et al., 2003), what is considered a more reliable symptom of depression than increased sadness?

The absence of happiness (reporting far below the average number of pleasant experiences).

How is Atypical depression distinguished from most other cases of depression?

It is marked by increased appetite and increased sleep, whereas most clinical depression involves loss of appetite and insomnia.

What is the primary difference in duration between Major depression and Dysthymia?

A typical episode of major depression lasts months, whereas dysthymia (persistent depressive disorder) lasts years.

What does the stress-diathesis model propose regarding the origin of depression?

Depression arises from the interaction between an underlying vulnerability (diathesis/predisposition) and external stressors.

What was the key outcome of the Seligman & Maier (1967) study on learned helplessness in dogs?

Dogs that previously had no control over avoiding shocks later failed to escape shocks even when a hurdle to the other side was available, acting as if all shocks were inescapable.

Which brain region involved in reward and motivation becomes less responsive in people with major depression?

The nucleus accumbens.

In neurobiology, what is the term for the process where a presynaptic neuron reabsorbs released neurotransmitter molecules?

Reuptake.

What were the findings of Caspi et al. (2003) regarding the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4)?

Individuals with two short types of the gene showed a major increase in the probability of depression as stressful life events increased, whereas those with two long types saw only a slight increase in risk.

What are the four main categories of antidepressant drugs described in the transcript?

1. Tricyclics, 2. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), 3. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), and 4. Atypical antidepressants.

How does the efficacy of psychotherapy compare to antidepressant drugs in treating depression?

They are about equally effective for all levels of depression, though psychotherapy effects are more likely to last.

What vitamins and nutrients are suggested in the transcript as having potential value for depression treatment?

Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins $B_6$, $B_9$, and $B_{12}$.

What are the characteristics of mania in Bipolar disorder?

Restless activity, excitement, laughter, excessive self-confidence, rambling speech, and loss of inhibitions.

What is the primary medication used to stabilize mood and prevent relapse in Bipolar disorder?

Lithium salts.

How does Lithium serve to relieve bipolar disorder biologically?

It alleviates the hyperexcitability of new neurons formed in the hippocampus.