Causes and Correlates of Affective Disorders

Detailed vocabulary flashcards based on lecture notes covering the neurobiology, psychology, and social determinants of affective disorders like depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety.

Neurons

Specialized cells that transmit signals via synapses to facilitate neural communication.

Glial Cells

Supporting cells in the nervous system including Oligodendrocytes (myelin insulation), Astrocytes (support), and Microglia (immune phagocytes).

ncRNAs (non-coding RNAs)

Molecules that do not encode proteins but control gene expression.

HPA axis

The Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal system that regulates the body's response to stress and homeostasis.

Cytokines

Soluble factors that regulate inflammation and elicit immunological and behavioural changes; specific examples include Interleukins ($IL-6$), Interferons ($IFN$), and Tumor Necrosis Factors ($TNF-\alpha$).

Agonist

A chemical that activates a receptor by mimicking a neurotransmitter (copy-cat).

Heritability of Bipolar Disorder (BP)

According to Craddock & Forty (2006), the heritability ($h$) of Bipolar Disorder is estimated to be $80-90\%$, while Unipolar Depression is estimated at $33-42\%$.

Monoamine Hypothesis

A reductionist theory suggesting that most prescribed antidepressants work by increasing serotonin and/or noradrenaline levels.

Theory of Neurogenesis

The proposal that antidepressants may work by promoting the birth of new neurons, particularly in the dentate gyrus.

Vulnerability Model

A psychological model by Brown et al. (1986) proposing that low self-esteem leads to depression.

Scar Model

A psychological model by Ingham et al. (1987) proposing that depression leads to low self-esteem.

Rumination

A maladaptive thinking pattern that acts as a mediator between perfectionism and depression (Harris et al., 2007).

HOPE Framework

An assessment tool for spirituality in clinical practice standing for Hope, Organized, Personal, and Effects.

Mowrer’s 2-stage Learning Model

A theory of fear acquisition involving Classical conditioning (fear) and Operant conditioning (avoidance).

Body Image (BI) Disturbance

The discrepancy between subjective physical experience and the perceived body ideal, involving perceptual distortion and conceptual dissatisfaction.

PM2.5 and NO2

Specific air pollutants associated with increased risk of depression and long-term exposure effects (Borroni et al., 2022).

Double Empathy Problem

A concept in neurodivergence where both parties (e.g., neurotypical and neurodivergent) struggle to understand each other.

DNA Methylation

An epigenetic mechanism involving a chemical tag that typically silences gene expression.

5-HTTLPR

The serotonin transporter gene; individuals with the $S$ (short) allele version show increased sensitivity to stressful life events (Caspi et al., 2003).

Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP)

A variation in the DNA sequence occurring when a single nucleotide is replaced by another.

GWAS (Genome-Wide Association Study)

A research method that tests hundreds of thousands to millions of genetic variants across the whole genome for association with a disease.

Telomeres

DNA-structured proteins known as "biological clocks" that shorten with age and stress, predicting mortality.

BrdU (Bromodeoxyuridine)

An antibody used in research to label and detect new or proliferating cells in the brain.

Glucocorticoid Receptors (GR)

Low-affinity receptors activated by high cortisol concentrations that normally "switch off" cortisol production through negative feedback.

Mineralocorticoid Receptors (MR)

High-affinity receptors activated by low basal cortisol concentrations, necessary for responding to mild stressors.

Oxidative Stress

An imbalance between Reactive Oxygen Species ($ROS$) and antioxidants, leading to cellular damage and neuroinflammation.

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF)

A vital protein that supports neuronal survival, growth, and synaptic plasticity; its enhancement is linked to mood regulation.

Dysbiosis

An imbalance in the gut microbiota that can lead to a "leaky gut," allowing bacteria to enter the bloodstream and trigger neuroinflammation.

Melancholic Depression

A subtype of MDD characterized by inhibitory symptoms (e.g., insomnia, appetite loss), HPA-axis hyperactivation, and blunted reward processing.

Atypical Depression

A subtype of MDD involving mood reactivity, increased sleep/appetite (leaden paralysis), and HPA-axis hypoactivity.

Allostasis

The process of achieving balance while facing stressing circumstances; cumulative "wear and tear" is termed Allostatic Load.

BOLD effect

Blood Oxygenation Level Dependent effect used in fMRI; deoxygenated blood is magnetic and appears darker in images.

Default Mode Network (DMN)

A large-scale brain network involved in self-referential, "task-free" processing such as mind-wandering and rumination; often overactive in depression.

Cognitive Control Network (CCN/CEN)

A task-positive network activated during goal-directed behaviors; typically underactive in depression.

Salience Network

A network that detects relevant stimuli and switches between the DMN and the CEN; instability in this network contributes to mood liability.

ANK3 and CACNA1C

Specific genes associated with genetic susceptibility to Bipolar Disorder, affecting axon excitability and calcium signaling respectively.

Kindling Effect

The phenomenon where recurring mood episodes become increasingly autonomous, requiring less external stress or triggers over time.

Generalized Unsafety Theory of Stress (GUTS)

Brosschot et al.'s (2018) theory proposing that the stress response is "on" by default unless inhibited by safety signals.

Functional Neurological Disorder (FND)

The presence of neurological symptoms (e.g., motor or sensory) without a clear neurological cause, often comorbid with trauma or anxiety.

DMM (Dynamic Maturational Model) Strategies

Crittenden’s attachment model including A-strategy (cognition-dominant/cut off affect), C-strategy (affect-dominant/heightened emotionality), and B-strategy (balanced/flexible).