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abnormal.lecture10

Overview of Depression and Mania

Mood Disorders

  • Defined by significant deviations in mood.

Major Depressive Episode

  • Symptoms include severe depression with cognitive effects:

    • Feelings of worthlessness.

    • Altered sleep patterns.

    • Changes in appetite and weight.

    • Loss of energy.

  • Episodes can last two weeks or more, characterized by:

    • General loss of interest, termed anhedonia.

    • Behavioral and emotional shutdown.

Mania

  • Involves extreme states of pleasure, characterized by:

    • Hyperactivity and rapid speech.

    • Flight of ideas.

    • May require hospitalization.

Hypomanic Episode

  • Less severe than a manic episode:

    • No significant impairment in social or occupational functioning.

Symptoms of Depression

Cognitive Symptoms

  • Poor concentration and indecisiveness.

  • Low self-esteem and suicidal thoughts.

  • Feelings of hopelessness and delusions.

Physiological and Behavioral Symptoms

  • Sleep and appetite disturbances.

  • Psychomotor problems, fatigue, and memory loss.

Emotional Symptoms

  • Prevailing sadness, depressed mood, irritability.

Associated Characteristics

Social and Peer Problems

  • Lack of close friendships, feelings of loneliness, and social withdrawal.

Family Issues

  • Tension with family members; feeling isolated.

Risk of Suicide

  • Feelings of hopelessness and despair may lead to suicidal thoughts and attempts.

  • Many individuals with depression contemplate or attempt suicide.

  • Mood disorders are a major risk factor for suicide globally.

Parent Behavior Impact on Children

Nondepressed vs. Depressed Parents

  • Statistical comparison of parenting behaviors between nondepressed and depressed parents:

    • Play, hug, cuddle, and read to children—lower frequency in depressed parents.

    • Increased frustration and yelling in depressed parents.

Mood Disorders Types

Unipolar Depression

  • Most common type; characterized by recurring depression without a history of mania.

Bipolar Disorder

  • Alternating episodes of mania and depression.

    • Uncommon to have unipolar mania without depression.

Importance of Context

  • Mood variations are normal responses to life events but can become pathological if disproportionate to circumstances.

The Structure of Mood Disorders

Mood Disorder Types

  • Unipolar mood disorders remain at one end of the depression-mania continuum.

  • Bipolar mood disorders fluctuate between depression and elation.

Depressive Disorders

Clinical Description

  • Major Depressive Disorder (MDD): depression present, no mania.

    • Recurrent type.

  • Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia): chronic low mood.

  • Double Depression: combination of dysthymia and MDD.

Onset and Duration of Depressive Disorders

  • Common onset in adolescence, especially in girls.

  • Prevalence in children is approximately 0.07%, and in adults, about 3%-6%.

  • Persistent depressive disorder can last for 20-30 years.

From Grief to Depression

  • Loss of a loved one may lead to depressive symptoms, differentiated into integrated and complicated grief.

Other Depressive Disorders

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)

  • Characterized by severe mood swings and physical symptoms; does not impair functioning significantly.

Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder

  • Common in children, characterized by chronic irritability, frequent temper outbursts, and aggression.

Bipolar Disorders

Clinical Description

  • Bipolar I Disorder and Bipolar II Disorder characterized by episodes of mania and depression.

Mixed Features Specifier

  • Episodes may present mixed symptoms from both mania and depression.

Rapid-Cycling Specifier

  • Characterizes those rapidly oscillating between depressive and manic episodes (four or more per year).

Diagnosing Bipolar Disorders

  • High likelihood of experiencing depressive episodes more frequently than manic ones.

Prevalence of Mood Disorders

Statistics

  • 2.6 million Canadians reported mood disorders.

  • Worldwide prevalence: 16% lifetime, 6% in the last year.

  • Rates appear to be declining in Canada, with women affected more than men.