W8_03 Depression

Question 1

fact: depression is the #1 disabling condition in canada

Answer 1

good

Question 2

diagnostic criteria for major depressive episode? (DISIGECAPS)

Answer 2

depressed mood
interest loss
sleep changes
impaired function
guilt/worthlessness
energy issues
concentration/cognition issues
appetite/weight loss
psychomotor retardation
suicidality

Question 3

how is the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis affected in depression?

Answer 3

feedback loop broken;

in dexamethosone suppression test, cortisol continues to be released

Question 4

how do genetics and environment contribute to major depressive disorder?

Answer 4

both cause it synergistically

Question 5

what does BDNF do?

Answer 5

useful for neurogeneration in hippocampus and dendritic spine growth

Question 6

how does chronic social defeat affect BDNF?

Answer 6

downregulates it through methylation of the promoter DNA

Question 7

how do antidepressants reverse BDNF downregulation?

Answer 7

acetylation of histones to make it easier to unravel DNA

Question 8

fact: exercise increases neurogenesis

Answer 8

good

Question 9

fact: electroconvulsive therapy works

Answer 9

good