Depression Flashcards
(18 cards)
What is unipolar depression?
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a mental disorder associated with periods of depression that alternate with normal emotional states (it may occur without any specific trigger and has more than 3 millions cases in the US each year).
What are the 9 core symptoms of depression?
Depressed mood most of the day, loss of interest/pleasure in activities (anhedonia), insomnia or hypersomnia, significant weight loss or gain, decrease or increase in appetite, slower bodily movement, fatigue/low energy, decreased concentration/thinking, thoughts of worthlessness or excessive guilt, and recurrent thoughts of death or suicidal ideation.
What is required for adepression diagnosis?
5 of the above symptoms for at least 2 consecutives weeks.
What are the effects of depression of the hypothalamus?
Difficulty regulating stress hormones and increased cortisol.
What are the effects of depression of the hippocampus?
Decreased volume and memory impairments.
What are the effects of depression of the ACC?
Decreased volume and disinhibition of emotional processing and increased pain sensitivity.
What are the effects of depression of the Ventral striatum/VTA?
Anhedonia (decreased activity/pleasure in activity)
What are the effects of depression of the frontal cortex?
Increased VMPFC activity, increasing sensitivity to pain, anxiety, and depressive ruminations. Decreased DLPFC activity leading to apathy and deficits in attention and working memory.
How were the NTs relevant to depression found?
By accident by using MAO inhibitors.
What are the downsides of MAO inibitors?
They have very large effects and side effects.
What was the second form of antidepressant made?
Tricyclic antidepressant Impramine (originally developed for schizophrenia) and it had fewer, but still many, side effects.
What is the monoamine hypothesis?
The hypothesis after MAO inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants that depression is caused by alterations in monoamine neurotransmitters.
When was the first SSRI discovered?
Prozac was discovered in 1974 and had less side effectsd and equal effect to tricyclics. They are the new go to treatment for depression.
What are the problems with monoamine/serotonin hypothesis?
Not all patients have lowered serotonin, low tryptophan diet (precursor to serotonin) doesn’t lead to depression, SSRIs increase serotonin levels within hours but take weeks for effect, and SSRIs aren’t always effective.
What is the integrative model of depression?
It reconceptualized depression to focus on the effects of glutamate and dopamine. Increased stress = more inflammation = altered glutamate > less ability to communicate, adapt, and less neurogenesis.
What are ketamine’s effects on depression?
Increases glutamate levels, increases brain adaptability, increases mood and positive thought, and it works immediately.
What are the unique mechanisms and limitations of ketamine?
It triggers reactions allowing brain connections to regrow and can take effect for 2 weeks, but it needs to be taken with other antidepressants and needs medical oversigth to be administered.
What are non-pharmaceutical treatments for depression?
CBT (best used alongside medication), electroconvulsive therapy, and transcranial magnetic stimulation.
