Lectures 9, 10, and 11

Question 1

Explain the difference between unipolar depression and bipolar disorder

Answer 1

Most people with a mood disorder only experience depression - unipolar

Some experience periods of mania that alternate with periods of depression - bipolar

Question 2

What are the three major symptoms of depression?

Answer 2

Cognitive - Hopelessness, suicidal thoughts, delusions

Physiological and behavioral - Fatigure, sleep or appetite disturbances

Emotional - Anhedonia (loss of interest) sadness

Question 3

What is Dysthymic Disorder in unipolar depression? What is double depression?

Answer 3

Symptoms are mild but chronic

Double depression is when dysthymic disorder leads to major depressive disorder

Question 4

What characteristics are needed to diagnose Major Depressive Disorder?

Answer 4

Depressed mood OR loss of interest or pleasure
PLUS
Change in sleep patterns 
Change in appetite or weight
Psychomotor agitation
Loss of energy, fatigue

Question 5

Do depressive episodes or manic episodes happen more often in Bipolar disorder?

Answer 5

Depressive episodes occur three times as often

Question 6

What are the subtypes of Depressive and Bipolar disorders?

Answer 6

Seasonal - Episodes happen at particular times of the year

Rapid Cycling - at least 4 episodes within past year

Postpartum Onset - Within four weeks of giving birth

Question 7

How common is unipolar depression?

Answer 7

Women are twice as likely to experience sever unipolar depression

50% recover within 6 months and 90% within a year

Question 8

What are the theories of depression?

Answer 8

Attachment - Parental separation and disruption of an attachment bond

Behavioral - related to a lack of response-contingent positive reinforcement

Question 9

What are the other two theories of depression?

Answer 9

Interpersonal theory - sparse social networks that provide little support

Psychological theories of bipolar disorder - largely neglected by researchers

Question 10

How successful is treatment of major depression?

Answer 10

60% of people are helped by psychotherapy

Combining psychotherapy with antidepressants increase the chance of recovery by 10%

Relapse rates are high

Question 11

What leads to the cognitive triad in unipolar depression?

Answer 11

Maladaptive attitudes - negatively viewing oneself, the world and the future

Question 12

What is usually meant by biological treatment in terms of unipolar depression?

Answer 12

Treatment by antidepressant drugs

Question 13

What are the dangers of MAO inhibitors?

Answer 13

Blood pressure can rise to a potentially fatal level

Question 14

Why are second-generation antidepressants being used more often?

Answer 14

It is harder to overdose on them
No dietary restrictions
Have fewer side effects

Question 15

What mineral is a very common treatment for bipolar disorder?

Answer 15

Lithium

Question 16

List the suicide terminology

Answer 16

Suicidal ideation - thoughts and intentions of killing oneself

Suicide attempts - self injury behaviours intended to cause death but does not

Suicide gestures - self injury in which there is no intent to die

Suicide - behaviours intended to cause death and death occurs

Question 17

What are warning signs of suicidal thoughts?

Answer 17

Giving away possessions
Saying goodbye to friends/family
Talking about death or suicide
Making threats of suicide

Question 18

What are the two strategies to studying suicide?

Answer 18

Retrospective analysis - a psychological autopsy

Studying people who survive attempts

Question 19

What is the biggest link to suicide in teens?

Answer 19

Clinical depression and low self-esteem

Question 20

What are the factors to suicide in the elderly?

Answer 20

Illness
Loss of close friends or relatives
Loss of control in life or social status

Question 21

What neurotransmitter is found to be low in people who commit suicide? What does it cause?

Answer 21

Serotonin levels are low, it can cause aggressive and impulsive behaviours