MEDI7111 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Norepinephrine, Antidepressant, Alexithymia
Depression
Epidemiology
Mental illness causes the largest morbidity burden in Australia, accounting for ~25% of
non-fatal burden. The vast majority of mental illness is caused by anxiety and depression,
most commonly occurring between childhood and ~50 years of age with a preference for
females. Very little is known about mental illness in the Indigenous population. ~10% of the
population <50 years have affective (i.e. depressive or manic) symptoms and ~7% have a
diagnosable mood disorder. The 12 month risk of depression is 6% and the lifetime risk of
depression is 15%. Stroke, asthma and arthritis are the main medical conditions associated
with depression.
Risk Factors/Associations
Genetic predisposition (polygenic but strong association)
Female gender
Age (peak in late 20s)
Low SES
Family Hx of mood disorders
Childhood abuse (physical or sexual)
Adverse events in adult life (often trigger an episode)
Lack of confiding relationship (e.g. parents, siblings, partner, close friends)
Sleep depravation
Substance use
Daily smoking
Alcohol dependence (chicken & the egg)
Suicide attempts
Depression in the Medically Ill
Depression is common in those who have a severe illness, are bed ridden, have a long length
of hospital stay or are in chronic pain. General medical conditions which are commonly
associated with depression include:
Infectious disease (acute & chronic)
Stroke & brain tumour
Parkinson’s & Huntington’s diseases
Epilepsy
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Document Summary
Mental illness causes the largest morbidity burden in australia, accounting for ~25% of non-fatal burden. The vast majority of mental illness is caused by anxiety and depression, most commonly occurring between childhood and ~50 years of age with a preference for females. Very little is known about mental illness in the indigenous population. ~10% of the population <50 years have affective (i. e. depressive or manic) symptoms and ~7% have a diagnosable mood disorder. The 12 month risk of depression is 6% and the lifetime risk of depression is 15%. Stroke, asthma and arthritis are the main medical conditions associated with depression. Adverse events in adult life (often trigger an episode) Lack of confiding relationship (e. g. parents, siblings, partner, close friends) Depression is common in those who have a severe illness, are bed ridden, have a long length of hospital stay or are in chronic pain. General medical conditions which are commonly associated with depression include:
