PSYC 3604 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Major Depressive Episode, Mania, Psychotic Depression
Document Summary
Mild and temporary forms are part of ordinary existence: mood disorders. Conditions of mood in which mood swings are so prolonged and extreme that life is seriously disrupted: mood disorders. Have been of interest since beginning of history of medicine. Can determine diagnosis and often treatment: major depressive episode, major depressive episode develops gradually over weeks or months, last several months, and ends gradually. Most of a person"s mind and body is affected by depression. Depressed mood; deeply depressed people see no way that it can be helped, called helplessness-hopelessness syndrome. Loss of pleasure or interest in usual activities; loss of pleasure is known as anhedonia and is far-reaching. Psychomotor retardation or agitation; in retarded depression, person seems overcome by fatigue; agitated depression involves incessant activity and restlessness. Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide: manic episode. Manic episode typically begins suddenly over a few days and is usually shorter than a depressive episode.