PSYCH 270 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Major Depressive Episode, Hypomania, Dysthymia
CHAPTER 7
Understanding and Defining
● Mood disorders are among the most common psych disorders, & the risk of developing them is
increasing worldwide, particularly in younger people
● Can contribute either singly or in combo:
(1) Major depressive disorder
(2) Mania
● Hypomanic episode→ Less severe episode
● Mixed episode→ Mania coupled w/ anxiety/depression
● Unipolar disorder→ Suffering from ONLY depression
● Major depressive disorder→
○ Can be single episode OR recurrent
○ Always time-limited
● Dysthymia (persistent depressive disorder)→
○ Symptoms= milder; Remain relatively unchanged
● Chronic major depressive episode→
○ Major depressive episode that lasts for 2+ years
● Double depression→
○ Patient experiences maj dep episodes AND dysthymia
● About 20% of people who have lost a family member may exp. complicated grief reaction→
○ Normal grief response will turn into full-blown disorder
● Features of bipolar disorder→
○ ALTERNATION of manic episodes & maj dep episodes
● Specifiers→ Patterns of additional features that may sometimes accompany mood disorders
Prevalence of Mood Disorders
● Mood disorders in children are SIMILAR to those found in adults
● Symptoms of depression are INCREASING in elderly pop.
● Experience of anxiety across cultures VARIES
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Causes of Mood Disorders
● Cause of mood disorders→ Mix of bio/psych/soc factors
○ BIO→ Researchers interested in stress hypothesis & role of neurohormones
○ PSYCH→ Focus on learned helplessness and depressive cognitive schemas &
interpersonal disruption
Treatment of Mood Disorders
● Bio & pysch treatments work in SHORT TERM
○ Many relapse→ Must focus on maintenance treatment
Suicide
● 10th leading cause of death among all US; but #3 in adolescents
● Suicidal behavior:
1. Suicidal ideation
2. Suicidal plans
3. Suicidal attempts
Key Terms:
- catalepsy→ Waxy arms w/ dep episode
- integrated grief→ Individual adjusts to the loss of a loved one
- complicated grief→ Prolonged grief for 6+ months after loved one has passed
- disruptive mood dysregulation disorder→ Basically crazy temper tantrums
- bipolar II→ Same as bipolar I, but dep episodes alternate w/ hypomanic, not full manic eps
- cyclothymic disorder→ Milder bipolar
- Increased risk of developing bipolar
- neurohormones→ NT activity in hypothalamus; Release of hormones that affect HPA axis
- learned helplessness theory of depression→
1. Internal→ indiv thinks all bad things come from personal failures
2. Stable→ indiv thinks next bad things will always be their fault
3. Global→ attributions extend across variety of issues
- depressive cognitive triad→ Indiv thinks neg about self, world & future
find more resources at oneclass.com
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Document Summary
Mood disorders are among the most common psych disorders, & the risk of developing them is increasing worldwide, particularly in younger people. Can contribute either singly or in combo: (1) major depressive disorder (2) mania. Major depressive episode that lasts for 2+ years. Patient experiences maj dep episodes and dysthymia. About 20% of people who have lost a family member may exp. complicated grief reaction . Normal grief response will turn into full-blown disorder. Alternation of manic episodes & maj dep episodes. Specifiers patterns of additional features that may sometimes accompany mood disorders. Mood disorders in children are similar to those found in adults. Symptoms of depression are increasing in elderly pop. Cause of mood disorders mix of bio/psych/soc factors. Bio researchers interested in stress hypothesis & role of neurohormones. Psych focus on learned helplessness and depressive cognitive schemas & interpersonal disruption. Bio & pysch treatments work in short term. Many relapse must focus on maintenance treatment.
