Download mood disorders

Imagine that you have just been notified by
your bank that your checking account is
overdrawn. Reflect a bit on the possible
reasons for the notification, then write down
(in your notes) in a sentence or two what you
believe to be the single most important cause.
Mood Disorders
Chapter 14, Lecture 5
“If someone offered you a pill that would make
you permanently happy, you would be well
advised to run fast and run far. Emotion is a
compass that tells us what to do, and a compass
that is perpetually stuck on NORTH is worthless.”
- Daniel Gilbert
Mood Disorders
Emotional extremes of mood disorders
come in two principal forms.
1. Major depressive disorder
2. Bipolar disorder
(a less extreme type of depressive state is
known as dysthymic disorder)
Major Depressive Disorder
Depression is the “common cold” of
psychological disorders. In a year, 5.8% of men
and 9.5% of women report depression
worldwide (WHO, 2002).
“Depression has been called the “common
cold” of psychological disorders – an
expression that effectively describes its
pervasiveness but not its seriousness.”
- David Myers
Major Depressive Disorder
Major depressive disorder occurs when signs of
depression last two weeks or more and are not
caused by drugs or medical conditions.
Signs include:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Lethargy and fatigue
Feelings of worthlessness
Loss of interest in family & friends
Loss of interest in activities
Bipolar Disorder
Formerly called manic-depressive disorder. An
alternation between depression and mania
signals bipolar disorder.
Depressive Symptoms
Manic Symptoms
Gloomy
Elation
Withdrawn
Euphoria
Inability to make decisions
Tired
Slowness of thought
Desire for action
Hyperactive
Multiple ideas
Bipolar Disorder
Many great writers, poets, and composers
suffered from bipolar disorder. During their
manic phase creativity surged, but not during
their depressed phase.
Whitman
Woolf
Clemens
Hemingway
Explaining Mood Disorders
Since depression is so prevalent worldwide,
investigators want to develop a theory of
depression that will suggest ways to treat it.
Lewinsohn et al., (1985, 1998) note that a theory
of depression should explain the following:
1. Behavioral and cognitive changes
2. Common causes of depression
Theory of Depression
3. Gender differences
Theory of Depression
4. Depressive episodes self-terminate.
5. Stressful events often precede depression.
6. Depression is increasing, especially in the
teens.
Desiree Navarro/ Getty Images
Post-partum depression
Suicide
The most severe form of behavioral response to
depression is suicide. Each year some 1 million
people commit suicide worldwide.
Biological Perspective
Genetic Influences: Mood disorders run in
families. The rate of depression is higher in
identical (50%) than fraternal twins (20%).
Jerry Irwin Photography
Linkage analysis and
association studies link
possible genes and
dispositions for depression.
The Depressed Brain
PET scans show that brain energy consumption rises
and falls with manic and depressive episodes.
Courtesy of Lewis Baxter an
Michael E. Phelps, UCLA
School of Medicine
Depression is associated with lowered levels of
serotonin and norepinephrine.
Social-Cognitive Perspective
The social-cognitive perspective suggests that
depression arises partly from self-defeating
beliefs and negative explanatory styles.
Negative Thoughts and Moods
Explanatory style plays a major role in becoming depressed.
Imagine that you have just been notified by your bank
that your checking account is overdrawn. Reflect a bit
on the possible reasons for the notification, then write
down (in your notes) in a sentence or two what you
believe to be the single most important cause.
Now, write an answer to the following:
1. Does the cause you describe reflect
more about you or something more about
other people or circumstances?
Internal or External?
Imagine that you have just been notified by your bank
that your checking account is overdrawn. Reflect a bit
on the possible reasons for the notification, then write
down (in your notes) in a sentence or two what you
believe to be the single most important cause.
Now, write an answer to the following:
2. Is the cause something that is
permanent or temporary; that is, is the
cause likely to be present in the future?
Stable or Unstable?
Imagine that you have just been notified by your bank
that your checking account is overdrawn. Reflect a bit
on the possible reasons for the notification, then write
down (in your notes) in a sentence or two what you
believe to be the single most important cause.
Now, write an answer to the following:
3. Is the cause something that influences
other areas of your life or only your
checking account balance?
Global or Specific?
Examples of Causal Explanations for the Event
“My Checking Account is Overdrawn”
Explanation
Style
Internal
Stable
Global
“I’m incapable of doing
anything right.”
Specific “I always have trouble
figuring my balance.”
Unstable
Global “I’ve had the flu for a
week, and I’ve let
everything slide.”
Specific “The one time I didn’t
enter a check is the one
time there’s a problem.”
External
“All institutions chronically
make mistakes.”
“This bank has always used
antiquated techniques.”
“Holiday shopping makes
large demands.”
“I’m surprised – my bank
has never made an error
before.”
Depression Cycle
1.
2.
3.
4.
Negative stressful events.
Pessimistic explanatory style.
Hopeless depressed state.
These hamper the way the individual thinks and acts, fueling
personal rejection.
p.621
Homework
Read p.621-628
“Seligman contends that depression is common
among young Westerners because the rise of
individualism and the decline of commitment
to religion and family have forced young people
to take personal responsibility for failure or
rejection.”
- David Myers