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Introduction to
Psychology
Mood Disorders
November 28, 2011
Class Agenda
Unipolar depression (major depressive
episode/disorder)
Dysthymic disorder
Bipolar disorder
Suicide
Class Activity
For each of the following words, write a
sentence that describes an experience you had
that is associated with that respective word....
Train
House
Ice
Meeting
Road
Rain
Class Activity
For each experience you wrote, rate whether it
was pleasant or unpleasant.
Tally the number of unpleasant and pleasant
experiences.
Class Activity
How have you felt today?
Happy? Sad?
The number of pleasant vs. unpleasant experiences you
recalled may be related to your mood today.
When we are depressed, we remember more unpleasant
than pleasant events.
Major Depressive Disorder
Symptoms
At least 2 weeks of depressed mood (feelings of worthlessness or
guilt) OR loss of interest in pleasurable activities
Significant weight loss or gain (not due to diet)
Insomnia/Hypersomnia
Restlessness/Sluggishness (psychomotor agitation/retardation)
Indecisiveness, lack of concentration
Fatigue or loss of energy
Thoughts of death or suicide
Major Depressive Disorder
Point prevalence rate (snapshot) in adults is 4%
Lifetime prevalence (number of people who have
experienced depression at some point in their life) is
~25%
~80% of people will experience recurrent episode (high
estimate)
Most frequent comorbid disorder is anxiety (GAD, Panic,
PTSD)
Major Depressive Disorder
Gender Differences
Women: Men = 2:1
Possible explanations?
Hormones
Interpersonal orientation and rumination
Traumatic events
Comorbid anxiety or substance abuse?
Major Depressive Disorder
Possible causes:
Stress (Diathesis-Stress Model)
Genetics
Biology
Neurotransmitters (Norepinephrine and Serotonin)
Cortisol
Sleep
Brain structures (prefrontal cortex, hippocampus,
amygdala)
Major Depressive Disorder
Irrational beliefs
Learned helplessness
Cognitive schemas
Major Depressive Disorder
Seligman’s Learned Helplessness
Internal
External
“It’s because of something about ME”
“It’s because of something about the
situation”
Global
Specific
“Everything in my life is a failure”
“I failed at this, but I can do other things”
Stable
Unstable
“It will always be like this”
“Things will get better”
Dysthymia
Dysthymia
Same symptoms but milder form
Lasts for 2 or more years
Symptoms integrated in person’s normal functioning
20% - 40% people with depression experience dysthymia
Dysthymia plus MDD = Double Depression
Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar Disorder
Types:
Bipolar I: manic episode OR mixed episode
Delusions and hallucinations (psychotic features; associated with
incomplete recovery between episodes)
Bipolar II: one or more major depressive episodes and at least one
hypomanic episode
Major depressive episode - ~70% of manic episodes occur immediately
before or after manic episode
Time between episodes decreases with age
Bipolar Disorder
Manic phase:
Easily distracted
Little need for sleep
Poor judgment
Poor temper control
Reckless behavior
Very elevated mood
Depressed phase:
Low mood or sadness
Difficulty concentrating
Bipolar Disorder
Causes
Genetics (40% - 70% familial component)
Neurotransmitters (norepinephrine and
serotonin)
Environmental stressors
Suicide
2007 - >34,000 suicides in U.S.
~94 suicides per day
~one suicide every 15 minutes
2007 - eleventh leading cause of death
Second most common death among college students
(American College Health Association)
Increased risk with depression and bipolar disorder
Gender differences
Age differences
Racial and Ethnic differences
Suicide: Females
CDC
Suicide: Males
CDC
Suicide
Warning signs (CDC):
IS PATH WARM
Suicide
I: Ideation
S: Substance abuse
P: Purposelessness
A: Anxiety
T: Trapped
H: Hopelessness
W: Withdrawal
A: Anger
R: Recklessness
M: Mood change