unipolar depression features & symptoms, biological and psychological explanations & treaments
summary and evaluation
key words highlighted for better recall
Scanning techniques more objective: show blocking glutamate relates to psychotic
symptoms
Humans undergoing scanning respond differently
Focus on too many factors: hard to come to single conclusion
Ethics
Some animal studies unethical but accepted at the time
Advantage
Aim of helping to develop more effective treatments for SZ beneficial for patients for
whom current antipsychotics are ineffective
Large % don’t respond quickly to current medications = while to develop effective
treatment regimen
Newer drug compounds provide answer by working on levels of other neurotransmitters
UNIPOLAR DEPRESSION
● Mood disorder
● Non-psychotic : understands difference btw imagination + reality
● Recognises own mood is irrational / inappropriate but can’t help feeling that way
Not single disorder but has subtypes classified by severity, length + psychotic / other
features
FEATURES (types, statistics, people affected)
● 3.5 million in UK
More prevalent in
● women (12%) than men (8%) - lifetime rate
● 27% of divorced or separated, compared to 20% of single & 16% in
stable relationships
● lower-income households
, 53
● 50-54 age group
mL in young adulthood
Course of disorder varies in its severity: some function well + go in remission within
few months of onset and remain symptom-free
Personality disorders + high anxiety have long-lasting severe symptoms with few
periods of remission
Risk of developing major depression is affected by temperament:
Neuroticism (emotional instability e.g. fear, anxiety, envy) is risk factor combined
with stressful life events + 1st degree relative with disorder
High mortality + affects course of other illnesses:
suicide higher in male sufferers but attempted more frequently by females
mL: lives alone, single + strong feelings of hopelessness
High prevalence rate but varies across cultures due to cultural differences in
diagnosis & reporting of depression rather than simple link btw culture + disorder
DSM estimates rate at 7% USA but higher in females aged 18-29 outnumbering
males by 2:1 ratio
TYPES :
MILD : limited negative effect on daily life
MAJOR: interferes with daily life
POST-NATAL / PARTUM: overwhelmed with panic attacks (2-3 weeks after
birth)
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): interfere with moods and with sleeping
and eating patterns all winter
Lasts for several months but usual to recover & relapse
SYMPTOMS (bhvs, thoughts) intense + last for long time
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