8A - Depressive disorders
Tuesday, March 9, 2021
9:04 AM
*Mini-lecture 1 : The structure of mood disorders
The structure of mood disorders
Characterized mood disorders: "Normal" mood (euthymia)
o Moods will fluctuate within a "normal" range (good days vs. bad days)
o Individuals' baseline mood may vary, but no significant distress or
impairment
Characterized mood disorders: depression (low mood)
o Emotional states: Persistently sad; tearfulness; irritability; jumpiness;
hopelessness
o Motivation: unmotivated; reduced social activity; anhedonia
o Functioning: Move or talk slower than normal; changes in sleep or appetite
o Cognition: Difficulty concentrating; worthlessness; guilt; feelings of
inadequacy
Characterized mood disorders: Mania (extreme high mood)
o Emotional states: Inflated self-esteem; grandiosity; irritability
o Motivation: Need for constant excitement/activity; activities with high
potential for consequences
o Functioning: High energy levels (little/no sleep); rapid speech and
movements
o Cognition: Lack of planning judgement; racing thoughts; distractibility
, *Mini-lecture 2 : Major depressive disorder (MDD)
Major depressive disorder
MDD represents a change from previous functioning, causing distress or impairment
Tends to be episodic (symptoms dissipate back to baseline) and recurrent (future episodes
are likely)
Diagnostic criteria
Five or more symptoms during the same 2-week period; change from prior functioning
Depressed mood and or loss of interest or pleasure (anhedonia)
o *Need at least one of the first 2 symptoms!
Weight or appetite changes; sleep changes; motor behaviors; fatigue symptoms
Cognition/emotional symptoms: feelings of worthlessness; diminished concentration;
recurrent thoughts of death or suicide
Distress or impairment; not caused by substance or physical condition
o Not the approach to bereavement!
Tuesday, March 9, 2021
9:04 AM
*Mini-lecture 1 : The structure of mood disorders
The structure of mood disorders
Characterized mood disorders: "Normal" mood (euthymia)
o Moods will fluctuate within a "normal" range (good days vs. bad days)
o Individuals' baseline mood may vary, but no significant distress or
impairment
Characterized mood disorders: depression (low mood)
o Emotional states: Persistently sad; tearfulness; irritability; jumpiness;
hopelessness
o Motivation: unmotivated; reduced social activity; anhedonia
o Functioning: Move or talk slower than normal; changes in sleep or appetite
o Cognition: Difficulty concentrating; worthlessness; guilt; feelings of
inadequacy
Characterized mood disorders: Mania (extreme high mood)
o Emotional states: Inflated self-esteem; grandiosity; irritability
o Motivation: Need for constant excitement/activity; activities with high
potential for consequences
o Functioning: High energy levels (little/no sleep); rapid speech and
movements
o Cognition: Lack of planning judgement; racing thoughts; distractibility
, *Mini-lecture 2 : Major depressive disorder (MDD)
Major depressive disorder
MDD represents a change from previous functioning, causing distress or impairment
Tends to be episodic (symptoms dissipate back to baseline) and recurrent (future episodes
are likely)
Diagnostic criteria
Five or more symptoms during the same 2-week period; change from prior functioning
Depressed mood and or loss of interest or pleasure (anhedonia)
o *Need at least one of the first 2 symptoms!
Weight or appetite changes; sleep changes; motor behaviors; fatigue symptoms
Cognition/emotional symptoms: feelings of worthlessness; diminished concentration;
recurrent thoughts of death or suicide
Distress or impairment; not caused by substance or physical condition
o Not the approach to bereavement!
