Course 3.4 Affective Disorders lecture 5: Q&A

Lecture 5 - Overview + questions

In general
- there won’t be questions about the course assignments
- which medication should you know: de difference between classes of medication
(SSRI and TCA) except for lithium (mood stabilizer) in terms of treatment for BD
- dopamine and serotonin are important to know in terms of neurotransmitters
- general descriptions of brain parts
- The provided questions cover around 80-90% of the exam
- The mental elf description can be used to interpret and understand Zhou
- There is important additional information in the 2nd and 3rd lecture

DSM criteria, which ones you need to know
- BDI, BDII, cyclothymic disorder
- MDD and Dysthymia
- Subtypes for depression (psychotic features, atypical features, melancholic features)
- Mixed episodes

Some specific questions
If MDD is present for two years, will it be considered as dysthymia or just MDD for two
years?
No, dysthymia is a milder form of depression, so it is not the same as MDD for two years.

Medication for depression




Try to remember groups instead of specific kinds of medication. Only questions on TCA and
SSRI will be asked.

Medication for BD
- mood stabilizers (lithium)
- antipsychotics (olanzapine)
- antidepressants (same as for depression)