OT5012 Exam 2 Study Guide
Brain Abnormalities of MDD - Answer - functional abnormalities found in the limbic
system (represents centers of emotions); also changes in hippocampus -- results in
blunted or decreased behavioral and physiological reactivity to sad or negative stimuli
- brain abnormalities may not be the cause of the mood disorder, but may develop
because of the disorder
- MDD patients who committed suicide were found to have abnormal connections among
left anterior limb of the internal capsule, left middle frontal cortex, orbital prefrontal
cortex, and left thalamus
Mania versus Hypomania - Answer - manic: euphoria, irritability, grandiosity, decreased
sleep impulsivity, and distractibility (interferes with daily functioning); highly elevated or
irritable mood lasting at least 1 week, with or without psychotic symptoms such as
delusions and hallucinations
- hypomania: similar but less intense mood and energy elevation than mania
BPD Manic versus Depressive Symptoms - Answer - manic: grandiosity, persistent
elevated mood, minimal need for sleep, excessively talkative or having pressured
speech, racing thoughts or flights of ideas, distractibility, excessive goal-directed
activity or psychomotor agitation, impulsivity or participation in dangerous or risky
activities, purchasing sprees, hyper sexuality, short-temper
- depressive: feeling hopeless and helpless, decrease in personal hygiene, statements
regarding not wanting to live, strong remorse, depression, past suicide attempts, risky
behaviors, social withdrawal, fatalistic attitude about the future, believing that their
current situation and emotional state will never change, suicidal notes, saying farewell
to family members, creating a plan for suicide
Alternative Treatments for MDD - Answer - pharmacology: antidepressants that regulate
neurotransmitters particularly serotonin and norepinephrine (SSRIs and SNRIs),
tricyclics and MAOIs (lithium for BDD)
- ECT: controlled seizure; for those who are resistant to pharmacology
- repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS): for treatment resistant
depression; noninvasive magnet field and has fewer cognitive and memory side effects
than ECT
Course of Action for Suicidal Ideation - Answer it is important for OTs to be aware of
signs and symptoms of suicidal ideation so they can identify them in their clients and
make timely referralsterm-2
Positive Symptoms - Answer - delusions: fixed false beliefs; don't change even when the
, individual is presented with new information or evidence against the belief
- hallucinations: perceptual disturbances that occur without external stimulus such as
hearing or seeing things that are not there; experience auditory, smell, visual and/or
tactile delusion
- disorganized speech: incoherent or irrelevant speech, infers disorganized thinking;
tangential thoughts, loose associations, incoherence (word salad)
- disorganized or abnormal motor behavior: catatonia psychomotor disturbances
including lack of psychomotor activity or response to the environment
Schizophrenia and Genetics - Answer - strong genetic component; risk for immediate
family members is 10% and 50% in twin studies
- appears to be linked to over 100 genetic variants associated with schizophrenia, but
these gene variants are not singularly predictive of the manifestation of the illness
- genetic and environmental risk factors appear to work additively in conjunction with
each other to increase risk
- causes include excess of dopamine, γ-amino-butyric acid (GABA) and glutamate, brain
structures abnormalities, prenatal exposure to environmental insults including maternal
infections, nutritional deficiencies, and drug toxicity as well as birth complications,
exposure to early stressful life events or trauma, and use of cannabis
Delusional Disorder - Answer - 1 or more delusional belief for > 1 month
- other positive and negative psychotic symptoms not present
- limited impairment in ADLs
Brief Psychotic Disorder - Answer - sudden onset of positive psychotic symptoms
lasting between 1 day and 1 month
- daily functioning possibly impaired
- safety concerns present
Schizoaffective Disorder - Answer - presence of major mood episode (major depressive,
manic, or mixed episode)
- delusions and hallucinations must be present for at least 2 weeks in absence of mood
disorder
- psychotic symptoms present during major mood episode
- occupational functioning impaired (not necessary for diagnosis)
Negative Symptoms - Answer - avolition, alogia, anhedonia, asociality
Brain Abnormalities of MDD - Answer - functional abnormalities found in the limbic
system (represents centers of emotions); also changes in hippocampus -- results in
blunted or decreased behavioral and physiological reactivity to sad or negative stimuli
- brain abnormalities may not be the cause of the mood disorder, but may develop
because of the disorder
- MDD patients who committed suicide were found to have abnormal connections among
left anterior limb of the internal capsule, left middle frontal cortex, orbital prefrontal
cortex, and left thalamus
Mania versus Hypomania - Answer - manic: euphoria, irritability, grandiosity, decreased
sleep impulsivity, and distractibility (interferes with daily functioning); highly elevated or
irritable mood lasting at least 1 week, with or without psychotic symptoms such as
delusions and hallucinations
- hypomania: similar but less intense mood and energy elevation than mania
BPD Manic versus Depressive Symptoms - Answer - manic: grandiosity, persistent
elevated mood, minimal need for sleep, excessively talkative or having pressured
speech, racing thoughts or flights of ideas, distractibility, excessive goal-directed
activity or psychomotor agitation, impulsivity or participation in dangerous or risky
activities, purchasing sprees, hyper sexuality, short-temper
- depressive: feeling hopeless and helpless, decrease in personal hygiene, statements
regarding not wanting to live, strong remorse, depression, past suicide attempts, risky
behaviors, social withdrawal, fatalistic attitude about the future, believing that their
current situation and emotional state will never change, suicidal notes, saying farewell
to family members, creating a plan for suicide
Alternative Treatments for MDD - Answer - pharmacology: antidepressants that regulate
neurotransmitters particularly serotonin and norepinephrine (SSRIs and SNRIs),
tricyclics and MAOIs (lithium for BDD)
- ECT: controlled seizure; for those who are resistant to pharmacology
- repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS): for treatment resistant
depression; noninvasive magnet field and has fewer cognitive and memory side effects
than ECT
Course of Action for Suicidal Ideation - Answer it is important for OTs to be aware of
signs and symptoms of suicidal ideation so they can identify them in their clients and
make timely referralsterm-2
Positive Symptoms - Answer - delusions: fixed false beliefs; don't change even when the
, individual is presented with new information or evidence against the belief
- hallucinations: perceptual disturbances that occur without external stimulus such as
hearing or seeing things that are not there; experience auditory, smell, visual and/or
tactile delusion
- disorganized speech: incoherent or irrelevant speech, infers disorganized thinking;
tangential thoughts, loose associations, incoherence (word salad)
- disorganized or abnormal motor behavior: catatonia psychomotor disturbances
including lack of psychomotor activity or response to the environment
Schizophrenia and Genetics - Answer - strong genetic component; risk for immediate
family members is 10% and 50% in twin studies
- appears to be linked to over 100 genetic variants associated with schizophrenia, but
these gene variants are not singularly predictive of the manifestation of the illness
- genetic and environmental risk factors appear to work additively in conjunction with
each other to increase risk
- causes include excess of dopamine, γ-amino-butyric acid (GABA) and glutamate, brain
structures abnormalities, prenatal exposure to environmental insults including maternal
infections, nutritional deficiencies, and drug toxicity as well as birth complications,
exposure to early stressful life events or trauma, and use of cannabis
Delusional Disorder - Answer - 1 or more delusional belief for > 1 month
- other positive and negative psychotic symptoms not present
- limited impairment in ADLs
Brief Psychotic Disorder - Answer - sudden onset of positive psychotic symptoms
lasting between 1 day and 1 month
- daily functioning possibly impaired
- safety concerns present
Schizoaffective Disorder - Answer - presence of major mood episode (major depressive,
manic, or mixed episode)
- delusions and hallucinations must be present for at least 2 weeks in absence of mood
disorder
- psychotic symptoms present during major mood episode
- occupational functioning impaired (not necessary for diagnosis)
Negative Symptoms - Answer - avolition, alogia, anhedonia, asociality
