The document outlines the symptoms of depression, including thoughts of suicide, anhedonia, fatigue, and changes in weight and sleep patterns that must persist for at least two weeks. It discusses biological triggers such as genetic factors and neurotransmitter imbalances, particularly low serotonin and norepinephrine levels. Additionally, it describes the use of selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) as treatment, including their mechanism and potential short-term side effects.

1. Depression - Symptoms
• Thoughts of suicide or death
• Anhedonia (the loss of ability to experience
pleasure, or the inability to gain pleasure
from normally pleasurable activities.
• Difficulty concentrating
• Reduced energy or feeling fatigued
• Altered sleep patterns – insomnia (difficulty
going/ staying asleep), hypersomnia (feeling
tired after excessive sleep – 12hrs + per day)
• Prolonged sadness for the majority of the
day for at least 2 weeks.
• Dramatic change in weight (either loss or
gain)
• Change in appetite – either loss or increase
• Inappropriate guilt or self-blame
• Agitated for retarded psychological/ physical
activity

2. Application of Biopsychosocial framework to
understanding a Mood disorder: Depression
1: Biological triggers
• Genes – more likely to develop
depression if a/ both parents
suffered from mood disorder
• Low levels of Serotonin
• Which is a neurotransmitter that
has an inhibitory (calming effect)
on Central.N.S
• Serotonin deficiencies – linked to
– anorexia, bulimia, social
anxiety & mood
disorders, OCD, Schizophrenia, sl
eep disorders
• Low levels of Noradrenalin aka
norepinephrine also linked to
symptoms of depression

3. SSRI’s: (Selective Serotonin re-uptake inhibitors)
• Typically mimic the effect of
serotonin
• Which after 2-6 weeks start to
take effect
• Short-term side effects:
anxiety, insomnia, weight gain
• SSRI’s block the reabsorption
of serotonin at the pre-
synaptic neuron, thus
increasing serotonin activity at
post-synaptic neuron