Psychology PMDD and Mood Disorders

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)

• Characterized by significant emotional instability, irritability, depression, anxiety, and additional symptoms like loss of interest, concentration issues, low energy, appetite and sleep changes, and physical symptoms.
• DSM-V criteria require at least five symptoms to be present, significantly affecting daily life, and occurring in most menstrual cycles over the past year.

Etiology of Mood Disorders

• Mood disorders result from various factors, including psychological, environmental, and biological influences.
• Psychological aspects include personality traits and cognitive patterns that can exacerbate mood issues.
• Environmental factors encompass life stressors and traumatic experiences.

Personality Theories

• Personality styles influence depression risk, particularly high neuroticism, low extroversion, and low conscientiousness.
• Two personality patterns elevate depression risk:
  • High behavioral inhibition leads to fear of novelty and sensitivity to punishment.
  • High behavioral activation corresponds with impulsivity and difficulty regulating emotions in response to rewards.

Cognitive Theories

• Beck’s cognitive theory posits that emotional responses depend on individual evaluations of situations.
• Swann’s self-verification theory suggests individuals seek criticism consistent with their self-perceptions.
• Excessive reassurance seeking involves repeatedly seeking affirmation of worth from others, regardless of prior reassurances.
• Hammen’s stress generation hypothesis states that individuals with depression have higher incidences of stressful events related to their behaviors.
• Stress plays a significant role in the onset of depression, with individuals experiencing stressful life events being nearly three times more likely to develop depression.
• Childhood trauma is a significant predictor of future depressive disorders.

Biological Causal Factors

• Genetic, neurochemical, and structural brain factors play critical roles in mood disorders.
• Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder both have strong heritable components.
• Mood disorders are linked to disruptions in neurotransmitter functions and imbalances.
• Advanced imaging techniques reveal decreased blood flow in certain brain regions and heightened activity in limbic areas, such as the amygdala, when processing negative stimuli.

Cognitive Distortions

• Common cognitive distortions include:
  • All-or-nothing thinking: Viewing situations in black and white terms.
  • Overgeneralization: Perceiving a single negative event as part of a continual pattern using absolute terms like "always" or "never."
  • Magnification/Catastrophizing: Exaggerating the importance of mistakes or problems.
  • Jumping to conclusions: Making negative assumptions without supporting evidence.

Schemas and the Cognitive Triad

• Schemas are mental frameworks that contain core beliefs about self, world, and future.
• The cognitive triad encompasses a negative perspective of oneself, the world, and future possibilities.

Interpersonal Models

• Individuals at risk for depression may exhibit behaviors that alienate others, leading to interpersonal rejection and relationship strain, which can worsen depressive symptoms.
• Depressed individuals often engage in excessive reassurance seeking, which can contribute to feelings of alienation.
• Swann’s self-verification theory highlights the tendency to seek out negative feedback that aligns with existing self-schemas, perpetuating depressive states.

Explore the complexities of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) and its impact on emotional stability. This quiz also delves into the etiology of mood disorders and the influence of personality theories on mental health. Test your understanding of psychological, environmental, and biological factors affecting mood.