PSY2071 Study Guide - Final Guide: Substantia Nigra, Major Depressive Disorder, Developmental Disorder
5 Aug 2018
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Document Summary
The inverted u describes brain and cognitive development over the lifespan. Developmental disorders = changes on the left side of the inverted. Asd, adhd, many mental illnesses (schizophrenia [mixed of developmental and degenerative], major depressive disorder) Degenerative disorders = changes on the right side of inverted u ("accelerated aging") Brain was once fully matured, but at some point it goes through a pathological decline. Brain changes occur well before any behavioral changes (up to 20 years prior) Parkinson"s: ~50% of the substantia nigra has degenerated at symptom onset. Characterization of disease trajectory can generally only begin after the disease has been diagnosed. Many disorders are likely to have components of both developmental and degenerative disorders. Developmental and degenerative pathologies may manifest at different stages of the illness. Degeneration may start before development is complete --> changes both left and right side of the curve. Death: 20-130 years post-onset (mostly cardiomyopathy and suicide.
