Depression

Question 1

What is Depression?

Answer 1

• Mood disorder where an individual feels sad or lacks interest in usual activities.

Question 2

Behavioural Characteristics of Depression

Answer 2

• Activity levels - reduced energy levels making them lethargic. Knock on effect, withdrawal from work, education and social life. Can be severe as not getting out of bed.
• Disruption to sleep and eating behaviour - reduced sleep (insomnia), premature waking or increased need for sleep (hyperinsomnia). Appetite and eating may increase or decrease causing weight gain or less.
• Aggression and self harm - irritable, verbally and physically aggressive. Knock on effect on various aspects of their life. Ending relationship or quitting job (verbal). Self harm, suicide attempts (physical).

Question 3

Emotional Characteristics of Depression

Answer 3

• Lowered Mood - daily experience of feeling lethargic and sad. Worthless and empty as described by sufferers.
• Anger - more negative emotions experienced. Towards self or others. Can lead to aggressive self harming behaviour.
• Lowered Self Esteem - how much we like ourselves. Like themselves less than usual. Self loathing or hating themselves.

Question 4

Cognitive Characteristics of Depression

Answer 4

• Poor concentration - Unable to stick to a task. Difficult to make decisions. Likely to interfere with individuals work.
• Attending to and dwelling on the negatives - pay more attention to negative aspects of a situation and ignore positives. Bias towards recalling unhappy events.
• Absolutist thinking - everything either all good or all bad. Unfortunate situation seen as an absolute disaster.