Depression Characteristics

Question 1

What is depression?

Answer 1

Depression is a category of mood disorders defined by a consistent and long-lasting sense of sadness.

Question 2

What are the 2 main types of depression?

Answer 2

1) Unipolar depression - exceptionally low mood.
2) Bipolar depression (manic-depression) - fluctuating mood.

Question 3

What is needed to be given a diagnosis of depression?

Answer 3

To be given a diagnosis of depression, sufferers are required to display at least 5 symptoms, every day for at least 2 weeks.

Question 4

Behavioural Characteristics

Answer 4

Reduction in activity levels: Reduced energy levels, making them lethargic. They tend to withdraw from work, education and social life. But it sometimes causes the opposite effect - psychomotor agitation - they can’t relax and pace a lot. Anhedonia is the lack of pleasure usually felt doing enjoyable activities, leading to a reduction in social behaviour.

Disruption in sleeping and eating: May experience insomnia or hypersomnia. Appetite can increase or decrease causing significant weight gain or weight loss.

Increase in aggression and self-harm: Often irritable and can become verbally or physically aggressive. Sometimes the physical aggression is targeted towards themselves.

Question 5

Emotional Characteristics

Answer 5

Low mood: A defining emotion of depression. It is more than feeling sad. Sufferers often describe themselves as feeling worthless or empty.

Anger: This anger is often linked to frustration over their situation or a perceived lack of control.

Lowered self-esteem: Self-esteem is how much we like ourselves. Depressives like themselves less than usual and some even hate themselves. They feel as though they have no value in comparison to other people.

Question 6

Cognitive Characteristics

Answer 6

Poor concentration: They find themselves unable to give their full attention to tasks as they usually would or might find it difficult to make decisions. They tend to be more indecisive, unable to choose between competing options.

Dwelling on the negative: Their perceptions are distorted and out of proportion so they pay attention to the negatives instead of the positives about a situation. They can be regarded as pessimistic.

Absolutist thinking: They have a very black and white thinking - it is either all good or all bad.