Characteristics and Diagnosis of Depression Flashcards
What is a brief summary of depression?
An effective disorder which is on a continuum. A low emotional state.
What are 4 characteristics of depression?
- Sadness
- Lack of energy
- Low self esteem
- Feelings of guilt.
What can depressive disorders range from?
Mild depression to major depressive disorder.
What are the 4 general domains of symptoms of depression?
- Effective symptoms - how people feel, e.g. a low mood.
- Cognitive symptoms - thoughts, faulty thinking, e.g. feeling worthless.
- Behavioural symptoms - they way someone behaves, e.g. withdrawal.
- Physical symptoms - they way someone’s body behaves, e.g. lack of sleep and appetite.
What is depression and other mental health disorders normally classified using?
The diagnostic and statistical manual of mental health disorders (DSM-IV-TR).
What are the 2 ways the reliability of the DSM is measured with?
- Inter-rater reliability
2. Test-retest reliability
What study did Keller carry out into the reliability of the DSM? (Method, findings).
Multi-site study. Interviewed 524 depressed p’s using the criteria and then again 6 months later.
Found - inter-rater was fair to good (.8). Test-retest was fair (.61).
Why did Keller get these results?
The DSM is very sensitive - symptoms change and because 5 or more have to be present for 2 weeks or longer for a diagnosis, 1 change can cause diagnosis to not be given.
What are 2 reasons the validity of the DSM be low for depression?
- Many symptoms of various mental health disorders overlap - could get misdiagnosed.
- Diagnosis is dependent on what the individual tells the doctor - social desirability or over/under exaggeration can affect this.
What sis McCullough find, relating to the validity of the DSM for depression? (Method, findings).
Compared 681 outpatients with various types of depression.
Found - overlap was extreme.
What are 3 issues regarding the diagnosis of depression, that lowers the validity of the DSM?
- GP’s aren’t specifically trained in the clinical diagnosis of depression - can result in misdiagnosis.
- People may not be willing to go to the doctor, or admit to certain symptoms, over over/under exaggerate symptoms - can result in misdiagnosis.
- Difficult to measure characteristics - many are subjective, e.g. mood.
How can culture influence the diagnosis of depression?
Members of ethnic minority groups in the UK are less likely to seek help as there is a stigma around the illness, and may be embarrassed and won’t receive as much social support.
What did Karasz find, relating to how culture can influence the diagnosis of depression?
Gave a vignette describing depressive symptoms to South Asian immigrants in NY and European Americans.
Found - SA were more likely to define that disorder in social and moral terms and less likely to seek help, whereas EA were more likely to define it in biological terms and seek help.
How is co-morbidity a technical issue with the diagnosis of depression?
Depression occurs alongside other disorders - symptoms often overlap - reduces validity of diagnosis.
Also questions the success of any treatment - not always known where the most appropriate treatment has been given.
What is usually used to measure the severity of depression?
The Beck Depression Inventory
