Characteristics Of Depression

Question 1

What are the behavioural characteristics

Answer 1

Chnage in energy levels, disruption to sleep, disruption to eating, aggresive acts

Question 2

Change in activity levels

Answer 2

When people experience lethargy, reduced movement and speech, they may withdraw from activities that they found fun once. They can have social withdrawal and neglect hygiene. Some people may also have increased activity

Question 3

Disruption to sleep

Answer 3

Depression is often characterised by constant insomnia where they have difficulty falling sleeping or staying asleep. But on the other hand they may a,so require Hugh amounts of sleep and may oversleep (hypersomnia)

Question 4

Disruption to eating

Answer 4

Increase or decrease in weight is associated with depression. Some people may put on weight bc they binge eat, some may have a reduced appetite and lose weight.

Question 5

Aggressive acts

Answer 5

Sufferers of depression are often irritated very easily. They can become physically and verbally aggressive. They may also be physically or verbally aggressive towards themselves such as self harm and suicide

Question 6

What are the emotional characteristics

Answer 6

Low mood, feeling of worthlessness, anger

Question 7

Low mood

Answer 7

There is an ever present overwhelming feeling of sadness or hopelessness and feeling empty

Question 8

Feelings of worthlessness

Answer 8

Sufferers may have constant feelings of reduced worth or inappropriate feelings of guilt. They may experience low self esteem

Question 9

Anger

Answer 9

They may feel anger towards themselves or other People. Depression may arise from feelings of being hurt or wishing to hurt

Question 10

What are the cognitive characteristics

Answer 10

Negative schema, poor concentration

Question 11

Negative schema

Answer 11

People will often have a negative view of the world and see themselves negatively. This leads to a self-fulfilling prophecy (where you expect negative things to happen - they will happen bc u make them happen). Positive things will be ignored

Question 12

Poor concentration

Answer 12

They may have difficulty paying attention and the person will feel like they can’t stay on task for long periods of time, they may have slower thought processes and difficulty making decisions . Depressed people will have remembering memories