Characteristics of depression

Question 0

What are the four clinical characteristics of depression?

Answer 0

1) symptoms
2) prognosis + cause
3) diagnostic criteria
4) incidence and prevalence

Question 1

What are the four different types of symptoms for depression

Answer 1

1) cognitive - low concentration
2) affective - lack of pleasure
3) physiological - changes in sleep
4) behavioural - avoidance of contact with friends

Question 2

What is the diagnostic criteria for depression?

Answer 2

5 of the 9 symptoms the majority of the time for at least two weeks, and not due to substance misuse or underlying disorders
Symptoms include: suicidal ideation, change in sleeping patterns and withdrawal from social situations

Question 3

Statistics for major depressive disorder

Answer 3

• it is more common in women than in men women are 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 times more likely to be diagnosed
• it is more likely to affect the unemployed and those with a lower social status
• according to NICE 4-10% of the population will suffer from MDD and dysthymia is thought to affect 2 1/2 - 5% of the population

Question 4

What is the cause of MDD and bipolar disorder?

Answer 4

The cause of MDD is continuous low mood, where as bipolar is characterised by extreme mood swings. The low mood swings see characterised by symptoms of MDD and the manic episodes are characterised by things such as increased self esteem, less need for sleep and racing thoughts.

Question 5

What is the diagnostic criteria for bipolar disorder?

Answer 5

The individual must have suffered more than one bipolar cycle where the manic episode lasts for at least a week. Clyhtmamia similar to BPD, but I’d a chronic state of cycling between hypo mania and depressive episodes