Clinical characteristics of depression

Question 1

Definition in terms of disorder

Answer 1

Mood disorder characterised by low mood
-changes in behaviour and thinking

Question 2

Behavioural characteristics

Answer 2

-activity levels (withdrawal or always agitated)
-disruption to eating and sleeping (insomnia/hypersomnia)
-aggression and self-harm (irritable/erratic behaviour)

Question 3

Emotional characteristics

Answer 3

-low mood (feeling worthless, empty, extreme sadness)
-anger
-lowered self-esteem (no confidence, self-loathing)

Question 4

Cognitive characteristics

Answer 4

-poor concentration (unable to stick to a task/decision making ability so may interfere with work)
-dwelling on the negative (more attention to negative, recall of unhappy events)
-absolutist thinking (black and white thinking)