Clinical characteristics of depression

Question 0

What are all types of depression characterised by

Answer 0

Periods of low/ Sad mood

Loss of interest in usually pleasurable activities

Question 1

What are the four clinical characteristics of depression

Answer 1

Diagnostic criteria
Symptoms
Course and prognosis
Incidence and prevalence

Question 2

The diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder are

Answer 2

5 symptoms from 9 including :
Sad mood
Loss of interest in usually pleasurable activities
For most of the time
For a period of at least two weeks
Symptoms must not be due to substance abuse or any other disorder e.g anorexia nervosa

Question 3

What are the 9 symptoms for depression

Answer 3

Sad/low mood
Change in eating behaviour 
Change In sleeping patterns 
Suicide thoughts or attempts 
Inability to concentrate or difficulty in thinking  
Negative self concept/feeling worthless
Loss of interest in usual pleasurable activities 
Fatigue or loss of energy
Psychomotor changes such as agitation

Question 4

What are the four types of symptoms. Include examples.

Answer 4

Cognitive- difficulty in concentrating, negative self concept.

Physical- loss of appetite, loss of energy

Behavioural - over or under eating and staying in pyjamas all day.

Affective - low mood, suicide thoughts.

Question 5

What is the prevalence of MDD

Answer 5

Women are 1.5 to 2.5 times more likely to suffer from depression.

It is also more likely in unemployed people

And those of lower social status.

Question 6

What is the worldwide prevalence of MDD according to nice

Answer 6

MDD is between 4 and 10 percent during a lifetime

Question 7

What is the prevalence of dysthymia

Answer 7

2.5 to 5 percent ( a less severe version of MDD with chronic symptoms of depressed mood low self esteem e.t.c. )

Question 8

What is bipolar disorder characterised by

Answer 8

Extreme mood swings

The low episodes are characterised by the symptoms of MDD.

The manic episodes are characterised by symptoms such as increased self esteem or grandiosity, less need for sleep and increase in social dictated activity.

Question 9

What do you need to be diagnosed with bipolar disorder

Answer 9

Experienced more than one bipolar cycle and the manic episode must last at least one week.