Depression

Question 1

What is depression

Answer 1

A mental disorder characterised by low mood and low energy levels

Question 2

Behavioural characteristics of depression-Activity levels

Answer 2

sufferers of depression have reduced levels of energy, making them lethargic. This has a knock on effect causing them to withdraw from work,education and social life. Sometimes depression can lead to psychomotor agitation where individuals struggle to relax

Question 3

Behavioural characteristics of depression-Disruption to sleep and eating behaviour

Answer 3

Sufferers may experience reduced sleep or an increased need to sleep. Appetite and eating may increase or decrease leading to weight gain/loss

Question 4

Behavioural characteristics of depression-Aggression and self harm

Answer 4

Sufferers can become verbally or physically aggressive. Can also lead to self harm often in the form of cutting or suicide attempts

Question 5

What are the three emotional characteristics of depression

Answer 5

Lowered mood,anger and lowered self esteem

Question 6

Emotional characteristics of depression-lowered mood

Answer 6

patients often describe themselves as worthless and empty

Question 7

Emotional characteristics of depression-Anger

Answer 7

Anger can be directed at the self or others. Such emotions can lead to aggressive or self harming behaviour

Question 8

Emotional characteristics of depression-Lowered self esteem

Answer 8

sufferers tend to report reduced self esteem in other words they like themselves less than usual.

Question 9

What are the three Cognitive characteristics of depression

Answer 9

Poor concentration, attending to and dwelling on the negative and absolutist thinking

Question 10

Cognitive characteristics of depression-Poor concentration

Answer 10

Sufferer may find themselves unable to stick with a task as they usually would or they might find it hard to make decisions that they would normally find straightforward. Poor concentration and decision making are likely to interfere with the individuals work

Question 11

Cognitive characteristics of depression-Attending to and dwelling on the negative

Answer 11

sufferers pay more attention to negative aspects of the situation and ignore the positives. In other words they tend to see a glass as half empty rather than half full. They also have a bias towards recalling unhappy events rather than happy ones

Question 12

Cognitive characteristics of depression-Absolutist thinking

Answer 12

Black and white thinking- this means that when a situation is unfortunate they tend to see it as an absolute disaster