Depression

Question 1

Definition of depression

Answer 1

Depression is a low mood that lasts for weeks or months and effects your daily life. Many things can cause depression such as stressful events, personality, family history and giving birth

Question 2

Emotional feature of depression

Answer 2

• loss of enthusiasm - depression is often characterised by a lessened concern with an/or lack of pleasure in daily activities
• constant depressed mood- overwhelming feeling of sadness
• worthlessness - constant feeling of reduced worth and inappropriate feelings of guilt

Question 3

Behavioural features of depression

Answer 3

• loss of energy - reduced amounts of energy resulting in fatigue, lethargy and high levels of inactivity
• social impairment- reduced levels of social interaction
• weight changes - significant increase or decrease in weight
• poor personal hygiene- reduced incidence of washing
• sleep pattern disturbance

Question 4

Cognitive features of depression

Answer 4

• delusions/ hallucinations
• thoughts of death- constant thoughts of death or suicide
• poor memory - problems with retrieving memories
• reduced concentration

Question 5

Cognitive explanations of depression

- Aaron beck (1967) negative triads

Answer 5

Believes people become depressed because the world is seen negatively through negative schema, which dominate thinking and are triggered whenever individuals are in situations that are similar to those in the negative schemas learnt