Depression Flashcards
Depression
a mental disorder characterised by low mood and low energy levels
DSM-5 categoires of depression
• Major Depressive Disorder = severe but often short-term depression
• Persistent Depressive Disorder = long term or recurring depression
• Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder = childhood temper tantrums
• Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder = disruption to mood prior to and/or during menstruation
Behavioural characteristics of depression
- activity levels
- disruption to sleep and eating behaviour
- aggression and self harm
Activity levels
reduced energy levels - lethargic
-leading to withdrawal from work, education and social life
- Also leads to psychomotor agitation (struggle to relax)
Disruption to sleep and eating behaviour
insomnia and hypersomnia, increase or decrease in appetite leading to weight gain/loss
Aggression and self harm
irritability, verbal aggression, physical aggression directed at themself
Emotional characteristics of depression
- lowered mood
- anger
- lowered self esteem
Lowered mood
feelings of worthlessness and emptiness
Anger
can be extreme, can lead to aggressive behaviour directed at the self or others
Lowered self esteem
dislike of the self, self-loathing
Cognitive characteristics of depression
- poor concentration
- attending to and dwelling on the negative
- absolutist thinking
Poor concentration
difficulty finishing tasks or making decisions that previously wouldn’t have been an issue
Attending to and dwelling on the negative
ignoring the positives of a situation, biased recall of unhappy events over happy ones
Absolutist thinking
all good/all bad, see bad situations ( black-and-white thinking )as an absolute disaster
