depression Flashcards
what is depression?
a mental disorder characterised by low mood and low energy levels
what is the book used to characterise and categorise depression?
DSM-5
what is major depressive disorder?
severe but often short term depression
what is persistent depressive disorder?
long-term or recurring depression, including sustained major depression
what are the 3 aspects of behaviour that depression changes?
•activity levels
•distribution to sleep and eating behaviour
•aggression and self-harm
what’s the general rule for behavioural characteristics of depression?
they’re either lowered or elevated
what happens to activity levels?
they’re either lowered- becoming lethargic
or they’re elevated- known as psychomotor agitation
what are elevated activity levels called?
psychomotor agitation
how are sleep and eating behaviour disrupted?
•sufferers may have reduced sleep (insomnia)
•or an increased need for sleep (hypersomnia)
•similarly appetite and eating may increase or decrease
what is aggression and self harm?
•suffers can become verbally or physically aggressive
•they may direct physical aggression at themselves (taking the form of cutting or suicide attempts)
what are the emotional characteristics of depression?
•lowered mood
•anger
•lowered self esteem
what is a lowered mood?
it is more pronounced and consuming than everyday sadness, having a ‘worthless’ and ‘empty’ feeling
what is anger in depression?
the anger can be directed at others or at oneself, this can lead to aggressive or self-harming behaviour
what is lowered self esteem in depression?
suffered of depression tend to report reduced self-esteem. or even a sense of self-loathing.
what are the cognitive characteristics of depression?
•poor concentration
•attending to and dwelling on the negative
•absolutist thinking
