Depression

Question 1

What are the emotional characteristics of depression?

Answer 1

• Depressed mood: prolonged and overwhelming feelings of intense sadness/hopelessness and lowered mood in everyday life
• Loss of interest and pleasure: lack of enthusiam or pleasure in daily activities
• Worthlessness: constant feelings of low self-worth and unnecessary feelings of guilt

Question 2

What are the cognitive characteristics of depression?

Answer 2

• Reduced concentration: difficulty concentrating, slowed down thinking, and difficulty making decisions - interferes with everyday tasks
• Negative beliefs about self: persistent negative belief about themself and their abilities (negative self schemas)
• Suicidal Thoughts: depressives can have constant thoughts of death and/or suicide

Question 3

What are the behavioural characteristics of depression?

Answer 3

• Change in activity: depressives have lower amounts of energy causing fatigue, lethargy, and inactivity. HOWEVER can have the opposite effect - psychomotor agitation - can struggle to relax
• Change in eating patterns: change in appetites - may eat more or less than usual causing significant weight change 5% loss or gain
• Change in sleeping patterns: sleeping less (insomnia) or excessive sleeping (hypersomnia)
• Social impairment: reduced levels of social interaction with friends and family
• Reduced speech - depressives may speak slower
• Reduced movement - may move slower