Depression Flashcards
What is depression?
Depression is a mood disorder diagnosed in individuals who experience disruption to their daily functioning as a result of a disturbance of emotions, in particular, low mood
How many people suffer with depression?
About 5% of the adult population at some point in their lives
When is depression diagnosed?
Depression is diagnosed if a patient has 5 or more symptoms that affect their ability to function and ability to cope with everyday life. These symptoms should be present all or most of the time for two weeks or more
How many core symptoms must a patient display?
2 out of the 3
What are the core symptoms of depression?
Low mood, loss of interest and pleasure and reduced energy levels
What are the symptoms of depression?
- Low mood
- Loss of interest/pleasure in almost all activities
- Reduced energy levels
- Decrease in self-confidence: feeling worthless or excessive feelings of guilt
- Weight loss or gain - or changes in appetite
- Decreased concentration
- Thoughts of death/suicide
What are the emotional characteristics of depression?
Low mood, low self-esteem and anger
What are the cognitive characteristics of depression?
Negative schema, absolutist thinking, suicidal thoughts and poor concentration
What are the behavioural characteristics of depression?
Reduced activity levels, disruption to sleep, disruption to eating behaviour and aggressive acts
What does the cognitive explanation of depression state?
The cognitive approach states that depression is the result of disturbance in thinking. It assumes that depression affects individuals who hold faulty cognitions about themselves, others, the world and the future
What is negativity bias?
They pay more attention to negative aspects of the situation than the positives
What does the cognitive explanation regarding the schema theory of depression state?
The cognitive explanation states that we use schemas to interpret the world around us. If you have negative schemas, you will interpret all situations as negative
What did Beck’s negative triad state?
He stated that individuals with depression have developed negative schemas in childhood about themselves, their world, and their future
What can the biases of Beck’s negative triad do in adulthood?
In adulthood these become biases such as overgeneralisation, magnification, selective perception and all or nothing thinking (catastrophising)
When did Beck state that negative core beliefs develop?
In childhood as a result of neglect, abuse, bullying and criticism or rejection from important people in their lives
