Lesson 8: Characteristics Of Depression

Question 1

What are the behavioural characteristics of depression?

Answer 1

Change in activity levels, disruption to sleep and eating behaviours, aggression and self harm

Question 2

Behavioural characteristics of depression (activity levels)

Answer 2

Activity levels - typically, sufferers of depression have reduced levels of energy, making them lethargic. Consequently, sufferers tend to withdraw from work, education and social life. Sometimes people may find it difficult to get out of bed. Alternatively, people may become agitated and struggle to relax (psychomotor agitation)

Question 3

Behavioural characteristics of depression (disruption to sleep and eating behaviour)

Answer 3

Disruption to sleep and eating behaviour : Sufferers may experience changes to their sleeping patterns. Some may experience reduced sleep or an increased need for sleep. Similarly appetite and eating behaviour may increase or decrease leading to weight loss or gain.

Question 4

Behaviour characteristics of depression (aggression and self-harm)

Answer 4

Aggression and self-harm : depressed individuals are often irritable and can easily become verbally or physically aggressive. This behaviour towards others may lead to relationship or work problems. For example, a depressed person may display verbal aggression by ending a relationship or quitting a job. Individuals may act aggressively towards themselves through self-harm.

Question 5

What are the emotional characteristics of depression?

Answer 5

Lowered mood, anger, lowered self-esteem

Question 6

Emotional characteristics of depression (lowered mood)

Answer 6

Lowered mood - can also be referred to as feeling sad, patients describe themselves as ‘worthless’ and ‘empty’

Question 7

Emotional characteristics of depression (anger)

Answer 7

• suffered of depression may frequently experience anger which can be directed towards themselves of others, such emotions can lead to self-harming

Question 8

Emotional characteristic of depression (lowered self-esteem)

Answer 8

Lowered self-esteem : depressed individuals tend to report a lowered self-esteem. In extreme circumstances, individuals may state they hate themselves.

Question 9

What are cognitive characteristics of depression?

Answer 9

Poor concentration, attending to and dwelling on the negative, absolutist thinking

Question 10

Cognitive characteristics of depression (poor concentration)

Answer 10

Poor concentration - sufferer may find themselves unable to concentrate on a task as they normally would, or they might find it hard to make decisions they would normally find straightforward. Poor concentration and decision making are likely to interfere with the individuals work

Question 11

Cognitive characteristics of depression (attending to and dwelling on the negative)

Answer 11

• when suffering a depressive episode, people are inclined to pay more attention to the negative aspects of a situation and ignore the positive. They also have a tendency to recall unhappy events rather than happy ones

Question 12

Cognitive characteristics of depression (absolutist thinking)

Answer 12

• most situations are not all-good or all-bad but when a sufferer is depressed they tend to think in these terms for example when situation is unfortunate they see it as an absolute disaster