Lesson 8 - Characteristics of Depression

Question 1

Behavioural Characteristics of Depression

Answer 1

Change in activity levels
Disruption to sleep
Disruption to eating behaviour
Aggression

Question 2

Behavioural Characteristics of Depression

Change in Activity Levels

Answer 2

Some people with depression experience lethargy and withdrawal from activities that were once enjoyed
They may also neglect personal hygiene
Other people with depression experience increase activity levels/agitation

Question 3

Behavioural Characteristics of Depression

Disruption to Sleep

Answer 3

Depression is often characterised by constant insomnia whereby they have difficulty falling and staying asleep
Alternatively they might require large amounts of sleep and they might oversleep - hypersomnia

Question 4

Behavioural Characteristics of Depression

Disruption to Eating Behaviour

Answer 4

Significant increase or decrease in weight is associated with depression
Some people might eat a great deal when they are depressed and therefore put on weight
Other people have a reduced appetite and eat dry little and therefore lose weight

Question 5

Behavioural Characteristics of Depression

Aggression

Answer 5

Sufferers of depression are often irritable and they can become physically or verbally aggressive
They might also be psychically aggressive towards themselves in the form of self-harm

Question 6

Emotional Characteristics of Depression

Answer 6

Low mood
Feelings of worthlessness
Anger

Question 7

Emotional Characteristics of Depression

Low Mood

Answer 7

Key characteristic of depression is the ever present and overwhelming feelings of sadness and hopelessness and feeling empty

Question 8

Emotional Characteristics of Depression

Feelings of Worthlessness

Answer 8

Sufferers of depression often have constant feelings of reduced worth and/or inappropriate feelings of guilt
They might also experience very low levels of self esteem

Question 9

Emotional Characteristics of Depression

Anger

Answer 9

The person might feel anger towards others or towards themselves
Depression may arise from feelings of being hurt and wishing to retaliate

Question 10

Cognitive Characteristics of Depression

Answer 10

Negative Scheme

Poor Concentration

Question 11

Cognitive Characteristics of Depression

Negative Scheme

Answer 11

Depressed people often have a negative view of the world, themselves and the future
This leads to the self-fulfilling prophecy whereby if you expect negative things to happen, they will happen because you make them happen
Positive factors in their life will be ignored

Question 12

Cognitive Characteristics of Depression

Poor Concentration

Answer 12

There can be difficulty in paying/maintain attention and the person might feel that they cannot stay on tasks for long periods of time
They might have slower thought processes than normal and difficulty making decisions
Depressed people will also have trouble retrieving memories