mental disorders - depression

Question 1

What is depression?

Answer 1

a mental disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest.

Question 2

What are the emotional characteristics of depression?

Answer 2

• the primary characteristics would be sadness alongside the feeling of emptiness
• people may also feel worthlessness, hopelessness and or experience low self-esteem.
• lack of interest in usual activities and hobbies
• feelings of despair and lack of control and anger.

Question 3

What are the behavioural characteristics of depression?

Answer 3

• usually a shift in activity level - either reduced or increased
• disturbance in sleeping patterns (may wish to sleep all the time)
• increasingly agitated and restless ( may pace around a room)
• change in appetite (links to weight loss or weight gain)

Question 4

What are the cognitive characteristics of depression?

Answer 4

• negative thoughts
• negative view of the world/ expectations about the future i.e ‘I’m going to fail this test’
• these thoughts tend to be irrational and they do not reflect reality.
• may have a diminished ability to concentrate