P - Depression

Question 1

What is depression?

Answer 1

A mental disorder characterised by low mood and low energy levels

Question 2

What are the behavioural characteristics of depression?

Answer 2

• Activity levels; reduced levels of energy, this can effect work, education and social life
• Disruption to sleep and eating behaviours; Sufferers may experience reduced sleep (insomnia) or an increased need for sleep (hypersomnia) likewise there appetite and eating may increase and decrease
• Aggression and self-harm; Sufferers of depression are often irritable and in some cases they can become physically and verbally aggressive. Examples of verbal aggression include ending a relationship or quitting a job. It can also lead to physical aggression directed at themselves leading to self-harm and suicide attempts

Question 3

What are emotional characteristics of depression?

Answer 3

• Patients often describe themselves as ‘empty’ and ‘worthless’
• Lowered mood; ‘empty’
• Anger
• Lowered self esteem; ‘worthless’

Question 4

What are the cognitive characteristics of depression?

Answer 4

• Poor concentration; likely to interfere with individuals work and education
• Dwelling on the negative; ‘half empty rather than half full’, sufferers of depression have a bias towards recalling unhappy events rather than happy ones, most people have an opposite bias
• Absolutist thinking; ‘black and white thinking’, most situations are not all-good and not-all bad, people with depression will see a situation that is unfortunate as an absolute disaster