Psychopathology - Characteristics of Depression

Question 1

What do behavioural characteristics of Depression include?

Answer 1

Loss of weight gain, insomnia, hypersomnia, psychomotor agitation or retardation, fatigue or loss of energy

Question 2

How will a depressed person with lowered energy levels be affected?

Answer 2

• someone with Depression will have lowered energy levels
• which is linked with psychomotor retardation
• this will make them lethargic, sleep more (hypersomnia) and make them withdraw from everyday activities

Question 3

What do the emotional characteristics of Depression include?

Answer 3

• two core symptoms of Depression which are low mood/ sadness or loss of interest/ pleasure
• individuals suffering from depression often gain no pleasure from activities they had previously found pleasurable

Question 4

What do the cognitive characteristics include?

Answer 4

• diminished ability to concentrate, and recurrent thoughts of death/ and or suicide
• typically an individual suffering from depression will think negatively about situations and fail to see the positive side