Psychopathology - Depression Flashcards
What is the definition of depression?
A mental disorder characterized by low mood and low energy levels.
What does the term “behavioural” refer to?
Ways in which people act.
What does the term “emotional” refer to?
Ways in which people feel.
What does the term “cognitive” refer to?
The process of thinking – knowing, perceiving, believing.
Name the DSM-5 categories of depression.
Major depressive disorder: Severe but often short-term depression.
Persistent depressive disorder: Long-term or recurring depression, including sustained major depression and what used to be called dysthymia.
Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder: Childhood temper tantrums.
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder: Disruption to mood prior to and/or during menstruation.
How does depression affect activity levels?
Typically, sufferers of depression have reduced levels of energy, making them lethargic. This may lead to withdrawal from work, education, and social life. In extreme cases, it can be so severe that the sufferer cannot get out of bed. On the other hand, depression can also cause psychomotor agitation, where individuals struggle to relax and may pace up and down a room.
How does depression affect sleep and eating behaviour?
Depression is associated with changes to sleeping behaviour. Sufferers may experience reduced sleep (insomnia) or an increased need for sleep (hypersomnia). Similarly, appetite and eating may increase or decrease, leading to weight gain or loss. These changes are disrupted by depression.
What types of aggression can depression lead to?
Sufferers of depression are often irritable and can become verbally or physically aggressive. This may affect various aspects of their life, such as ending a relationship or quitting a job. Depression can also lead to physical aggression directed at self, such as self-harm, including cutting or suicide attempts.
Describe “lowered mood” as an emotional characteristic of depression.
Lowered mood is a defining emotional element of depression. It is more pronounced than the daily kind of feeling lethargic or sad. Patients often describe themselves as “worthless” and “empty.”
How does depression affect anger?
Sufferers tend to experience more negative emotions and fewer positive ones. This may include extreme anger, which can be directed at the self or others, occasionally leading to aggressive or self-harming behavior.
How is self-esteem impacted by depression?
Sufferers tend to report reduced self-esteem, often describing feelings of self-loathing or hating themselves.
How does depression affect concentration?
Depression is associated with poor levels of concentration. Sufferers may struggle to stick with a task as they usually would, find it hard to make straightforward decisions, or experience interference in their work or daily life.
What is “attending to and dwelling on the negative” in depression?
Sufferers may pay more attention to negative aspects of a situation, often recalling unhappy events rather than happy ones. This is known as cognitive bias.
What is absolutist thinking in depression?
Absolutist thinking involves viewing situations in “black-and-white,” with no middle ground. For example, if something goes wrong, sufferers may see it as an absolute disaster.
