Psychopathology L8

Question 1

What are 4 behavioural characteristics of depression?

Answer 1

1. Change in activity levels
2. Disruption to sleep
3. Disruption to eating behaviour
4. Aggression

Question 2

Describe ‘change activity levels’ as a behavioural characteristic of depression

Answer 2

• Some people experience lethargy (lack of energy) and withdrawal from activities they once enjoyed (anhedonia)
• They may also neglect personal hygiene
• However, other people with depression may experience increased activity levels/agitation

Question 3

Describe ‘disruption to sleep’ as a behavioural characteristic of depression

Answer 3

• Depression can be characterised by constant insomnia, where they have difficulty falling asleep & staying asleep
• However, some people with depression may require large amounts of sleep and might oversleep (hypersomnia)

Question 4

Describe ‘disruption to eating behaviour’ as a behavioural characteristic of depression

Answer 4

• Significant increase or decrease in weight is associated with depression
• Some people eat a lot when they are depressed and therefore put on weight
• Others have a reduced appetite and eat very little, and therefore lose weight

Question 5

Describe ‘aggression’ as a behavioural characteristic of depression

Answer 5

• People with depression are often irritable and can become physically or verbally aggressive
• They might also be physically aggressive towards themselves in the form of self-harming (such as cutting themselves or attempting suicide)

Question 6

What are 3 emotional characteristics of depression?

Answer 6

1. Low mood
2. Feelings of worthlessness
3. Anger

Question 7

Describe ‘low mood’ as an emotional characteristic of depression

Answer 7

• A characteristic of depression is the feelings of sadness/hopelessness & feeling empty

Question 8

Describe ‘feelings of worthlessness’ as an emotional characteristic of depression

Answer 8

• People with 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

Describe ‘anger’ as an emotional characteristic of depression

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

Describe ‘negative schema’ as a cognitive characteristic of depression

Answer 10

• Depressed people often have a negative view of the world, themselves & 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 11

Describe ‘poor concentration’ as a cognitive characteristic of depression

Answer 11

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