Unipolar depression: symptoms and features

Question 1

what is the definition of unipolar depression?

Answer 1

a mental disorder that causes low mood, loss of interest or enjoyment and tiredness. Experienced for more than 2 weeks.

Question 2

what is meant by the term ‘anhedonia’?

Answer 2

lack of enjoyment or pleasure found in previously enjoyed activities

Question 3

describe the bodily symptoms of depression

Answer 3

• reduced energy levels
• withdraw from work, social life
• decrease/increase in appetite leads to weight loss/gain (a change of 5% of body weight in a month)
• sleep patterns disrupted (depressed people usually have insomnia) finding it hard to asleep or unable to return to sleep in early hours of the morning
  -excessive sleeping (hypersomnia)

Question 4

describe the cognitives symptoms of depression

Answer 4

• experience negative thoughts
• blame themselves for events outside of their control
• feel guilty and unworthy of other people’s time and care
• lack self confidence and may have thoughts of death and suicide

Question 5

describe behavioural symptoms of depression

Answer 5

• fatigue and loss of pleasure can lead to social withdrawal

Question 6

state the features of depression

Answer 6

• 3.3 per 100 prevalence 2014
• more common in women than men
• co-morbid with other mental and physical disorders e.g. 22.9% women doing treatment for ovarian cancer also experience depression
• linked to chronic physical illnesses e.g. cancer

Question 7

name an issue with the diagnosis of depression hint: DSM 5

Answer 7

DSM-5 is unreliable. Kappa value is only 0.28 for depression which has questionable reliability. This means there was full agreement for only 4-15% of diagnoses so treatment is undermined if not even highly trained and experienced specialist can make reliable diagnosis of depression using DSM5.

Question 8

what is another issue of the diagnosis of depression?

Answer 8

many cultures do not recognise disorder and do not have a word in their language which fully matches the english connotations. Asian cultures express more physiological symptoms like stomach pain or chest tightness which means a western clinician may not be able to diagnose depression because symptoms have a cultural form.

Question 9

What is the competing argument for depression being culture bound?

Answer 9

DSM-5 includes a section of how to conduct ‘cultural formulation interview’ which gives info on how a person’s cultural identity may affect a person’s expression of symptoms. This can help clinicians make more valid diagnosis.