Depression (behavioural, emotional and cognitive characteristics)

Outline the behavioural characteristics of depression.

Change in activity levels: in most depressed patients there is a shift and activity levels and tiredness (either reduced or increased). E.g. socialising, exercising, romantic (sexual activity).

Destruction of sleeping and eating behaviour- some people sleep much more whereas others find it difficult to sleep and experience insomnia. Some people have reduced appetite whereas others eat considerably more than usual.

Aggression and self harm- suffers of depression are often irritable and in some cases they can become verbally or physically aggressive. Depression can also lead to physical aggression directed at the self. This includes self harm often in the form of cutting or suicide attempts.

What is Depression?

A mood disorder where an individual feels sad and/or lacks interest in the usual activities. Further characteristics include Irrational negative thoughts raised or lowered activity levels and difficulties with concentration, sleeping and eating.

Outline the emotional characteristics of depression?

Lowered mood - for e.g. sadness or loss of interest and pleasure in normal activities

Anger- directed towards others or turned inwards on the self. Depression may arise from feeling or being hurt and wishing to retaliate

Lowered self-esteem- depressed people often feel worthless, hopeless and or experience low self-esteem.

Outilne the cognitive characteristics of depression?

Attending to and dwelling on the negative- for e.g. pay more attention to negative aspects of a situation and ignoring the positives. Sufferers also have a bias towards recalling unhappy events rather than happy ones.

Absolutist thinking- for e.g. ‘black and white thinking’ where the individual believes that everything is either really good or really bad

Poor concentration- e.g. being unable to stick with a task or finding it hard to make decisions that are straightforward