characteristics of depression

what are the categories of depression issued by DCM?

• major depressive disorder - severe but short term

• persistent depressive disorder - long term

• disruptive mood regulation disorder - outbursts of temper in childhood

• premenstrual dysphoric disorder - disruption to mood prior/during mentsruation

what are the three categories in behavioural categories of depression ?

• activity levels

• sleep and eating behaviour disrupted

• aggression and self harm

explain activity levels in terms of depression

• reduced energy levels - lethargic

• withdraw from work , social life etc

• extreme cases - a person cant leave bed

• can work inversely - psychomotor agitation - individuals can’t relax and tend to pace

explain disruption to sleep and eating behaviour in terms of depression

• may experience reduced sleep - insomnia

• or increased need for sleep - hypersomnia

• same with eating - appetite may increase - weight gain or decrease - weight loss

explain aggression and self harm in terms of depression?

• often irritable can become verbally or physically aggressive

• can cause aspects of life to end eg social life

• suicide attempts common

what are the three categories of emotional characteristics in depression

• low mood

• anger

• low self esteem

explain lowered mood in depression

• not just feeling sad

• more pronounced in daily life than feeling sad

• descriptions of worthlessness and emptiness are seen with depressive people

explain anger in depression

• negative emotions not limited to sadness

• anger directed at others or self

• these emotions an lead to aggressive behaviour

explain lowered self esteem with depression

• self esteem - emotional experience of how we like ourselves

• depression causes reduced self esteem

• people experience feelings of self loathing

what are the three categories of cognitive characterstics?

• poor concentration

• attending to and dwelling on negative

• absolutist thinking

explain poor concentration

• depression associated with low levels of concentration

• unable to commit to tasks or decisions

• interferes with individuals life negatively

explain attending to dwell on the negative

• inclination towards negative aspects of situation

• bias in recalling negative events over positive

explain absolutist thinking

• black and white thinking