Depression

• What is clinical depression?

  A mental disorder characterised by low mood and low energy levels

  It involves behavioural, emotional and cognitive characteristics
• What age does depression usually occur at?

  20 - 40
• How is depression diagnosed?

  Symptoms should be present all or most of the time and should persist for longer than two weeksNeed at least 2 of the key symptoms plus two more
• Key symptoms of depression

  Low mood Loss of interest and pleasure Reduced energy levels
• Key symptoms of depression: Low mood


  Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day as indicated by either subjective report or observations from others
• Key symptoms of depression: Loss of interest and pleasure


  Diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities
• Key symptoms of depression: Reduced energy levels


  Lethargy

  • This has a knock-on effect, with individuals tending to withdraw from work, education and social life
  • Can lead to individuals not being able to get out of bed
• What are all forms of depression characterised by?

  Changes in mood
• DSM-5 categories of depression

  Major Depressive Disorder

  Persistent Depressive Disorder

  Disruptive Mood Regulation Disorder

  Premenstrual Dysphoria Disorder
• What is major depressive disorder?

  Severe but often short term depression
• What is persistent depressive disorder?

  Long-term or recurring depression, including sustained major depression
• What disruptive mood regulation disorder?

  Ongoing irritability, anger, and frequent, intense temper outbursts
• What is premenstrual dysphoria disorder?

  Disruption to mood prior to and/or during menstruation
• 3 types of characteristics of depression

  Behavioural CognitiveEmotional
• Behavioural characteristics of depression

  • Activity Levels
  • Disruption to sleeping and eating behaviour
  • Aggression and Self-Harm
• Behavioural characteristics of depression: Activity Levels

  Reduced energy levels/lethargy Withdraw from social activityCan't get out of bedPsychomotor agitation
• What is psychomotor agitation?

  Individuals struggling to relax and pacing up and down
• Behavioural characteristics of depression: Disruption to sleeping and eating behaviour

  Reduced sleep (insomnia) or increased need for sleep (hypersomnia)Appetite and eating may increase or decrease leading to weight gain or loss
• Behavioural characteristics of depression: Aggression and Self-Harm


  
  

  • Irritable, verbally or physically aggressive
  • Can lead to loss of relationships/jobs etc physical aggression directed against the self as a form of self-harm
• Emotional characteristics of depression

  Lowered Mood,

  Anger

  Lowered Self-Esteem
• Emotional characteristics of depression: Lowered Mood

  • more than the daily experience of feeling lethargic and sad
  • People with depression often describe themselves as 'worthless' and 'empty
• Emotional characteristics of depression: Anger

  Experience negative emotions including anger May be directed at themselves or othersLead to aggressive or self-harming behaviour
• Emotional characteristics of depression: Lowered Self-Esteem

  • People with depression tend to report reduced self-esteem
  • They like themselves less than usual - A sense of self-loathing
• Cognitive characteristics of depression

  • Poor concentration
  • Attending to or dwelling on the negative
  • Absolutist thinking
• Cognitive characteristics of depression: Poor concentration


  • Unable to stick with a task or may find it hard to make decisions that they usually found straight forward
  • Interfere with the individual's work
• Cognitive characteristics of depression: Attending to or dwelling on the negative

  • Pay attention to negative aspects of a situation and ignore the positives
  • Bias towards recalling unhappy events rather than happy ones
• Cognitive characteristics of depression: Absolutist thinking


  Think every situation is good or bad, no middle ground'black and white thinking'Situations that are unfortunate tends to be seen as an absolute disaster