CHARACTERISTICS

• What are the behavioural characteristics of depression?

  ACTIVITY - stop doing things they enjoy, withdraw from work, education and social life. They may be lethargic so they cannot get out of bed

  SLEEP - insomnia and hypersomnia

  EATING - change in appetite so lose or gain weight

  AGGRESSION & SELF HARM
• What are the emotional characteristics of depression?

  LOW MOOD - more extreme than sadness, may describe themselves as feeling 'empty' or 'worthless"

  ANGER - can be directed towards themselves or others

  LOW SELF ESTEEM - become self loathing
• What are the cognitive characteristics of depression?

  POOR CONCENTRATION - may have bad memory or struggle to focus on tasks

  NEGATIVE SCHEMA - focus on the negatives over the positives

  ABSOLUTIST THINKING - may see bad situations as being an absolute disaster