Depression

• DSM - 5 Categories of depression

  • Major depressive disorder
  • Persistent depressive disorder
  • Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder
  • Premenstrual dysphoric disorder
• Major depressive disorder

  Severe but short term
• Persistent depressive disorder

  Long term reoccurring depression
• Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder

  Childhood temper tantrums
• Behavioural characteristics of depression

  • Activity levels
  • Disruption to sleep and eating
  • Aggression and self harm
• Behavioural characteristics of depression - Activity levels

  • Depression causes reduced energy levels, making people lethargic
  • People tend to withdraw from work or school and cant get out of bed in extreme cases
  • It can lead to the opposite effect of psychomotor agitation
• Emotional characteristics of depression

  • Lowered mood - feeling of worthlessness or emptiness
  • Anger
  • Lowered self esteem - self loathing
• Cognitive characteristics of depression


  • Poor concentration - can interfere with work
  • Attention to the negative - bias to negative events
  • Absolutist thinking - black or white