DEPRESSION

• BEHAVIOURAL 


  • Activity levels =

  People with depression have reduced levels of energy making them lethargic e.g cannot get out of bed. 

  • Disruption to sleep and eating behaviour =

  Reduced sleep (insomnia) or increased (hypersomnia)

  Appetite and weight may increase or decrease 

  • Aggression and self harm =

  Depression is associated with irritability and this may extend to aggression and self-harm.
• EMOTIONAL 


  • Lowered mood =

  People with depression describe themselves as ‘worthless’ or ‘empty’

  • Anger =

  Such emotions lead to aggression or self-harming behaviour.

  • Lowered self esteem =

  The person likes themselves less, even self-loathing.
• COGNITIVE 


  • Poor concentration =

  The person may find themselves unable to stick with a task, or might find simple decision-making difficult.

  • Attention to the negative =

  Depressed people have a bias towards focusing on negative aspects of current situations and recalling unhappy (instead of happy) memories. 

  • Absolutist thinking =

  ‘Black and white thinking’, when a situation is unfortunate it is seen as an absolute disaster.