Depression

• Behavioural characteristics of depression

  • Changed activity levels (psychomotor agitation/retardation)
  • Aggression
  • Changed patterns of sleeping and eating
• Emotional characteristics of depression

  • Lowered self-esteem
  • Extreme poor mood (lasting for months at a time and high in severity, therefore not simply 'feeling down')
  • High levels of anger
• Cognitive characteristics of depression

  • Absolutist thinking
  • Selective attention towards negative events
  • Irrational thoughts
  • Poor concentration