characteristics of depression

• Depression

  A mental disorder characterised by low mood and low energy levels
• Types of depression

  • Major depressive disorder: severe but usually short term
  • Persistent depressive disorder: Long term recurring
• Behavioural characteristics of depression

  • Changes to activity levels - Lowered energy level
  • disruption to sleep and eating behaviour - insomnia, hypersomnia, appetite can go up or down
  • agression and self-harm - irritable and suicide
• Emotional characteristics of depression

  • Lowered mood - describes themselves as worthless and empty
  • Anger - can potentially lead to dangerous behaviours (e.g. self-harm)
  • lowered self-esteem - hating oneself
• Cognitive characteristics of depression

  • Poor concentration - loses focus easily
  • Attending to and dwelling on the negative - tend to fixate on negative aspects (more unhappy memories)
  • Absolutist thinking - thinking in black and white, viewing entire situations as negative