Definitions

• Behavioural characteristics

  -Anxiety levels= people with depression have reduced levels of energy, making them lethargic. This has a knock on effect with people tending to withdraw from work, education and social life or not leaving bed. Or it can lead to opposite effect- psychomotor ogitation, struggle to relax.
• Behavioural characteristics of depression

  • disruption to sleep and eating behaviour= reduced sleep- insomnia or increased sleep- hypersomnia. Appetite may change.
  • aggression and self harm= people are often irritable or can become verbally or physically aggressive- might display verbal aggression by ending relationship or quitting a job. Can lead to physical aggression against the self.
• Emotional characteristics of depression

  -lowered mood= is a defining emotional element of depression but its more pronounced than daily experience of feeling sad.

  • anger= can be directed to the self or others. Can lead to aggressive or self harming behaviour.
  • lowered self esteem= how much we like ourselves. People with depression have a reduced self esteem or even self loathing.
• Cognitive characteristics of depression

  -poor concentration= unable to stick with a task, find it hard to make decisions, can interfere with a persons work.

  • attending and dwelling on the negative= pay more attention to negative aspects. Have a bias towards recalling unhappy events.
  • absolutists thinking= thinks situations are either all good or all bad. 'black and white thinking'