Psychopathology: 5. Depression

Question 1

Define depression?

Accepted Answer

A mood disorder characterised by low mood and energy levels

Question 2

What is depression classified as in the DSM-V?

Accepted Answer

A mood disorder

Question 3

What two categories can depression be broadly divided into ?

Accepted Answer

unipolar depression - meaning one state of low mood, suicidal thoughts, feeling of worthlessness etc.
bipolar depression - meaning the sufferer alternates between low mood and feelings of euphoria as well as behaviour that appears ‘out of control’.

Question 4

Give the behavioural characteristics of depression

Accepted Answer

low activity levels - sufferers of depression have reduced levels of energy making them lethargic. In extreme cases, this can be so severe that the sufferer cannot get out of bed.
disruption to sleep and eating behaviour - sufferers may experience reduced sleep (insomnia) or an increased need for sleep (hypersomnia). Appetite may increase or decrease, leading to weight gain or loss.

Question 5

What are the emotional characteristics of depression?

Accepted Answer

lowered mood - more pronounced than the daily experience of feeling lethargic or sad. Suffered often describe themselves as ‘worthless’ or ‘empty’.
anger - on occasion, such emotions lead to aggression or self-harming behaviour.
loss of enthusiasm - depression often results in loss of interest and pleasure in usual hobbies and activities.
lowered self-esteem - depression often results in lowered self-esteem, which means suffered have low levels of self-worth and inappropriate feelings of guilt. This can be extreme in terms of self-loathing I.e. Hating themselves

Question 6

What are the cognitive characteristics of depression?

Accepted Answer

poor concentration - the sufferer may find themselves unable to stick with a task as they usually would, or they might find simple decision-making difficult.
absolutist thinking - ‘black and white thinking’, when a situation is unfortunate it is seen as an absolute disaster
attending to and dwelling on the negative - depressed people tend to focus more on the negative aspects of a situation and ignore the positives. In other words their glass is half empty rather than half full. They also have a tendency to recall unhappy events in their lives rather than happy ones.

Psychopathology: 5. Depression

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Term	Definition
Define depression?	A mood disorder characterised by low mood and energy levels
What is depression classified as in the DSM-V?	A mood disorder
What two categories can depression be broadly divided into ?	unipolar depression - meaning one state of low mood, suicidal thoughts, feeling of worthlessness etc. bipolar depression - meaning the sufferer alternates between low mood and feelings of euphoria as well as behaviour that appears ‘out of control’.
Give the behavioural characteristics of depression	low activity levels - sufferers of depression have reduced levels of energy making them lethargic. In extreme cases, this can be so severe that the sufferer cannot get out of bed. disruption to sleep and eating behaviour - sufferers may experience reduced sleep (insomnia) or an increased need for sleep (hypersomnia). Appetite may increase or decrease, leading to weight gain or loss.
What are the emotional characteristics of depression?	lowered mood - more pronounced than the daily experience of feeling lethargic or sad. Suffered often describe themselves as ‘worthless’ or ‘empty’. anger - on occasion, such emotions lead to aggression or self-harming behaviour. loss of enthusiasm - depression often results in loss of interest and pleasure in usual hobbies and activities. lowered self-esteem - depression often results in lowered self-esteem, which means suffered have low levels of self-worth and inappropriate feelings of guilt. This can be extreme in terms of self-loathing I.e. Hating themselves
What are the cognitive characteristics of depression?	poor concentration - the sufferer may find themselves unable to stick with a task as they usually would, or they might find simple decision-making difficult. absolutist thinking - ‘black and white thinking’, when a situation is unfortunate it is seen as an absolute disaster attending to and dwelling on the negative - depressed people tend to focus more on the negative aspects of a situation and ignore the positives. In other words their glass is half empty rather than half full. They also have a tendency to recall unhappy events in their lives rather than happy ones.