Depression

DEPRESSION

'A mental disorder characterised by low mood and energy levels'

Behavioural characteristics:

• Activity levels - Typically sufferers have low energy levels making them lethargic.
• Disruption to sleep and eating behaviour - Insomnia or hypersomnia plus increased or decreased appetite.
• Aggression and self-harm - Aggression towards others aswell as themselves in the form of self-harm.

Emotional characteristics:

• Lowered mood - Daily experience of feeling lethargic or sad.
• Anger - Anger directed at others and themselves.
• Lowered self-esteem - Liking themselves less than ususal.

Cognitive characteristics:

• Poor concentration - Sufferers often unable to stick to tasks they usually would do.
• Dwelling on the negative - More inclined to focus on the negative rather than the positives of a situation.
• Absolutist thinking - Thinking something is either all good or all bad.

Explaining depression:The cognitive approach

Beck's theory of depression

• Faulty information processing meaning attending to the negative aspects of…