Transcript characteristics of depression

Learning Objectives:
• Look at exam question for Phobias
• Identify characteristics of depression
• Consider how we diagnose depression and
issues we may face
• Apply characteristics to scenarios
• Exam question feedback and consider how we
can improve answers
Starter!
In pairs:
Outline the behavioural characteristics
of phobias. (3 marks)
Suggestions:
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restlessness
hard to concentrate
Irritable
shortness of breath
nausea
shaking or trembling
headaches and
palpitations
• muscle tension
• Would it be enough
to just list them?
• Is this what outline
means?
• What else could we
include in our
answer?
Depression
Link to spec: 4.1.4 Psychopathology
The behavioural, emotional and cognitive
characteristics of depression
Depression: definition and
symptoms
• Depression is a mood disorder:
– used to explain disorders that affect the emotional
state of those suffering from them, i.e. – the
current emotional mood is distorted or
inappropriate to the circumstances
• Depression is characterised by low mood and
low energy levels
Diagnostic features of
depression
• Depression can affect the thoughts (cognitions), feelings
(emotion), behaviour (actions) and the physical wellbeing of an individual.
• Clinical depression for example is not merely a feeling of
sadness (although this forms a major part of the illness),
but rather a set of complex symptoms.
• The symptoms must be causing distress or impaired
functioning in social and/or occupational roles
DSM V- 4 categories of depression
• The DSM recognises the following categories of
depression and depressive disorders:
– MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER – severe but often
short-term depression.
– PERSISTANT DEPRESSIVE DISORDER – long-term or
recurring depression, including sustained major
depression.
– DISRUPTIVE MOOD DYREGULATION DISORDER –
childhood temper tantrums
– PREMENSTRUAL DYSPHORIC DISORDER – disruption
to mood prior to and/or during menstruation
Signs and symptoms of a depression sufferer
RECAP:
• Behavioural: how a person acts (behaves)
when in a depressed state.
– Typically their behaviour changes and the individual
experiences reduced levels of energy
• Emotional: how a person feels when in a
depressed state.
– Patients often describe themselves as feeling
‘worthless’ and ‘empty’.
• Cognitive: how a person thinks when in a
depressed state.
– In particular, the tendency to focus on the negative
aspects of a situation
TASK: thinking back to last lesson, make a note of the
characteristics on pg 18 of your packs
Around 40% visit
doctors for the
first time due to
physical
symptoms. These
include aches and
pains, a lack of
energy,
palpitations,
headaches and
stomach upsets.
Sleep disturbance
is another
possible
There are
symptom.
Can be
obviously
loss ofphysical
appetite or
weight.also
symptoms
How do you
FEEL when you
are in a
depressed
state?
Emotional
How do you
BEHAVE when
you are in a
depressed
state?
Behavioural
incapacitate the individual as activity and motivation
they go further than just
sadness
reduction in speech and
movement
disruption to sleep and
appetite
palpitations, headaches and
stomach upsets
What do you
THINK about
when you are
in a depressed
state?
Cognitive
negative views of self
‘Apply it’ – A02
1. Read the example of Jessica, Kristen and Josh
2. Identify the behavioural, emotional and cognitive
aspects the cases
3. Do you think it occurs quickly? Can anyone suffer?
Diagnosis of depression
• Can appear gradually or suddenly
• Occurs in all social classes and at all ages, from childhood to
old age
• The severe forms are more common in middle and old age
although there has been a steady increase in depressive
illnesses amongst people in their twenties and thirties.
• Before a diagnosis of depression
can be made, the symptoms (which might
be a combination of those listed) should
have lasted for at least two weeks
Diagnosis of depression
• Depression can be relatively mild, or so intense that
the sufferer is at serious risk of suicide.
• It is estimated that 5% of adults in Britain will suffer
from it at some time in their lives (SANE, 1993).
• The risk of women developing unipolar depression is
double that of men.
So, how do we diagnose?
• Becks Depression Inventory
• Complete and score…
• What are the limitations of this method of using
this assessment when diagnosing depression?
RM - In groups consider what are strengths and
weaknesses of using a Questionnaire
SLT exam question feedback:
Using the model answer:
 Look at the mark bands….What mark would you give it?
Why?
 How could it be improved?
 Identify on yours where you lost marks
 Identify how you can improve
 Re write one of the questions out again
Task / Homework:
• Revise for short test next lesson on Bio and the approaches
• Pre reading: Questionnaires – see Blog for additional resources
• Stretch: answer the exam questions on the Blog that cover the last 2
lessons
• Revision: develop some revision materials for the characteristics of
Phobias and Depression
Exam Questions
1. Outline the emotional
characteristics of depression.
(3 marks)
2. Outline the behavioural
characteristics of depression.
(3 marks)
3. Outline the cognitive
characteristics of depression.
(3 marks)