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Disruption to sleep – sometimes patients sleep more (hypersomnia) or less (insomnia).
They may also suffer with poor concentration, unable to stick with a task they usually would,
or may find it difficult making decisions (that were previously easy to make).
Low mood i.e. an overwhelming feeling of sadness is required for a diagnosis of depression.
This is a pronounced feeling of sadness, rather than when healthy individuals report feeling
sad, and is characterised by self-descriptions such as “worthless” or feeling “empty”.
A loss of pleasure from activities previously enjoyed.
In most patients there is a shift in activity levels, either reduced or increased. Many
depressed patients experience reduced energy which can make them lethargic, and
therefore withdrawing from work, education and/or social life.
Disruption to eating – appetite may increase/decrease, leading to more/less eating
behaviour and therefore a physical change in weight.
The sufferer has negative thoughts, such as negative self-concept (negative self-beliefs),
guilt, feelings of helplessness.
Patients’ thinking is biased towards focusing on negative aspects of a situation and ignoring
the positives
Anger can also be experienced and can be directed towards the self or others (and this
emotion can result in harmful behaviours towards the self/others).
Disruption to sleep – sometimes patients sleep more (hypersomnia) or less (insomnia).
They may also suffer with poor concentration, unable to stick with a task they usually would,
or may find it difficult making decisions (that were previously easy to make).
Low mood i.e. an overwhelming feeling of sadness is required for a diagnosis of depression.
This is a pronounced feeling of sadness, rather than when healthy individuals report feeling
sad, and is characterised by self-descriptions such as “worthless” or feeling “empty”.
A loss of pleasure from activities previously enjoyed.
In most patients there is a shift in activity levels, either reduced or increased. Many
depressed patients experience reduced energy which can make them lethargic, and
therefore withdrawing from work, education and/or social life.
Disruption to eating – appetite may increase/decrease, leading to more/less eating
behaviour and therefore a physical change in weight.
The sufferer has negative thoughts, such as negative self-concept (negative self-beliefs),
guilt, feelings of helplessness.
Patients’ thinking is biased towards focusing on negative aspects of a situation and ignoring
the positives
Anger can also be experienced and can be directed towards the self or others (and this
emotion can result in harmful behaviours towards the self/others).