Dysthymic Disorder
This refers to a low to moderate level of depression that persists for at least two years, and often longer. While the symptoms are not as severe as a major depression, they are more enduring and resistant to treatment.Unspecified Depression
This category is used to help researchers who are studying other specific types of depression, and do not want their data confounded with marginal diagnoses. It includes people with a serious depression, but not quite severe enough to have a diagnosis of a major depression.Adjustment Disorder, with Depression
This category describes depression that occurs in response to a major life stressor or crisis.Bipolar Depression - This type includes both high and low mood swings, as well as a variety of other significant symptoms not present in other depressions.
Cognitive Factors of Depression
- Self-evaluation - In depression, self-evaluation is generally negative and critical. When someone is depressed, he/she tends to take responsibility for everything that goes wrong
- Identification of Skill Deficits - When depressed, a person is more likely to identify negative characteristics of self, and less likely to see the positive.
- Evaluation of Life Experiences - When depressed, a person will focus on minor negative aspects of what was otherwise a positive life experience
- Self-talk - Self-talk is a way of describing all the things we say to ourselves all day long as we confront obstacles, make decisions, and resolve problems. We all engage in self-talk. But, negative self-talk prevents us from solving problems, and can contribute to a variety of psychological problems, including depression
- Automatic thoughts - Automatic thoughts are repetitive, automatic self-statements that we always say to ourselves in certain situations. They can be positive or negative. Problems can develop when our automatic thoughts are consistently negative.
- Irrational Ideas and Beliefs - What makes these ideas irrational, or maladaptive, is the belief that they are always correct. The result is a loss of self-esteem, and sometimes, depression
- Over-generalising or Catastrophising - Catastrophising is a negative over-generalisation. It is "making a mountain out of a mole hill!" If you over-generalize one, or even a few mistakes, to the conclusion that you are bad, incompetent, or useless, you might become depressed.
- Cognitive Distortions - Cognitive distortions are a way of describing the distortion of reality by the way we evaluate a situation. The concept of cognitive distortion highlights the importance of perceptions, assumptions and judgements in coping with the world.
- Pessimistic Thinking - Pessimistic thinking does not cause depression, but it appears to be easier to become depressed if you tend to view the world with considerable pessimism. Pessimism feeds the negative cognitive distortions and self-talk.
(published with permission in writing from:http://addiction.ie/)
