Characteristics & Statistics of Clinical Depression (OCR GCSE Psychology): Revision Note

The clinical characteristics of depression

• According to the International Classification of Diseases (opens in a new tab) (ICD), depression is defined as a mood disorder

• The core symptoms include:

  • depressed mood

  • loss of interest and enjoyment in everyday life

  • reduced energy or increased tiredness even after minimal effort

• Additional symptoms include:

  • reduced concentration and attention

  • low self-esteem and self-confidence

  • feelings of guilt or worthlessness

  • pessimistic/bleak view of the future

  • ideas or acts of self-harm/suicide

  • disturbed sleep (e.g., early-morning waking)

  • diminished appetite/weight change

  • psychomotor retardation or agitation (slow or restless movement)

  • loss of libido (sexual desire)

• A depressive episode can be specified as:

  • mild: some impact on daily life

  • moderate: noticeable difficulties in work and relationships

  • severe: significant impairment, possibly including suicidal thoughts/acts (and, in severe with psychotic features, delusions/hallucinations)

• A diagnosis usually requires:

  • at least two core symptoms plus two additional symptoms

  • present most of the day, nearly every day

  • lasting more than two weeks

Key statistics of clinical depression

Prevalence

• Between 4% and 10% of people in England experience depression at some point in their lives (Mental Health Foundation)

• Major depression is the second leading cause of disability worldwide

Age

• Depression can affect all ages, including children

• Around 0.9% of children and 1.4% of adolescents (aged 11–16) suffer from severe depression (ONS, 2004)

• Rates among young people (15–16 years) nearly doubled between the 1980s and 2000s

• Around 19% of UK adults report being diagnosed with depression at some point

Sex

• Women are almost twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with depression

• 33% of women compared to 19% of men report a mental health problem (Mental Health Network)

• 27% of men and 42% of women with the lowest income report depression, compared to 15–25% among higher-income groups

Ethnicity

• The Time to Change survey (2013) found:

  • 49% of Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) participants had experienced depression

  • Asian participants were more likely to report depression than Black participants

  • the highest rates of depression were reported by Indian respondents (61%)

  • 93% of ethnic minority participants reported discrimination linked to mental ill health

Recovery rates

• NHS recovery rates for psychological treatments vary widely — between 7% and 63% across Primary Care Trusts (Nursing in Practice, 2011)

• 42% of patients who completed NHS psychological therapy in 2011 no longer showed measurable symptoms of depression or anxiety by the end of treatment