In the
textbooks of psychiatry and of psychopathology depression is described as a
mood disorder characterized by sadness, hopelessness, helplessness and guilt
that may affect the person’s behavior, his ability to adapt to the social
environment, the ability to work, to relate to others, the way of reasoning,
thinking, attention and concentration deficits, insomnia, eating disorders,
extreme and unexplained fatigue and the way in which the person portrays
himself and the outside world. In addition, depression is sometimes associated
with suicidal tendencies or self-harm.
The Vital Needs Theory - page 24