Their thoughts and movements simply proceed at a slower pace than usual. In conversation there may be a short pause before they respond. They may take longer to make decisions or complete a task. In its extremes this slowing can reach the point where patients lie motionless in bed and fail to respond to others. Rarely seen today, such patients were a common feature of psychiatric hospitals before effective treatments became available.
Depression can also cause anxiety and agitation.
The diagnosis should be suspected in anyone who has a recent onset of an anxiety disorder. The agitation can be so uncomfortable that it is difficult to remain seated for an interview, and some patients will rise and pace the room to relieve the tension. Poor Concentration and Memory Poor concentration and memory can be particularly troubling symptoms of depression. The complaints of memory impairment can be so persistant that elderly persons with depression can be misdiagnosed as having Alzheimer's disease. Because of their poor concentration and preoccupation with their depressive symptoms they often do not remember well, and for this reason can appear demented.