4.1.4 - Depression Flashcards
How many people in the uk have diagnosed depression
16% of the uk
What are the emotional characteristics of depression.
- lowered mood
- anger/ irritable
- low self esteem
What are the cognitive characteristics of depression
- poor concentration
- absolutist thinking ( always, nothing, never etc..)
- dwelling in the negative
What are the behavioural characteristics of depression
- aggression and self harm
- self mediation( drugs, alcohol etc..)
- lower activity levels
- disruption to sleeping and eating behaviour
What are the cognitive explanations used to explain depression
- cognitive explanations focus on the notion that the way in which people think can lead to depression
- Beck: idea that negative thinking leads to depression
- Ellis: idea that irrational thinking leads to depression
What is Becks theory of depression
- negative self schemas ( the views that people hold about themselves )
- these could come from negative experiences or can develop during childhood ( eg: due to criticism from parents)
- negative self schemas can include an ineptness schema which leads sufferers to believe that they will always fail
What does beck say about cognitive biases
- beck found that those with depression were more likely to focus on the ensure aspects of situations while ignoring the positive
- these biases result in information being distorted and can include the ideas of overgeneralisation and catastrophising
list 4 cognitive biases
- overgeneralisations
- catastrophising
- arbitrary influence
- selective abstraction
What is arbitrary influence
When a conclusion is drawn without sufficient evidence
What is selective attraction
A cognitive bias where detail is taken out of context and believed
What is becks negative triad
Beck suggested that the negative self schemas and cognitive biases held maintain the cognitive (negative) triad.
- the three points of the triangle include the world, the future, and the self
- negative views on any of these aspects will lead to negative views on the other points of the triad
What is Ellis’ explanation for depression
- Ellis suggested that irrational thinking leads to pain and sadness
- he created the ABC model
What is the ABC model
- Activating event : the external event that impacts us
- Belief: the activating event triggers an irrational belief
- Consequence: these beliefs lead to consequences which is depression
What is ellis’ mustabatory thinking
The idea that certain assumptions or beliefs must be true in order for an individual to be happy
- eg: I MUST be approved or accepted by the people that I find important to be happy
- this thinking must be challenged in order for mental health to improve
Explanations of depression A03: not a full explanation
- when diagnosed with depression, may people report feeling intense anger
- beck and Ellis explanations cannot explain this, meaning their explanations are too simplistic
- not all emotional processes are acknowledged so not all cognitive aspects are explained