5.3 Depression

Question 1

What is depression?

Answer 1

A mental disorder characterised by low mood and energy levels

Question 2

What are 3 behavioural characteristics of depression?

Answer 2

• Activity levels: withdraw from social/work life or psychomotor agitation (pacing up and down)
• Disruption to sleep and eating
• Aggression and self harm

Question 3

What are 3 emotional characteristics of depression?

Answer 3

• Lowered mood
• Anger
• Lowered self esteem

Question 4

What are 3 cognitive characteristics of depression?

Answer 4

• Poor concentration
• Attending to/dwelling on negative
• Absolutist thinking: view as all-good or all-bad

Question 5

What is faulty information processing?

Answer 5

When people attend to the negative aspects of a situation and ignore positives

Question 6

What is negative self schema?

Answer 6

When one interprets all information about themselves in a negative way

Question 7

Describe the aspects of Becks negative triad

Answer 7

1. Negative view of the world
2. Negative view of the future
3. Negative view of the self

Question 8

What does Becks negative triad suggest?

Answer 8

A person develops a dysfunctional view of themselves because of negative thinking that occurs automatically, regardless of the reality

Question 9

AO3 for Becks negative triad

Answer 9

1. Research support
‘Cognitive vulnerability’=ways of thinking that predispose to depression, Clark + Beck (1999) concluded faulty information, negative schema and triad common in depressed and preceded disorder, Cohen et al (2019): 473 measured for cognitive vulnerability and found it predicted later depression

2. Real world application
Application in screening and treatment, Cohen et al: assessing cognitive vulnerability allows psychologists to screen adolescents identifying those at risk + monitoring them, useful in CBT- alter cognitions that create vulnerability, useful in more than one aspect of clinical practice

Question 10

Describe Ellis’s ABC model

Answer 10

A - Activating event (negative events trigger irrational beliefs)
B - Beliefs
C - Consequences

Question 10

AO3 for ABC model

Answer 10

1. Real world application
Model has contributed to treatment e.g REBT, arguing against a persons irrational beliefs can alter them, evidence that REBT can change beliefs + relieve symptoms of depression, real world value

2. Reactive and endogenous depression
Only explains reactive depression (following activating events), many cases of depression not traceable to life events (endogenous) so causes not obvious, model can only explain some cases, partial explanation

3. Ethical issues
Locates responsibility for illness purely with depressed person, unfair approach, placing blame

Question 10

What is the ABC model used to explain?

Answer 10

How irrational thoughts affect our behaviour and emotional state

Question 10

What is cognitive behavioural therapy?

Answer 10

A psychological therapy that combines behavioural and cognitive approaches

Question 11

Describe Becks cognitive therapy

Answer 11

• Identify patients view of oneself, world and future
• Identified thoughts challenged (central component)
• Encourages patients to test the reality of their negative beliefs e.g set homework to record joyful event or nice interaction

Question 12

What is REBT?

Answer 12

• Extension of ABC model: includes D-dispute, E-effect
• Used to identify and dispute irrational thoughts

Question 13

What were the 3 irrational beliefs identified by Ellis?

Answer 13

1. Musturbation: must always succeed + achieve perfection
2. I-cant-stand-it-itis: situations are a major disaster
3. Utopianism: life must always be fair

Question 14

What is logical dispute?

Answer 14

Involves disputing whether negative thought logically follows facts

Question 15

What is empirical dispute?

Answer 15

Involves disputing whether there is actual evidence to support the negative belief

Question 16

What is behavioural activation?

Answer 16

Aims to gradually decrease patients avoidance and isolation, and increase engagement in activities that improve mood e.g exercise

Question 17

AO3 for treating depression

Answer 17

1. Evidence for effectiveness
March et al (2007): compared CBT to antidepressants and a combination of both in adolescents, after 36 weeks 81% CBT, 81% antidepressant, 86% combination group significantly improved, CBT just as effective on its own and combined, CBT brief therapy with 6-12 sessions so cost effective, first choice of treatment in healthcare systems e.g NHS

2.Suitability for diverse clients
Not effective for severe cases + learning disabilities, those with severe depression cannot motivate themselves/engage with cognitive work of CBT, low attention as involves rational thinking, Sturmey (2005): any form of psychotherapy not suitable for people with learning disabilities

3. Relapse rates
Concerns over how long benefits last, recent studies suggest long term outcomes not as good as assumed, Ali et al (2017): assessed depression in clients each month for 12 months following CBT 42% relapsed within 6 months and 53% relapsed within a year, means CBT may need to be repeated periodically