Cognitive approach - depression

Question 1

Cognitive approach :

Answer 1

The approach focuses on how our mental processes affect behaviour.

Question 2

Who are the two psychiatrists involved ?

Answer 2

Beck and Ellis

Question 3

What was Beck’s explanation to explaining depression ?

Answer 3

Beck suggested a cognitive approach as to why some people were more vulnerable.Beck suggested a persons cognitions create this cognitive vulnerability

Question 4

What are the three parts to cognitive vulnerability ?

Answer 4

Faulty information processing
negative schemas
negative traid

Question 5

What is faulty information processing ?

Answer 5

-When depressed we attend the negative aspects of a situation rather than the positives.
-We tend to blow small problems out of proportion and think in ‘black and white’ terms.

Question 6

What is a schema ?

Answer 6

• A schema is a pacakge of ideas and information developed through an experience.
  It acts AS A MENTAL FRAMEWORK for the interpretation of sensory information

Question 7

What is a self schema ?

Answer 7

A self schema is the package of information we have about ourselves. We use schemas to interpret the world.

Question 8

What is a negative schema ?

Answer 8

A negative self schema is where we interpret all information about ourselves in a negative way

Question 9

What is the negative triad ?

Answer 9

Beck proposed three kinds of negative thinking that contributed to becoming depressed ; negative view of the world,future and the self.

Question 10

What does the negative triad say :

Answer 10

It says that such negative views can lead to a person to interpret their experiences in a negative way and so make them more vulnerable to depression

Question 11

What are the three elements if the negative triad:

Answer 11

Negative views of the world
Negative views of the self
Negative views of the future

Question 12

What is the negative view of the self ?

Answer 12

Looking at the world in a negative way.
It creates the impression there is no hope anywhere

Question 13

What is the negative view of the future ?

Answer 13

‘There isnt much chance that the economy will get better’
These thoughts reduce any hopefulness and enhance depression

Question 14

What is the negative view of the self ?

Answer 14

‘iam a failure’ Such thoughts enhance depression and existing depressive feelings - confirm emotions of low self esteem

Question 15

What is Ellis’ ABC model ?

Answer 15

The ABC model was used to explain how irrational thoughts affect behaviour and emotional state.

Question 16

What did psychiatrist Ellis suggest ?

Answer 16

Ellis suggested a different cognitive explanation of depression. He said conditions like anxiety and depression result from irrational thoughts.

Question 17

What are irrational thoughts?

Answer 17

Illogical and unrealistic thoughts that interfere with us being happy and pain free.

Question 18

What does ABC stand for ?

Answer 18

A - Activating event
B-Beliefs
C-Consequences

Question 19

Activating event :

Answer 19

Ellis focused on situations which irrational thoughts were triggered by external events.
According to Ellis , we get depressed when we experience negative events and these trigger irrational beliefs.

Question 20

Beliefs :

Answer 20

-The belief that must always succeed or achieve perfection ‘musturbation’.
-‘ I-cant-stand-it-itis’ is the belief that is a major disaster whenevr something does not go smoothly.
-Uptopianism : belief that life is always meant to be fair

Question 21

Consequences:

Answer 21

When an activating event triggers irrational beliefs - there are emotional and behavioural consequences.