Cognitive Approach in Depression

Question 1

What did Beck contribute to explaining depression through the cognitive approach?

Answer 1

1. Faulty information processing
2. Negative self-schema
3. Negative Triad

Question 2

What is faulty information processing?

Answer 2

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

Question 3

What is negative self-schema?

Answer 3

interpret all information about themselves as negative

Question 4

What is a schema?

Answer 4

package of ideas and information developed through experience which act as a mental framework for interpreting sensory information

Question 5

What is Beck’s Negative Triad?

Answer 5

person develops a dysfunctional view of themselves because of…
a) negative view of the world
b) negative view of the future
c) negative view of self
types of thinking which automatically occur

Question 6

What did Ellis contribute towards explaining depression through the cognitive approach?

Answer 6

ABC Model

Question 7

What does Ellis’ ABC Model consist of?

Answer 7

Activating event
Beliefs
Consequences

Question 8

What is meant by an Activating event when referring to Ellis’ ABC Model?

Answer 8

irrational thoughts are triggered by negative external events

Question 9

What is meant by an Beliefs when referring to Ellis’ ABC Model?

Answer 9

Range of irrational beliefs:
1> Musturbation- belief we must always succeed or achieve perfection
2> I can’t stand it itis- major disaster when things don’t go smoothly
3> Utopianism- life is always meant to be fair

Question 10

What is meant by an Consequences when referring to Ellis’ ABC Model?

Answer 10

emotional and behavioural consequences from activating event

Question 11

How can we evaluate Beck’s contributions towards explaining depression through the cognitive approach?

Answer 11

R: Cohen et al- tracked development of 473 adolescents regularly measuring cognitive vulnerabilities- CVs are ways of thinking that may predispose depression (faulty processing)- found showing cognitive vulnerabilities predicted later depression- shows association- increases validity
A: Some depressed people experience severe anger/hallucinations or delusions- Beck’s ideas do not account for this- involvement of not solely cognitive function?- only partial explanation- limits applicability and validity
I: Screening and treatment for depression- Cohen et al demonstrated importance of recording cognitive vulnerabilities to predict later depression- psychologists can utilise ideas and identify those most at risk through monitoring- high ecological validity
FURTHERMORE
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy- can apply cognitive vulnerabilities- involves changing cognition which can lead to depression, builds resilience to negative life events-understanding useful in various clinical practice- high ecological validity

Question 12

How can we evaluate Ellis’ contributions towards explaining depression through the cognitive approach?

Answer 12

R:
A: Only explains REACTIVE not ENDOGENOUS depression- reactive refers to how an individual reacts to a negative life event (activating event)- many cases NOT TRACEABLE to specific life events (endogenous)-Ellis’ ABC Model is not useful for explaining ENDOGENOUS DEPRESSION- only a partial explanation- limits applicability and validity
I: Treatment-Ellis developed rational emotive behaviour therapy- REBT believes by vigorously arguing with a depressed person the therapist can alter their irrational beliefs- David et al showed REBT could change negative beliefs and relieve symptoms of depression- real-world value
ABC Model is controversial as it locates responsibility for depression- critics say this indicates the depressed person is to blame- socially sensitive- impacts credibility
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Question 13

What is used to treat Depression?

Answer 13

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Question 14

What are the two main types of cognitive behavioural therapy?

Answer 14

Beck’s Cognitive Therapy
Ellis’ Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy

Question 15

What is the cognitive element of CBT?

Answer 15

identifying the negative or irrational thoughts

Question 16

What is the behavioural element of CBT?

Answer 16

working to change irrational and negative thoughts by putting more effective behaviours in place

Question 17

What is the main idea of Beck’s Cognitive Therapy?

Answer 17

to identify automatic thoughts about the world, the self and the future known as the negative triad, these thoughts are then challenged in client-centred therapies

Question 18

What is the ‘client as a scientist’ method?

Answer 18

investigating reality of negative beliefs such as recording when they enjoyed an event, this is then used to challenge the client in future sessions regarding irrational/negative thoughts

Question 19

What is Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy?

Answer 19

extension of ABC Model, ABCDE Model
D- dispute
E- effect

Question 20

How does REBT work?

Answer 20

example: client may express how unfair things seem, the therapist identifies this as Utopianism and challenges this irrational belief through vigorous argument- this breaks the link between negative life events and depression

Question 21

What two types of dispute did Ellis discover?

Answer 21

empirical - disputing whether there is actual evidence to support the negative belief
logical - disputing whether the negative beliefs logically follows from the facts

Question 22

How can we evaluate Cognitive Behaviour Therapy in treating depression?

Answer 22

R: March et al compared antidepressants and CBT and combination of treatments when treating depression in 327 adolescents- after 36 weeks 81% CBT 81% antidepressants and 86% CBT and antidepressants group significantly improved- CBT just as effective independently and more so accompanied with antidepressants- widely seen as first choice in public healthcare systems (NHS)- provides validity and usefulness to CBT
High relapse rates- concerns for how long benefits last- Ali et al. assessed depression with 439 clients every month for 12 months following CBT- found 42% relapsed into depression 6 months after, 53% a year after- questions validity and poses it may need to be repeated periodically
A: Doesn’t attend to severe depression or clients with learning disabilities- some cannot motivate self to engage with CBT/ complexity of rational thinking inappropriate for those with learning disabilities- Sturmey noted any form of psychotherapy unsuitable for those with learning disabilities- limited generalisability
HOWEVER
Lewis and Lewis concluded CBT just as effective as antidepressants for those with severe depression in a review- Taylor discovered CBT when altered appropriate for those with learning disabilities- furthers generalisability, criticises previous misconceptions
I: Client preference- some want quick relief of symptoms from medication and not slow progression from CBT- Yrondi found depressed people rated CBT as their least preferred psychological therapy- limits generalisability due to individual differences
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