cognitive approach to depression

Question 1

characteristics of depression

Answer 1

need 5 of the following symptoms to happen nearly everyday fro a minimum of two weeks

emotional symptoms: sad depressed mood, anhedonia

behavioural symptoms: changes in activity levels, sleeping difficulties, eating changes.

cognitive symptoms: negative self concept e.g worthlessness inappropriate sense of guilt and self blame, suicidal thoughts.

Question 2

cognative explanation of depression

Answer 2

cognitive explanations based on the way people think and how they make sense of the world. they actively interpretative and create their own world.

Aaron becks theory suggests that depressed individuals have schemas consisting of negative info formed during childhood, when they receive new info the individuals processes it in terms of the negative schema. negative triad shows depression as a result of a combination of negative thoughts between self,futute and the world.

Question 3

Albert Elis ABC

Answer 3

a=activating event
b=beliefs, irrational and rational about the event.
c=consequences of that belief. this explains how we think

Albert elis therefore believes abnormality that results from faulty thinking which means interpreting the world in a way that causes individuals problems. fauly thinking including “overgeneralisation, catastrophization , unrealistic expectations, mustabory thinking and black and white thinking

three typical irrational thoughts which he called mustabory thinking: I must be approved and accepted by people I find important, I myst do well or im worthless, the world must give me happiness.

not the stressor that is important but the way it is interpreted

Question 4

evaluation

Answer 4

doesnt explain where the negative thinking comes from in the first place, could be something else that explains both the negative thoughts and the depression e.g biological approach ( to little serotonin ) or freudian childhood trauma,

the blame for mental illness can be seen to lie with the individual who may be blamed for the condition. on the other hand the cognitive approach sees the individual as able to change the way they think.

-sometimes negative thinking is rational

Question 5

cognative therapy for depression

Answer 5

cbt works by challenging negative and irrational thinking

4 stages
1- therapist and client identify the faulty thinking
2-therpaist gets client to keep a diary
3-therpaist challenges the thoughts using evidence
4-togetehr therapist and client set goals and rewards.

step 1+2 =thoguht catching, irrational thoughts can be automatic so by catching them you are noticing when they occur and writing them down.
step 3= challenging negative interpretations .

step 4= behavioural activation planning activities that bring pleasure that client used to do.

clients taught strategies to change their thinking e.g assertiveness training and cognitive reconstruction.

Question 6

evaluation of cbt

Answer 6

• dosent have the side effects of drug treatment elf addiction or physical reactions. CBT appropriate for clients who are young or have reactions to drugs.
• requires the therapist and client to establish a good relationship and a lot of commitment from the client as they have to keep diary etc. Therapist could account for 15% of outcome.

-cause of abnormality could rely on real events and not faulty interpretations of them, CBT doesnt help them. Simons found cbt cannot change the stress caused by realistic stressors in peoples lives.

cbt might work best on ,operate and mild disorders rather than sever ones. high levels or irrational beliefs means that they are more resistant to change.