COGNITIVE APPROACH TO EXPLAINING & TREATING DEPRESSION ( psyschopathology)

Question 1

Outline ellis’ ABC model

Answer 1

A cognitive approach to understanding mental disorder , focusing on the effect of negative thinking.

A= activating events
B= beliefs/ mustabatory thinking
C= consequences

Question 2

Outline Beck’s negative triad

Answer 2

A cognitive approach to understanding depression, focusing on how negative expectations ( schema ) about the self , world and future lead to depression .

Question 3

Evaluate the Coginitive explanation of depression ( 2 strengths , 1 limit)

Answer 3

Strength - The view that depression is linked to negative thinking is supported by research. Bates et al found that depressed ppts given negative thinking statements became more depressed .

However negative thinking may develop because of the depression

Strength - The usefulness of CBT as a therapy supports the effectiveness of the cognitive approach - if depression is alleviated by challenging negative thinking , this then suggests such thoughts had a role in the first place

Limit - This cognitive approach suggests the client is responsible for their disorder . Placing emphasis on the client’s mind is a strenth however both the client and the therapist may overlook situational variables eg. environment and life

Question 4

Outline CBT

Answer 4

CBT is a combination of cognitive therapy which changes maladaptive thoughts and beliefs and behavioural which changes behaviour in response to these thoughts .

Question 5

Describe how challenging irrational thoughts treats depression ( Ellis’ REBT / ABCDEFGHI)

Answer 5

Disputing negative thoughts - empirical disputing ( is this thought accurate )
logical disputing - ( does thinking like this make sense )
Pragmantic disputing - ( how is this belief likely to help me ?)

effective disputing changes self defeating beliefs into more rational beliefs .

PLUS - unconditional regard , homework , inactivity challenged

Question 6

Evaluate CBT

Answer 6

Research to support CBT
- Ellis claimed 90% success rate in REBT . Cuijpers ( meta analysis ) A review by him of 75 studies found that CBT was superior to no treatment .
This suggests that REBT is effective but other factors relating to both client and therapist may limit it’s effectiveness.

Limitation - Is it CBT that is effective or the intervention of a therapist . ‘DODO BIRD EFFECT’ this suggests all methods of treatment for MH are equally effective . Research tends to find small differences in success rates . This may explain lack of differences in effectiveness of different therapists .