Depression Flashcards
Define depression
Characterised by changes to mood.
Give the behavioural characteristics of depression
ACTIVITY LEVELS- reduced activity levels, psychomotor agitation, withdraw from social life.
DISRUPTION TO EATING/SLEEP BEHAVIOUR- reduced sleep or increased need for sleep, increase/decrease in appetite leads to weight changes.
AGGRESSION/SELF-HARM- irritable, sometimes physically aggressive, self-harm attempts.
Give the emotional characteristics of depression
LOWERED MOOD- ‘worthless’, ‘empty’.
ANGER- directed at self or others, aggression/self-harm
LOWERED SELF ESTEEM- dislike self more than usual.
Give the cognitive characteristics of depression
POOR CONCENTRATION- unable to stick to task/make decisions, interferes with work.
DWELLING ON NEGATIVE- ignore positives, attend to unhappy events.
ABSOLUTIST THINKING- ‘black-and-white thinking’, unfortunate=absolute disaster.
Cognitive approach to explaining depression (Beck’s cognitive theory)- Faulty information processing
Beck (1967)- some people more prone to depression
Involves attending to the negative aspects and ignoring the positives of a situation.
Cognitive approach to explaining depression (Beck’s cognitive theory)- Negative self-schemas
Involve interpreting all information about ourselves as negative.
Cognitive approach to explaining depression (Beck’s cognitive theory)- Negative triad
Three kinds of negative thinking which lead a person to interpret their experiences in a negative way, contributing to depression
- Negative views of the world
- Negative views of the future
- Negative views of themselves
Cognitive approach to explaining depression (Ellis’s ABC model)- Activating agent
Ellis (1962) suggested that depression results from irrational thoughts
Is a negative event which triggers an irrational belief e.g. failing test.
Cognitive approach to explaining depression (Ellis’s ABC model)- Irrational Beliefs
Musterbation- must always achieve perfection.
Icantstandititis- disaster when things don’t run smoothly.
Utopianism- world must be fair, distress when it isn’t.
Cognitive approach to explaining depression (Ellis’s ABC model)- Consequences
When activating event triggers irrational beliefs, causes emotional and behavioural consequences, causing depression.
Supporting evidence for Beck’s cognitive theory
Grazioli+Terry (2000) study assessed 65 pregnant women for cognitive vulnerability before and after birth. High cognitive vulnerability more likely to develop depression. Supportive as shows cognitions can be seen before depression occurs, so Beck may be right about cognition causing depression.
Positive practical application for Beck’s cognitive theory
Forms basis of CBT. All elements of negative triad can easily be identified by therapist and challenged by patient. Positive as leads to successful therapy.
Negative aspect for Beck’s cognitive theory
Some people with complex symptoms e.g. hallucinations and extreme anger- theory can’t explain this. Negative as theory only focuses on one aspect, so may not be used to explain all elements of depression
Cognitive approach to treating depression- CBT
Assesses patient’s problems, identifying goals, putting a plan together to achieve them. Central task is identifying irrational thoughts, and changing these to bring more effective behaviours.
Beck’s CBT- identifying automatic negative thoughts, challenging these directly or through patient as scientist=set homework e.g. record when they were happy, refer back to this in future sessions.
Positive and negative aspect for CBT
Patient and therapist form relationship and this is what helps the patient, not CBT techniques, quality of relationship more important. However, just talking to someone who listens could be what matters most. Negative as CBT techniques are not being used and not as effective, but positive as patient may still be treated.
