Depression

Question 1

2 Behavioural characteristics

Answer 1

Reduced activity levels e.g withdrawing from work.

Aggression and self-harm.

Question 2

2 emotional characteristics

Answer 2

Lowered mood and lowered self-esteem

Question 3

2 Cognitive characteristics

Answer 3

Dwelling on negatives and absolutist thinking

Question 4

What are the two chunks to the cognitive approach of explaining depression?

Answer 4

Becks negative triad and Ellis’ ABC model

Question 5

First part of becks negative triad

Answer 5

Faulty information processing (meaning errors in logic) where you think of things in black and white and focus on the negative.

Question 6

Second part of becks negative triad

Answer 6

Negative self-schemas, interpretations all information about yourself in a negative way.

Question 7

What is the 3rd part of becks negative triad?

Answer 7

A negative view of the self, the world and the future.

Question 8

What is the ABC in Ellis’ model?

Answer 8

A is an activating event
B is an individuals beliefs
C is a consequence

Question 9

What is Utopianism?

Answer 9

Thinking life is always meant to be fair

Question 10

What is musterbation?

Answer 10

Thinking we must always succeed

Question 11

What are the two ways that the cognitive approach treats depression?

Answer 11

Beck’s CBT and Ellis REBT

Question 12

How does Beck’s CBT treat depression?

Answer 12

First, the client will be assessed to discover the severity of their condition
and therapist will establish a baseline.
The client is asked to provide information about how they perceive
themselves, the future and the world.
The therapist uses a process of reality testing e.g. if the client says, ‘I’m
useless, and I always fail, they will be asked whether in reality, they have
been successful at something.

Question 13

How does beck’s CBT use the patient as a scientist?

Answer 13

They gather evidence e.g.
record when people are nice to them or when they enjoyed an event- this
can then be used as evidence against negative thoughts

Question 14

What is Ellis REBT therapy?

Answer 14

It adds D for disputing thoughts and E for effect.
They use empirical arguments or logical arguments and encourage the patient to do enjoyable activities (behavioural activation).

Question 15

Evaluation of the cognitive approach to treating depression

Strength-research support

Answer 15

There’s evidence from March to support CBT. March found that using CBT and antidepressants combines was the most effective treatment (86% improved). However this shows CBT by itself isn’t the most effective (81%).

Question 16

Evaluation of the cognitive approach to treating depression

Weakness- lack of motivation

Answer 16

CBT may not work for the most severe cases because depression reduces peoples energy and motivation to attend CBT.

Question 17

Evaluation of the cognitive approach to treating depression

Weakness- ignores past experiences

Answer 17

CBT focuses on the present and future and does not explore a patients past. Some patients want to discuss certain events that have caused their depression so it’s not suited for all cases of depression.

Question 18

Evaluation of the explanation for depression

Weakness-doesn’t explain complex symptoms

Answer 18

Beck’s theory can explain basic symptoms but not hallucinations or Cotard’s syndrome (thinking they’re zombies). So there must be other elements involved than what Beck and Ellis have said.

Question 19

Evaluation for the explanation of depression

Strength-practical applications

Answer 19

Beck’s explanation formed CBT and helps therapists challenge the triad. Also Ellis REBT has been successful for challenging irrational beliefs.

Question 20

Evaluation for the explanation of depression

Weakness-ignores biology

Answer 20

Biological research has indicated that depression can be down to low levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin but the cognitive approach only looks at thoughts.