Depression Flashcards
2 Behavioural characteristics
Reduced activity levels e.g withdrawing from work.
Aggression and self-harm.
2 emotional characteristics
Lowered mood and lowered self-esteem
2 Cognitive characteristics
Dwelling on negatives and absolutist thinking
What are the two chunks to the cognitive approach of explaining depression?
Becks negative triad and Ellis’ ABC model
First part of becks negative triad
Faulty information processing (meaning errors in logic) where you think of things in black and white and focus on the negative.
Second part of becks negative triad
Negative self-schemas, interpretations all information about yourself in a negative way.
What is the 3rd part of becks negative triad?
A negative view of the self, the world and the future.
What is the ABC in Ellis’ model?
A is an activating event
B is an individuals beliefs
C is a consequence
What is Utopianism?
Thinking life is always meant to be fair
What is musterbation?
Thinking we must always succeed
What are the two ways that the cognitive approach treats depression?
Beck’s CBT and Ellis REBT
How does Beck’s CBT treat depression?
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.
How does beck’s CBT use the patient as a scientist?
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
What is Ellis REBT therapy?
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).
Evaluation of the cognitive approach to treating depression
Strength-research support
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%).
Evaluation of the cognitive approach to treating depression
Weakness- lack of motivation
CBT may not work for the most severe cases because depression reduces peoples energy and motivation to attend CBT.
Evaluation of the cognitive approach to treating depression
Weakness- ignores past experiences
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.
Evaluation of the explanation for depression
Weakness-doesn’t explain complex symptoms
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.
Evaluation for the explanation of depression
Strength-practical applications
Beck’s explanation formed CBT and helps therapists challenge the triad. Also Ellis REBT has been successful for challenging irrational beliefs.
Evaluation for the explanation of depression
Weakness-ignores biology
Biological research has indicated that depression can be down to low levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin but the cognitive approach only looks at thoughts.
