Depression

Question 1

What is depression

Answer 1

Classified as a mood disorder
The DSM-IV distinguishes between major depressive disorder and persistent which is long term and reoccurring
On set may be early in childhood or late on adulthood but many diagnosis are seen to be made in the 20s group
There isn’t a cause of depression
It can occur from variety of reason and has different triggers

Question 2

What are the emotional characteristics of depression

Answer 2

Sadness
Feeling empty
Loss of interest and pleasure

Question 3

What are the behavioural characteristics of depression

Answer 3

Reduced energy levels
Sense of tiredness
Wishing to sleep all the time
Appetite may be increases or reduced

Question 4

What are the cognitive characteristics of depression

Answer 4

Negative view of the world
Thinking that everythings going to turn out badly
Generally having irrational thoughts that are negative

Question 5

Cognitive explanation for depression :golden sentence

Answer 5

Depression is viewed as the result of irrational , negative and false thoughts and beliefs about yourself and the world

Question 6

Examples of the golden sentence

Answer 6

E.g low self esteem
Why me
I’m annoying
Everyone is against me
I will never be good enough

Question 7

Ellis ABC model

Answer 7

Activating Event: bad grade in a test,someone laughts at you
Belief: I’m useless they all hate me
Consequence :you feel bad,you feel isolated

Question 8

What does Eli’s ABC model stand for

Answer 8

Activating event
Belief
Consequence
Rational belief leads to healthy emotions irrational ones leads you to unhealthy emotions. Depression is therefore a cause of irrational beliefs

Question 9

What is the musturbatory thinking

Answer 9

Holding unrealistic /irrational beliefs ‘this must happen ‘,‘I must have/be/do…. leads to disappointment and depression as these standards are impossible to uphold

Question 10

What is Becks negative triad

Answer 10

Model that focuses on depression
Suggests that we acquire a negative schema during childhood ,adopt a negative view on the world

Question 11

Becks negative triad : Negative view of self

Answer 11

I am just pain undesirable what is there to like
I’m unattractive and seem to bore everyone

Question 12

Beck negative triad : Negative view of the world

Answer 12

I can understand why people don’t like me
They would all prefer someone else’s company

Question 13

Becks negative triad : Negative view of the future

Answer 13

I’m always going to be on my own ,there is nothing that is going to change that

Question 14

Evaluation of cognitive explanation to depression strength

Answer 14

P:one strength is that depression is linked to irrational thinking
E:evidence for this is that a researcher found that depressed Pps who were given automatic -thought statements become more and more depressed.
E:thus shows that the research supports the view that negative thinking ideas to depression and that negative thinking may develop because of their depression therefore it is reliable

Question 15

Evaluation of cognitive explanation strength

Answer 15

P:one strength of the cognitive approach to depression is the practical application of therapy
E:evidence for this is change the thinking ,change the behaviour
E:this shows that CBT is essentially found to be the best treatment especially when used in conjunction with drug therapy therefore it shows RWA

Question 16

Evaluation of cognitive explanation weakness

Answer 16

P:one weakness of the cognitive approach is that irrational beliefs are actually irrational
E:evidence for this is that researcher found out that depressive Pps gave more accurate estimates of the likehood of disasters in the world than ‘normal’ control Pps
E:this shows that it lacks validity as they are more realistic and see the world as it is rather than through a rose tinted glass

Question 17

Evaluation of cognitive explanation weakness

Answer 17

P:one weakness of the cognitive approach is that taking just a cognitive approach to depression is too simple
E:evidence for this is that depression is learnt through the social learning theory where we learn things from our environment e.g our parents
E:This suggests that it lacks representation as it can’t be generalised as it doesn’t take into account behavioural and biological factors