depression Flashcards
define depression
mood disorder
behavioural characteristics of depression
- Activity levels =
1. reduced levels of energy = withdrawn from work, education, social situations
2. psychomotor agitation = struggle to relax, pacing around - Disrupted sleeping & eating = increase/decrease in both appetite & sleep
What categories of depression does the DSM-5 recognise?
- Major Depressive Disorder (short but severe)
- Persistent Depressive Disorder
(long, recurring, incl sustained MDD) - Disruptive Mood Regulation Disorder
(childhood temper tantrums) - Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
(mood disrupted prior/during menstruation)
emotional characteristics of depression
- Lowered mood = feeling sad/miserable
- Feelings of worthlessness and emptiness, feeling sad and lethargic
- Lose interest in activities formerly enjoyed
- Lowered self esteem = not like self/sometimes hate self
cognitive characteristics of depression
- Attending to or dwelling on negative = ‘glass half empty’, pessimistic aspects of situation, ignore positives, remember unhappy events more than happy events
- Absolutist thinking = ‘black & white thinking’, unfortunate events seen as absolute disasters
- Poor concentration
= difficulty focusing/lose conc. Easily
How does Ellis’ ABC model explain depression
Good MH = result of rational thinking (allows you to be happy and free), poor MH = result of irrational (opposite)
Activating Event
= Any life event that can trigger negative thinking = open to interpretation, makes it very individual
Belief
= Control thinking patterns and trigger emotions, = irrational/rational
- can sometimes react irrationally at first but then calm down
Consequence
- Rational belief = lead to consequence of healthy emotions, e.g. acceptance
- Irrational belief = lead to consequence of unhealthy emotions, e.g. depression
pros of Ellis’ ABC model on explaining depression
Idiographic Approach
- model assigns responsibility to individual, to manage their thoughts = allow some degree of control over managing consequences of activating events/beliefs
= idiographic approach - useful in study of mental illnesses as no two experiences of depression are identical
Practical applications
- Theory has shown to be useful in development therapies = especially CBT, very successful in treating depression.
cons of Ellis’ ABC model on explaining depression
Descriptive not explanatory
- The model of ABC describes what occurs in the thinking process of depressed person but not why disrupted thinking pattern occurs
Cause & Effect
- What causes what?
We don’t know if depression causes negative thinking or if negative thinking causes depression.
How does Beck’s Negative Triad explain depression
Person’s cognitions creates vunerability to depression
3 parts to Cognitive Vunerablity:
- Faulty Information Processing
= attend to the negative aspects of a situation and ignore positives - Negative Self Schema
= interpret all info about themselves in negative way - Negative Triad
= how person develops dysfunctional view of self, due to negative thinking that occurs automatically despite reality:
negative view of world, self and future
pros of Beck’s negative triad on explaining depression
IRL APP.
Cohen at al. = concluded assessing CV allows psychologists to screen young people, able to identify those most at risk of developing depression and monitor them
- also applicable in CBT
(work by altering cognitions that make ppl vunerable to depression)
= suggests usefulness in more than one aspect of psychological practice
cons of Beck’s negative triad on explaining depression
Reductionist
= not consider influence of biological factors in depression
- ample research which indicates genetics/neurotransmitters (particularly serotonin) play key role in developing depression
= means theory does not take fully holistic approach to explaining depression, limited
What is CBT
Cognitive = deal with thinking, e.g. challenging negative thoughts
Behavioural = behavioural techniques, e.g. behavioural activation – encourage patients to engage in activities they are avoiding
How does Ellis’ treat depression
Ellis’ REBT = extends ABC to ABCDE
Disputing = therapist present robust arguments to dispute irrational beliefs
Effect = to change irrational thoughts
- helps shift from blaming external circumstances for distressing emotions to recognizing their thoughts/beliefs as the primary drivers
How does Beck treat depression
Beck’s Cognitive Therapy =
help patient identify negative/irrational thoughts (Beck’s negative triad)
- patient & therapist work together to challenge thoughts, by discussing evidence for and against them
= patients often set ‘homework’ to record positive events - used in the sessions to help them challenge irrational thoughts
e.g., if they think everyone hates them, HW may be to record a time where they did not feel this way
Pros of the cognitive approach to treating depression
Economic Implications
= People who take less time off for CBT and have successful treatment for depression cost the NHS and business less
Cons of the cognitive approach to treating depression
Ineffective for severe depression
- Big commitment of time and energy on client’s behalf-
People who are severely depressed cannot always engage with work required and may need medication
Not holistic
- Does not take into consideration how past experiences/childhood could effect client = could be seen as only partially/temporarily effective as it may not deal with the deeper cause or triggers
what is behavioural activation
= gradually decrease avoidance/isolation, increase engagement in mood-increasing activities, e.g., exercising, going out to dinner
2 types of arguments that can be used in Ellis’ REBT
empirical arguments: disputing if there is real evidence to support the irrational belief
logical arguments: disputing if negative thought follows logically from the facts
