Depression Flashcards
What are the symptoms of depression?
- Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day.
- Feeling sad, empty or hopeless.
- Loss of interest in activities that previously brought joy.
What is the durations of the symptoms?
Depression is considered episodic thus its symptoms are typically present at their full magnitude for a period of time and then gradually reduce.
What are the risks of depression?
- Around 50% of people who experience an episode of depression will go on to have another.
- Considered a risk factor for various other health conditions (e.g heart attacks, obesity and substance abuse).
What are the behavioural characteristics of depression?
- Difficulty falling asleep or sleeping too much.
- Psychomotor agitation.
- Psychomotor retardation.
- Significant weight loss/gain.
- Fatigue or loss of energy.
What are the emotional characteristics of depression?
- Sustained and extreme sadness.
- Feelings if worthlessness.
- Experience of extreme guilt.
What are the cognitive characteristics of depression?
- Difficulty concentrating.
- Indecisiveness.
- Suicidal ideation.
- Poor self-esteem.
What is neurological and physiological evidence to support depression?
- Linked to abnormal activity in several regions of the brain linked to experiencing emotions and in regulating and controlling emotions.
- Abnormally high levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
What are cognitive theories of depression?
- Depression is triggered by negative thoughts, interpretations, self-evaluations and expectations.
- Depression is triggered by “cognitive vulnerability” and by precipitating stressful life events.
What is Beck’s cognitive theory of depression?
He theorised that depression-prone people possess depressive schemas.
What are depressive schemas?
Schemas that prompt dsyfunctional and pessimistic thoughts about the self, world and future.
When do depressive schema develop?
- Likely in early childhood in response to adverse experiences.
- Remain dormant until they are activated by stressful or negative life events.
How is a dysfunctional style of thinking maintained?
- By cognitive biases or errors in how an individual process information about ourselves.
- Causes the individual to focus on negative aspects.
What is Beck’s negaive triad?
Suggests that negative views abou the self, world and future all lead into a downward spiral and cause a person to think depressive thoughts.
What is cognitive therapy?
A form of psychotherapy that focuses on how a person’s thoughts lead to feelings of distress.
How does cognitive therapy work?
A therapist will help a client see how they misinterpret a situation and how to view situations in a more positive light.
What are strengths of cognitive therapy?
- Allows the client to take control thus building self-esteem.
- Less reliance on drugs compared to other methods.
- Effective as Ellis (1957) claimed a 90% success rate.
What are weaknesses of cognitive therapy?
- Requires individual motivation.
- Relies on the competence of the therapist.
- Works best when combined with drugs.
- Can be expensive and difficult to access due to long NHS waiting lists.
What does Ellis’ ABC model stand for?
- A: Activating event.
- B: Belief.
- C: Consequences.
What is an activating event?
The thing that causes the negative thoughts and feelings.
What is a belief?
The person’s thoughts about the activating event.
What is a consequence?
A consequence in terms of emotions and actions.
