Depression

Question 1

What are the main behavioural characteristics of depression?

Answer 1

• Low activity levels OR psychomotor agitation
• Eating/sleeping disorders
• Aggression
• Self-harm (potentially)

Question 2

What are the main emotional characteristics of depression?

Answer 2

• Low mood
• Anger
• Low self-esteem

Question 3

What are the main cognitive characteristics of depression?

Answer 3

• Poor concentration
• Dwelling on the negative
• Absolutism

Question 4

What is Beck’s cognitive theory of depression?

Answer 4

Three parts of cognitive vulnerability:

• Faulty information processing (absolutism)
• Negative self-schemas
• Negative triad (negative view of self, world and future

Question 5

What is Ellis’s ABC model?

Answer 5

A.ctivating event (cause of irrational thoughts)
B.elief (irrational negative thoughts)
C.onsequences (how irrational beliefs effect behaviour)

Question 6

What are the benefits and limitations of Beck’s cognitive theory in explaining depression?

Answer 6

Benefits:
-Clark and Beck (1999) saw that this theory has some good predictive value
-This theory can be used in treatment (CBT)
Limitations:
-Doesn’t explain all aspects of depression (hallucinations, Cotard syndrome, etc.)
-Doesn’t consider biological explanations of depression

Question 7

What are the benefits and limitations of Ellis’s ABC model in explaining depression?

Answer 7

Benefits:
-This theory can be used in treatment (REBT)
Limitations:
-Only applies to depression with a cause
-Doesn’t consider biological explanations of depression
–Doesn’t explain all aspects of depression (hallucinations, Cotard syndrome, etc.)

Question 8

What is Beck’s cognitive therapy?

Answer 8

Once the negative triad is identified, irrational thoughts are challenged- often, the reality of beliefs is tested with evidence supplied by the patient (patient as a scientist)

Question 9

What is rational emotive behaviour therapy (REBT)?

Answer 9

ABC model continues to ABCDE
D.ispute (negative beliefs are identified as irrational {utopianism, i-cant-stand-it-itus or musturbation} and challenged)
E.ffect (realisation that beliefs are irrational affects behaviour)

Question 10

What are the benefits and limitations of CBT?

Answer 10

Benefits:
-March et al.(2007) showed that CBT was just as effective as drug therapies (81%) and they were even more effective when paired together (86%)
Limitations:
-Sometimes, patients are too depressed to effectively contribute to CBT and so the treatment is ineffective
-Attending sessions is time consuming
-It could be argued that CBT is effective due to the fact that the patient gets a chance to talk to someone rather than any particular technique (Luborsky et al. 2002)