Discuss / Evaluate one or more cognitive etiologies of one disorder (Alloy & N-H) Flashcards
Cognitive Etiology of MDD “The cognitive approach argues for patterns of thinking that are…”
- Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a mood disorder that is characterized by prolonged (longer than a few weeks) feelings of sadness, loss of interest in daily activities and lack of appetite.
- We categorize MDD as abnormal behavior – behavior that is deviant and maladaptive, causes feelings of distress to an individual
The cognitive approach argues for patterns of thinking that are responsible for our mental disorders.
→ Gender diff in depression cause of coping styles
→ Men = distraction, women = ruminate feeling, why? What is the meaning for this distress?
Cognitive Vulnerability Hypothesis
- Cognitive Vulnerability Hypothesis — maladaptive thinking patterns that make a person more susceptible to a mental illness.
- Pattern of negative schemas about ONESELF, OTHERS and THE FUTURE which leads to stress which triggers the disorder, but this is hard to empirically research
Theory of Rumination
Theory of Rumination — focusing on the patterns of neg thinking can lead to depressive symptoms (low self-esteem, hopelessness)
Cognitive Etiology Thesis
The cognitive etiology of Cognitive Vulnerability Hypothesis and Theory of Rumination in the likelihood of developing depression supports and provides an explanation for the origins of depression.
Claim 1: Cognitive Vulnerability Hypothesis
A negative inferential style will contribute to depression especially when individuals encounter negative life events
Alloy et al Aim
See if one’s thinking patterns could be used to predict the onset depression
Alloy et al Method
- Sample of non-depressed college freshmen with no other diagnosed disorders - half had a history of clinical depression, the other half did not
- Students given test to measure cognitive test (divided into High or Low Risk based on thinknig patterns)
- Used questionnaires + structured interviews to identify stressors, cognitive styles, and depressive symptoms
Alloy et al Findings
With the group with no prior history of depression, 17% of HIGH RISK students develop MDD and 1% of LOW RISK students - HR showed symptoms of minor depression and more likely to relapse
Suicide rates were higher.
Alloy et al Link
Correlation between negative cognitive style ←→ onset and relapse of depression
Alloy et al Strengths
Used method and data triangulation, increasing credibility. Usage of high standardized tests increases reliability. Ecological validity. The use of a pre-test, / post-test design helps to diminish the bidirectional ambiguity.
Alloy et al Weaknesses
Quasi-experiment (naturally occurring IV) so cannot establish C+E relationship, domino causality (Cognitive psychologists have the difficulty of explaining how this way of thinking leads to depression. Some argue that negative cognitions lead to stress - about interacting with others or the future. This stress may then be the actual trigger that leads to the disorder. In other words, it may be an example of domino causality - negative cognitions lead to stress, stress leads to a genetic expression, which may then lead to the disorder.)
Claim 2: Nolen-Hoeksema’s Theory of Rumination
The more we experience a symptom, the more cognition we use to evaluate it, the more we become depressed
N-H (Aim, Method, Findings, Link, Strengths, Weaknesses)
AIM: Role of rumination on depressive symptoms
METHOD:
- 1132 participants in San Fran
- Interviewed 2x 1 year with a 90-min clinical interview
- Tests – Beck Anxiety and Beck Depression (automatic negative thinking)
- Rumination and coping questionnaire (How much are you thinking about your negative feelings?)
FINDINGS: Potential MDD indivs had higher score of rumination.
Improvement of depression indivs had lowered rumination compared to chronically depressed
LINK: Rumination leads to an increase in exhibited depressive symptoms – persistently thinking negatively about your feelings
STRENGTHS: Supports N-H Theory, multimethod research - used both questionnaire + interview
WEAKNESSES: Self report – response biases. Self report – response biases, those with the strongest symptoms dropped out (introducing bias)
Limitations of Cognitive Etiology
- Weaknesses of cognitive is that the majority of research is correlational nature.
- It is hard to resolve bidirectional ambiguity - is it the cognition that leads to depression or is the depression causing these patterns of thinking?
- Helps to explain gender differences in the prevalence of depression.
- Explains the role of cognitive processes as mitigating factors in depression - explaining both depression and resilience to stressful life events.
Bio Counter-claim
Biological Approach - provides physiological reasoning - Neurotransmitters and hormones
Neurological phenomenon = neurotransmitters and hormones.
Neurotransmitters released from the Axon Terminal.
- Excitatory (postsynaptic neuron dendrites fire another action potential, the process goes onwards) or inhibitory reaction
- Neurotransmitters are cells which send electrochemical signals throughout the body -chemical messengers that occur psychological and physiological changes - released from the Axon Terminal as action potential builds up (terminal buttons)
- It is an electrochemical process
Neuroreceptors OVERSENSITIVE/INSENSITIVE causing too much/too little production
As a neurotransmitter, serotonin carries messages between nerve cells in your brain (your central nervous system) and throughout your body (your peripheral nervous system). These chemical messages tell your body how to work. Serotonin plays several roles in your body, including influencing learning, memory, happiness as well as regulating body temperature, sleep, sexual behavior and hunger. Lack of enough serotonin is thought to play a role in MDD, anxiety, mania and other health conditions.
