Explaining Depression Flashcards
What is it?
A mood disorder
To be diagnosed with depression you low mood must impair general
Often divided into two main types: Unipolar and Bipolar
Unipolar
Bipolar
Unipolar- Also known as major depression disorder
Bipolar- Also known as maniac depression
Characteristics of Depression
Behavioural- Loss of energy or change in appetite
Emotional- Low mood or Anger
Cognitive- Focus on the negative or lack of concentration
Cognitive approach in explaining depression
Explains development of depression in terms of irrational thought processes
Argues that when we think rationally, we behave rationally, however if we tyhink irrationally, we will behave irrationally
Becks Negative Triad
According to Beck, people become depressed because they hold negative schemas which affects the processing of information
Leads to a triad of negative thinking patterns
Individual employ faulty thinking strategies when negatively thinking
Causes individual to misperceive information
Faulty thinking strategies of Becks Negative Triad
- Catastrophing
- Overgeneralisation
- Selective thinking
Ellis ABC Model
Activating events(A) have consequences(C) which are affected by beliefs(B)
Research Evidence for ABC Model
Boury et al (2001)
Monitored students negative thoughts. Found out patients with depression were more likely to misinterpret information negatively. Supporting Becks theory
Wender et al (1986)
Biological parent of adopted children who had developed depression were 8x more likely to have the disorder themselves than adoptive parents
Evaluation of the Cognitive Approach
+ Supporting evidence
+ Based on scientific principles
+ Empowers patient to change the way they think
- Puts the blame on the patient
- Not as successful at explaining and treating bipolar depression
- Lacks explanatory power as the model does not attempt to examine the origin of irrational thinking
