Explanations for Depression

Question 1

Cognitive explanation

Answer 1

Maladaptive cognitions lead to a psychological disorder
- Beck’s negative triad
- Ellis’ ABC model

Question 2

Ellis’ ABC Model

Answer 2

Depression arises from irrational thoughts
Activating event
Belief
Consequent behaviour

Question 3

Ellis’ ABC Model + AO3

Answer 3

Application to treating depression
- REBT (rational emotive behaviour therapy)
- changes negative beliefs and relieves symptoms

Question 4

Ellis’ ABC Model - AO3

Answer 4

Only explains reactive depression
- triggered by negative events
- can’t explain endogenous depression where there is no obvious trigger

Question 5

Beck’s Negative Self Schema

Answer 5

Interpret all info about themselves in a negative way

Question 6

Beck’s Faulty Information Processing

Answer 6

• focus on negative aspects of a situation and ignore positive
• Blow small problems out of proportion

Question 7

Beck’s Negative Triad

Answer 7

• -/ve views of self
• -/ve views of future
• -/ve views of world

Question 8

Beck + AO3 (C)

Answer 8

• Cohen et al = 473 adolescent’ development tracked and found that early cognitive vulnerability predicted later depression
• are able to monitor those with cognitive vulnerability who are most at risk
• CBT - can alter cognitions

Question 9

Beck’s AO3 + (GT)

Answer 9

Grazioli and Terry
- assessed 65 pregnant women for cognitive vulnerability and depression before and after birth
- those judged with high cognitive vulnerability were more likely to suffer from post natal depression
- cognitions cause depression - at least, in some cases

Question 10

Cognitive AO3 -

Answer 10

Describes but doesn’t explain why some have adaptive thinknig and others maladaptive
- just describes the process of thinking
- is it the cause of depression or the consequence?