Explanations for SZ - Cognitive (Beck & Rector) Flashcards
Cognitive Deficits
Cognitive deficits have been associated with schizophrenia. These include reduced levels of emotional expression, disorganised speech and delusions.
cognitive biases
‘faulty cognitions’ might be responsible for a lot of the negative and positive symptoms of schizophrenia too.
Faulty cognitions include and Their poor integration of memory and perception leads to disorganised thinking and behaviour.
Beck & Rector Simplified-
what do Cognitive processing biases lead to?
Misattribution of consequences to causes
thoughts and ideas are attributed to external sources (such as hallucinations), or result in delusions because the individual does not realise that they are self-generated. They mistakenly regard their own thoughts as coming from someone else
Failure to test reality with memory or logic
Research suggests that these delusions are associated with specific biases in reasoning about and explaining social situations.
Many people who experience feelings of persecution have a general tendency to assume that other people cause the things that go wrong with their lives.
weakness of cognitive explanations of schizophrenia
1
there is a limitation to cognitive theories as cognitive theories in themselves do not really explain the causes of Sz but simply describe some of the symptoms in cognitive terms.
weakness of cognitive explanations of schizophrenia
1
there is a limitation to cognitive theories as cognitive theories in themselves do not really explain the causes of Sz but simply describe some of the symptoms in cognitive terms.
weakness of cognitive explanations of schizophrenia
1
there is a limitation to cognitive theories as cognitive theories in themselves do not really explain the causes of Sz but simply describe some of the symptoms in cognitive terms.
weakness of cognitive explanations of schizophrenia
2
Therefore, in order to explain the origins of Sz, they need to be combined with the biological model. cognitive theories may not be able to offer a full explanation of Sz, but they may help to explain the origins of particular symptoms. However, an advantage of the cognitive explanation is that it acknowledges biological explanations too, using neurophysical models.
what did Meyer-Lindenberg find that links biology to cognitive explanations of schizophrenia
found a link between excessive dopamine in the personal cortex and poor working memory. This is linked to the dopamine explanation of schizophrenia
how could the cognitive model be too over-dependent on biological theories and approaches.
a criticism of the cognitive explanation is that large amounts of supporting evidence from the cognitive model of Sz have its roots in biological evidence suggesting cognitive faults must originate in biology. therefore the cognitive model may be too over-dependent on biological theories and approaches.
positive evaluation of the cognitive explanation
the claim that the symptoms of schizophrenia have their origin in faulty cognition is reinforced by the success of cognitive based therapies for schizophrenia
what did the NICE review find that supports CBTp
this review found that when compared to antipsychotic medication, cognitive behavioural therapy was more effective in reducing syptom severity and improving levels of social functioning. this supports the view that faulty cognitions have an important influence in the development of schizophrenia
weakness of CBTp- lack of access
CBTp is difficult to access. Despite being recommended by NICE as a treatment for
people with schizophrenia, it is estimated that only 1 in 10 people in the UK who could benefit from CBTp can get
how does the difficulty to access cbtp limit its effectiveness
This limits the effectiveness of CBTp as patients are unable to participate in the therapy. Of those who are offered CBTp, a significant number either refuse or fail to attend the therapy sessions, thus limiting its effectiveness even more.
