Lesson 9 - Cognitive Explanations of Depression

Question 1

Cognitive Explanations of Depression

Answer 1

Underlying assumption of the cognitive explanation of depression is that depression is the result of disturbance in thinking
Depression is a consequence of faulty and negative thinking about events and it can be managed by challenging this faulty thinking

Question 2

The Negative Triad

Beck (1967)

Answer 2

Believes depressed people have acquired a negative scheme during childhood so have a tendency to adopt a pessimistic view of the world
Negative schemes activated when encountering a new situation that resembles the original conditions in which the scheme was learned
Negative schemes lead to cognitive biases in thinking
Negative view of self
Negative view of world
Negative view of future

Question 3

The Negative Triad Evaluation
Terry (2000)
Positive

Answer 3

Great deal of supporting evidence that negative and irrational thinking causes depression
Assessed 65 pregnant women for cognitive vulnerability before and after giving birth
Found women who had high cognitive vulnerability were more likely to suffer post-partum depression

Question 4

The Negative Triad Evaluation
Cause
Negative

Answer 4

Cause and effect is not clear
Do negative and irrational thoughts cause depression to develop or does depression develop first causing patients to think in a negative and irrational way

Question 5

The Negative Triad Evaluation
Symptoms
Negative

Answer 5

Does not explain how some symptoms of depression might develop
Some depression patients are very angry and Beck’s theory fails to account for this
Does not also explain the manic phases experienced by patients with Bipolar Disorder

Question 6

ABC Model

Ellis (1962)

Answer 6

Proposed depression is caused by irrational beliefs
Devised ABC model to explain how irrational and negative believes are formed
Activating event
Beliefs
Consequences

Question 7

ABC Model

Activating Event

Answer 7

An incident in someone’s life

Question 8

ABC Model

Beliefs

Answer 8

The thoughts that occur after the activating event

These could be rational or irrational

Question 9

ABC Model

Consequences

Answer 9

Emotions that are caused by these believes
Rational believes are likely to lead to healthy emotions
Irrational beliefs are likely to lead to unhealthy emotions

Question 10

ABC Model Evaluation
Bates (1999)
Positive

Answer 10

Found depressed participants who were given negative thought statements become more and more depression
Supports view that negative thinking helps to cause depression

Question 11

ABC Model Evaluation
Blame
Negative

Answer 11

Although it gives client some power to change situation and improve situations of depression, it blames the client for the depression

Question 12

Cognitive Explanations of Depression Evaluation Points

Answer 12

Negative Triad
Terry (2000) Positive
Cause Negative
Symptoms Negative

ABC Model
Bates (1999) Positive
Blame Negative