Psychology P1 - Psychopathology - cognitive approach and depression

Question 1

Explain Ellis’ ABC model

Answer 1

A= ACTIVATING EVENT B= BELIEFS C= CONSEQUENCES

MALADAPTIVE response
A = D grade
B = Did badly because you are bad at the subject and will fail the A-level
C = Give up in the subject and no longer try in it

ADAPTIVE response
A = D grade
B = Revised the wrong thing and if revised the correct thing then you would have done well
C = Revise the right thing for a re-test and work even harder at the subject

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Question 2

explain Beck’s model of depression

Answer 2

Beck refers to a cognitive ‘negative triad’. (3 NEGATIVE SCHEMATA)

Self - see themselves as being helpless
World - obstacles are beyond the persons control
Future - personal worthlessness is blocking future improvements

Importantly, these thoughts arise AUTOMATICALLY AND UNCONSCIOUSLY and lead to depression. Individuals can develop schemas in childhood, for example for being frequently criticized.

Question 3

studies that supports the cognitive approach to depression

Answer 3

A study that supports the cognitive explanation is by Lloyd and Lishman (1975) - participants with depression were presented with stimulus words in response to which they were required to recall pleasant or unpleasant experiences from their past. Those with low- level depression responded faster when recalling pleasant memories than those with deeper depression. This supports the idea that depressed people have negative self evaluation schemas.
Therfore Maladaptive behavior can be used to explain depression.

In addition, contemporary research by Stice and Schnyer (2010) also supports the idea that poor cognitive control may indicate vulnerability to depression. FMRI scanning was used whilst participants responded to happy, sad or neutral cues. They found that depressive symptoms are associated with impaired engagement of the lateral pre-frontal cortex and parietal brain regions during cognitive control of emotions.
They are unable to see things in line with reality

Question 4

evaluation of the cognitive explanation - strengths

Answer 4

Overall strengths of the cognitive explanation are that it is based on scientific principles that permit objective testing (as seen in Stice and Schynyer), and that it also acknowledges a range of aspects such as genes, development and early experiences, and how this can lead to depression.

implications - The explanation leads to effective treatment through CBT

Question 5

contradicting suited to CBT

Answer 5

BUT there is a risk that because CBT emphasises what is happening in the mind - it minimizes the importance of the circumstances in which the patient is living (McCusker, 2014). A patient living in poverty, or suffering abuse needs to change their circumstances, and therapy that emphasizes what is happening in the mind rather than the environment can prevent this.

Question 6

explain a treatment of depression and the strategies involved

Answer 6

AIM.
The aim of CBT is to:
Encourage client to become aware of their faulty thought patterns and try to replace negative beliefs with more rational beliefs

STRATEGIES

problem solving
thought catching
cognitive restructuring
behavioral activation

Thinking more constructively to get to the root cause of the problem rather than making a flawed conclusion. The client may be the ‘scientist’ who has their negative thinking tested and evidence evaluated. - problem solving

Record automatic negative thoughts and how to challenge them. The client could be asked to keep a diary to record and monitor events - though catching

Restructure thought processes to overcome cognitive distortions and focus on positive thoughts - (comparing the evidence with the thought expressed to check if they match) - cognitive restructuring

Encourages client to identify pleasurable activities - behavioural activation

Question 7

explain an alternative treatment of depression

Answer 7

ELLIS (1962) REBT: RATIONAL-EMOTIVE-BEHAVIOURAL THERAPY

What is the aim of REBT?
to make irrational and negative thoughts more rational and positive

How is REBT carried out?

1-2 sessions every 2 weeks for approx 15 weeks

Therapists and patients work together to re-educate their thoughts

Goals are given to boost self-esteem by hypothesis testing negative thoughts through coping skills

A = negative event
B = rational belief
C = healthy negative emotion

Question 8

evaluation of CBT (positive)

Answer 8

CBT has been found to be one of the most effective therapies for treating depression. Hollon et al. (2006)

found that 40% of moderately to severely depressed patients treated with CBT for 16 weeks relapsed within a year. This was compared with a relapse rate of 45% for drug treatment and 80% to placebo. This suggests that the CBT is more effective as the smallest % of people relapse and develop their depression again. Therefore, it is likely that irrational and faulty beliefs are a good explanation for depression.

Question 9

evaluation of CBT (negative)

Answer 9

However variations in the effectiveness of CBT can be due to the competence of the therapist.

Kuyken and Tsivrikos (2009) found that therapists who were assessed as more competent had better patient outcomes, regardless of the complexity of the case.

Individual differences of patients also play a part in the effectiveness of the therapy. Simon et al. (2005)

found that it is not very effective for people who have very ridged attitudes and are resistant to change because therapists are unable to restructure their mindset and accept some changes.