Psychopathology : Cognitive Approach to Depression (explaining) Flashcards

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1
Q

What do cognitive theories state the cause of depression is?

A

cognitive distortions

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2
Q

What’re cognitive distortions?

A

dysfunctional or irrational thinking

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3
Q

Beck’s negative Triad (1967) - automatic faulty info processing

A

ppl w depression focus on the negatives in a situation and ignore the positives (black and white thinking) → this is automatic and can cause cognitive biases

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4
Q

Beck’s negative Triad (1967) - advs of automatic faulty info processing

A

• supportive evidence that faulty info processing predisposes ppl to depression → Clark & Beck (1999)’s literature review concluded that these weren’t only more common in depressed people, but preceded symptoms. This was supported by Cohen et al. (2019) which tracked 473 adolescents + confirmed that cognitive vulnerability predicted later depression.
• application in screening + treatment for depression → Cohen et al. (2019) found the ability to identity cognitive vulnerability in high risk individuals prior to depressive symptoms, enabled them to be monitored and offered treatment. Also supports application of ‘cognitive behavioural therapy’ (CBT), which Gautum (2020) states is one of the most effective treatments tor depression by challenging irrational beliefs and thoughts
• negative manipulation of cognition can exacerbate symptoms → Boury et al (2001) found that patients with depression were more likely to misinterpret info negatively (cognitive bias) and feel hopeless about their future (cognitive triad). This demonstrates the presence of altered cognitive processing in depression, which is also supported by Bates et al. (1999), who gave depressed patients negative automatic thought statements to read and found their symptoms became worse

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5
Q

Beck’s negative Triad (1967) - disadvs of automatic faulty info processing

A

• reductionist → only considers the role of thinking. It argues depression is caused by thinking and doesn’t account for other symptoms (extreme anger eg.). It ignores biological research that depression can be as a result of low levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin + that SSRis can be effective treatments

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6
Q

Beck’s negative Triad (1967) - cognitive biases

A

In adulthood, they become faulty thinking strategies.

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7
Q

Beck’s negative Triad (1967) - faulty thinking strategies

A

overgeneralising, absolutist thinking, catastrophising

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8
Q

Beck’s negative Triad (1967) - faulty thinking strategies → Overgeneralising

A

holding extreme beliefs on the basis of a single incident and applying it to a different + inappropriate situation.

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9
Q

Beck’s negative Triad (1967) - faulty thinking strategies → Absolutist thinking

A

“all or nothing”, “good or bad”, “black and white”, “either or” approach to viewing the world

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10
Q

Beck’s negative Triad (1967) - faulty thinking strategies → Catastrophising

A

where a minor set back becomes exaggerated and viewed as disastrous

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11
Q

Whats a schema?

A

a cognitive framework or mental representation of knowledge which helps interpret the world. Can lead to oversimplification which lead to errors + misinterpretation.

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12
Q

Whats a negative schema?

A

Also developed in childhood based on negative experiences (eg. criticism from peers, parents, teachers). They lead to interpreting future events pessimistically (adults w depression have negative thoughts/ biases towards themselves).

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13
Q

Examples of negative schema

A

Ineptness schema, self-blame schema, negative self-evaluation schema

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14
Q

Examples of negative schema - ineptness schema

A

Expectation to fail

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15
Q

Examples of negative schema - self blame schema

A

Responsible for any misfortunes

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16
Q

Examples of negative schema - negative self-evaluation schema

A

Constantly reminded of worthlessness

17
Q

Whats becks cognitive triad?

A

Negative views about the world (lack of hope)
Negative views about oneself (enhance depression as confirm low self esteem)
Negative views about the future (reduces hopefulness)

18
Q

Whats Ellis’ ABC model (1962)

A

It was developed to explain response to negative events (now people react differently to stress and anxiety). Good mental heath is a result of rational thinking which allows people to be happy + pain free, whereas depression is the result of irrational thinking (prevents happiness + pain free)

19
Q

Ellis’ ABC model (1962) - the A

A

activating event: a traumatic stressful event where there’s a reaction

20
Q

Ellis’ ABC model (1962) - the B

A

belief/explanation why the situation occurred : your interpretation of the event (rational or irrational)
→ rational: realistic, believable
→ irrational: overdramatised, unrealistic

21
Q

Ellis’ ABC model (1962) - the C

A

consequence : feelings/ behaviour the belief now causes (external event is blamed). Rational beliefs lead to healthy emotional outcomes whereas

22
Q

Ellis’ ABC model (1962) - the model

A

⇗ irrational thoughts → undesirable emotions → undesirabe behaviour
Activating event
⇘ rational thoughts → desirable emotions → desirable behaviour

23
Q

Ellis’ ABC model (1962) - disadvs

A

• only explains reactive depression, but not endogenous depression. Our response to what Ellis conceives of as ‘activating events’, which consists of life events that can trigger depression, are likely to also be at least party affected by our beliefs. However, many cases of depression arent traceable to specific life events and the precipitating cause isnt readily identifiable (endogenous depression)

24
Q

Whats mustabatory thinking?

A

thinking that certain ideas or assumptions must be true in order for an individual to be happy. An individual who holds too high expectations is bound to be disappointed and risk becoming depressed.