Psychopathology : Cognitive Approach to Depression (explaining)

Question 1

What do cognitive theories state the cause of depression is?

Answer 1

cognitive distortions

Question 2

What’re cognitive distortions?

Answer 2

dysfunctional or irrational thinking

Question 3

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

Answer 3

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

Question 4

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

Answer 4

• 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

Question 5

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

Answer 5

• 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

Question 6

Beck’s negative Triad (1967) - cognitive biases

Answer 6

In adulthood, they become faulty thinking strategies.

Question 7

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

Answer 7

overgeneralising, absolutist thinking, catastrophising

Question 8

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

Answer 8

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

Question 9

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

Answer 9

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

Question 10

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

Answer 10

where a minor set back becomes exaggerated and viewed as disastrous

Question 11

Whats a schema?

Answer 11

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

Question 12

Whats a negative schema?

Answer 12

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).

Question 13

Examples of negative schema

Answer 13

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

Question 14

Examples of negative schema - ineptness schema

Answer 14

Expectation to fail

Question 15

Examples of negative schema - self blame schema

Answer 15

Responsible for any misfortunes

Question 16

Examples of negative schema - negative self-evaluation schema

Answer 16

Constantly reminded of worthlessness

Question 17

Whats becks cognitive triad?

Answer 17

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)

Question 18

Whats Ellis’ ABC model (1962)

Answer 18

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)

Question 19

Ellis’ ABC model (1962) - the A

Answer 19

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

Question 20

Ellis’ ABC model (1962) - the B

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Ellis’ ABC model (1962) - the C

Answer 21

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

Question 22

Ellis’ ABC model (1962) - the model

Answer 22

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

Question 23

Ellis’ ABC model (1962) - disadvs

Answer 23

• 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)

Question 24

Whats mustabatory thinking?

Answer 24

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.