Psychopathology- Cognitive approach to explaining & treating depression- TB

Question 1

What is the fundamental belief of the cognitive approach (linked to depression)?

Answer 1

Thinking shapes our behaviour, and so depression is caused by negative & irrational thinking (cognitive distortions)

Question 2

What are cognitive distortions?

Answer 2

Negative & irrational thinking

Question 3

What are 2 cognitive explanations included for depression?

Answer 3

1) Ellis’ ABC model (1962)
2) Beck’s negative triad (1967)

Question 4

What are the first 3 stages of Ellis’ ABC model for explaining depression?

Answer 4

A= Activating event e.g. failing exams
B= Belief about the event e.g. “I am stupid”
C= Consequence of the belief e.g. depressed

Question 5

What is mustabatory thinking (& 3 most important examples)

Answer 5

It isn’t the behaviour that is the problem, but the way in which that is interpreted e.g. 1) I MUST be approved of 2) I MUST do well in everything or I’m worthless 3) I MUST be happy in the world

Question 6

What are 4 key points of the cognitive approach of explaining depression?

Answer 6

1) Depression is caused by irrational thought processes
2) The individual focuses on negatives rather than positives
3) Perceptions & interpretations are distorted
4) The individual is seen as being the cause of their own disorder as they control their thoughts

Question 7

What are negative schemas? (Involved in Beck’s explanation)

Answer 7

Cognitive biases acquired during childhood that adopt a negative view of the world caused by teacher/parent criticism

Question 8

When are negative schemas triggered? (Involved in Beck’s explanation)

Answer 8

When encountering a new situation that resembles original situation in which the schemas were learned- lead to systematic cognitive biases

Question 9

What is Beck’s negative triad?

Answer 9

A triangle, each point representing 3 components (Self, World, Future) that interact to give a distorted bias in thinking & individuals blame themselves for any misfortune & misinterpret facts

Question 10

What does Beck’s negative triad suggest?

Answer 10

Depressed people have negative thoughts about themselves, the world & the future

Question 11

What are the 3 components on Beck’s negative triad?

Answer 11

1) Self e.g. I am useless
2) Future e.g. this will never change
3) World e.g. the world is full of problems

Question 12

What are 2 strengths/limitations of the cognitive approach to explaining depression?

Answer 12

1) Research evidence for relationship between negative thoughts & depression
2) Focuses on client being responsible for disorder

Question 13

Explain research evidence for relationship between negative thoughts & depression as a strength/limitation of the cognitive approach to explaining depression?

Answer 13

Strength: Relationship found between the two
Limitation:Negative thoughts may develop due to depression rather than the other way- Bates et al

Question 14

Explain focuses on client being responsible for disorder as a strength/limitation of the cognitive approach to explaining depression?

Answer 14

Strength: Focus on client’s mind
Limitation: Ignores other aspects of clients environment and life that need to be considered

Question 15

What is a strength of the cognitive approach to explaining depression?

Answer 15

1) Therapy associated with it (CBT) can be effectively applied to depressed individuals, showing effectiveness of cog. approach- if depression is removed by challenging irrational thoughts, it suggests such thoughts had a role in depression in the first place

Question 16

What are 2 limitations of the cognitive approach to explaining depression?

Answer 16

1) Are irrational beliefs actually realistic?
2) Alternative explanations

Question 17

Explain irrational beliefs being realistic as a limitation of the cognitive approach to explaining depression?

Answer 17

Alloy & Abrahmson (1979)- depressed people see things more accurately e.g. more accurate estimates for likelihood of a disaster- ‘sadder but wiser’ effect
Raise questions of value ofcog. approach

Question 18

Explain alternative explanations, and how they are a limitation of the cognitive approach to explaining depression?

Answer 18

Biological approach suggests genes & neurotransmitters may cause depression e.g. diathesis stress approach (genetic vulnerability)
Existence of other approaches suggests depression can’t be explained by the cognitive approach alone.

Question 19

What was Ellis’ version of CBT?

Answer 19

Extension of his ABC model in order to treat depression

Question 20

What was Ellis’ extension to his ABC model and what do they represent?

Answer 20

D= Disputing irrational thoughts & beliefs
E= Effects of disputing & effective attitude to life
F= New feelings (emotions) that are produced

Question 21

What are the 3 types of disputing?

Answer 21

1) Logical disputing
2) Empirical disputing
3) Pragmatic disputing

Question 22

What is logical disputing?

Answer 22

Self-defeating beliefs don’t follow logically from the information availabkle

Question 23

What is empirical disputing?

Answer 23

Self-defeating beliefs may not be consistent with reality

Question 24

What is pragmatic disputing?

Answer 24

Emphasise the lack of usefulness of self-defeating beliefs

Question 25

What are 3 other characteristics of CBT?

Answer 25

1) Homework
2) Behavioural activation
3) Unconditional positive regard

Question 26

What is homework as a characteristic of CBT?

Answer 26

Completing assignments between therapy sessions including things they might have been afraid to do before- vital in testing irrational beliefs against reality

Question 27

What is behavioural activation as a characteristic of CBT?

Answer 27

CBT involves encouraging people to be active & do pleasurable activities- a characteristic of depression is that they don’t participate in activities they used to enjoy

Question 28

What is unconditional positive regard as a characteristic of CBT?

Answer 28

Ellis (1994) came to recognise an important ingredient to successful therapy was convincing the client of their value as a human being. If the client feels worthless, changing their irrational thoughts is more difficult

Question 29

What are 3 strengths of CBT as a treatment of depression?

Answer 29

1) Research support for effectiveness of CBT (Ellis 1957)
2) Research support for behavioural activation (Babyak)
3) Cuijpers et al found CBT was effective with drug treatment

Question 30

Explain 2 research support evidence for effectiveness of CBT as a strength of CBT as a treatment for depression

Answer 30

1) Ellis (1957) (researcher bias?) found 90% success rate for REBT- average of 27 sessions. REBT & CBT have been successful in outcome studies
2) Cuijpers (2013) found CBT was more effective than no treatment- worth doing

Question 31

Explain research support for behavioural activation as a strength of CBT as a treatment for depression

Answer 31

Babyak et al (2000)- 156 volunteers with major depression took 4 months of an aerobic exercise course, drug treatment or both.
Found all 3 groups showed great improvement at end- 6 months later exercise group showed lower relapse rates than other groups

Question 32

What are 2 limitations of CBT as a treatment of depression?

Answer 32

1) Not suitable for everyone (appropriateness)
2) Advantages of alternative treatment (drug therapy)

Question 33

Explain CBT not being suitable for everyone as a limitation of CBT (3 reasons it isn’t)

Answer 33

Individual differences:
1) Less suitable for people who have high levels of irrational beliefs that are rigid and resistant to change
2) Less effective in high stress situations which reflect realistic stressors irl that therapy can’t solve
3) Some people don’t want the sort of advice CBT offers

Question 34

Explain advantages of alternative treatment as a limitation of CBT

Answer 34

Antidepressants e.g. SSRI’s are most popular (less effort for client)- alternative treatment to CBT

Question 35

What is another evaluation point of CBT as a treatment for depression?

Answer 35

Dodo effect (Saul Rosenzweig-1936) argued all treatments for CBT were equally effective- small research differences
Most important factor= attention given to client