Psychopathology - Cognitive Approach To Explaining Depression Flashcards
What is the cognitive approach to explaining depression?
The cognitive approach to explaining depression focuses on how our mental processes (e.g., thoughts, perceptions, and attention) affect behaviour. This approach is based on the idea that faulty and irrational thought processes can lead to depression, particularly negative patterns of thinking and other cognitive processes such as schemas.
What is Beck’s cognitive theory of depression?
Beck’s cognitive theory suggests depression is due to faulty information processing, negative self-schemas, and the negative triad:
Faulty information processing: Depressed people focus on negatives, ignoring positives. They blow small problems out of proportion and think in “black and white” terms.
Negative self-schemas: Schemas are mental frameworks. A negative self-schema means viewing oneself pessimistically, interpreting all information about oneself negatively.
The negative triad: Negative thinking about the self, the world, and the future, making a person more vulnerable to depression.
The self: Viewing oneself as worthless or a failure.
The world: Believing the world is a harsh, unforgiving place.
The future: Thinking the future is hopeless and nothing will improve.
What is Ellis’s ABC model?
Ellis’s ABC model explains how depression results from irrational beliefs triggered by negative events:
A: Activating event: Depression occurs when negative life events, like a breakup or job loss, trigger irrational beliefs.
B: Beliefs: These include:
Musturbation: The belief that one must always succeed.
I-can’t-stand-it-itis: The belief that it is a disaster when things go wrong.
Utopianism: The belief that life must always be fair.
C: Consequences: Irrational beliefs cause negative emotional responses like depression.
What is one evaluation point?
Beck’s cognitive theory has strong supporting evidence. Grazioli and Terry (2000) assessed 65 pregnant women for cognitive vulnerability and depression before and after birth. They found women with high cognitive vulnerability were more likely to develop postnatal depression. This evidence strongly supports Beck’s theory by showing a clear link between cognition and depression.
What is one evaluation point?
Beck’s theory has practical application in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). The negative triad and faulty information processing identified in Beck’s theory are central components of CBT, where patients’ thoughts are challenged and replaced with more realistic ones. By encouraging patients to test the reality of their negative beliefs, CBT effectively reduces symptoms of depression. This practical application highlights Beck’s theory’s real-world utility, reinforcing its value in treating depression.
What is one evaluation point?
Ellis’s ABC model has practical application in Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT). REBT focuses on identifying and challenging irrational beliefs to reduce depression. For example, therapists use vigorous argument to dispute irrational thoughts, helping patients adopt healthier thinking patterns. This supports the validity of Ellis’s theory, as it demonstrates its usefulness in therapy and its impact on improving patients’ lives.
What is one evaluation point?
Neither Beck’s theory nor Ellis’s ABC model explains all aspects of depression. Depression is complex, and some patients experience symptoms that cannot be explained by these theories, such as hallucinations or bizarre delusions like Cotard syndrome, where individuals believe they are dead. This limitation suggests that the cognitive approach is not a comprehensive explanation for all cases of depression.
