Psychopathology : Depression

Question 1

What is Beck’s Cognitive Triad(1963) ?

Answer 1

• Claimed that depression is caused by a negative self-schemas the cognitive triad: a negative and irrational view of ourselves, our future and the world around us.
• For suffers of depression these thoughts occur automatically and symptomatic of depressed people

Question 2

What is Depression?

Answer 2

Depression is a category of mood disorders, which is often divided into two main types: unipolar and bipolar depression, otherwise known as manic-depression.

Question 3

What is self-schemas?

Answer 3

A schema is ‘ a package ‘ of knowledge which stores information and ideas about ourselves and the world around us.

Question 4

How are negative self-schemas developed ?

Answer 4

These schemas Developed during childhood and according to Beck, depressed people possesses negative self- schemas which may come from negative experiences for example criticism from parents, peers or even teachers.

Question 5

Examples of negative self - schemas ?

Answer 5

• An ineptness schema, which makes sufferers expect fail
• a self - blame schema that makes them feel responsible for any misfortune
• a negative self evaluation schema that constantly reminds them of their worthlessness.

Question 6

What is cognitive bias?

Answer 6

A cognitive bias is an error in thinking that affects the decisions and judgments that people make.

Question 7

What did Beck found out about depressed people?

Answer 7

Becca found that depressed people are more likely to focus on the negative aspects of a situation, while ignoring the positives. These distort information, a process known as cognitive bias.

Question 8

Overgeneralisation

Answer 8

Overgeneralising is Jumping to an extreme conclusion based on a single incident.

Question 9

Catastrophising

Answer 9

Where a Minor setback becomes a complete disaster

Question 10

What is the negative view of three key aspects of a persons life?

Answer 10

• The self ~ ‘ nobody loves me ‘
• The world ~ ‘ the world is an unfair place ‘
• The future ~ ‘ I will always be a failure ‘

Question 11

What is Ellis’s ABC model ?

Answer 11

A ~ Activating Event
B ~ Beliefs
C ~ consequences

Question 12

What is a Activating Event ? ( ABC Model )

Answer 12

• an event that occurs for example if someone says hello but is ignored

Question 13

What is Beliefs ( ABC model )

Answer 13

• A rational interpretation of the event might be that your friend is very busy and possibly stressed, and he/she simply didn’t see or hear you
• Irrational interpretation of the event might be that your friend dislikes you and never will talk to you again

Question 14

What are the Consequences ( ABC model ) ?

Answer 14

• Rational Beliefs : talk with my friend and see if alright

- Irrational Beliefs : ignore them and delete their number

Question 15

Advantages of Evaluation of the Cognitive Approach to Explain Depression

Answer 15

-One strength of the cognitive explanation for depression is its application to therapy.
-cognitive explanations have been used to develop effective treatment for depression, including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and rational emotive behaviour therapy (REBT) Which was developed from Ellis’s ABC model.
-these therapies attempt to identify and challenge negative, irrational thoughts and have been successfully used to treat people with depression, providing further support to the cognitive explanation of depression

Question 16

Disadvantages of the evaluation of the cognitive approach to explaining depression

Answer 16

• it does not explain the origin of irrational thoughts.
• psychologists are unable to determine if negative,irrational thoughts cause depression or whether a persons depression leads to negative mindset.
• is it possible that other factors for example jeans and neurotransmitters are the cause of depression and the negative irrational thoughts are the symptoms of depression

Question 17

What is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)

Answer 17

• A way of treating depression
• Involves both cognitive and behavioural elements. The cognitive element aims to identify irrational and negative thoughts which lead to depression. The aim is to replace Negative thoughts with more positive and rational ones.

Question 18

What are the various components to CBT

Answer 18

1) intial assessment
2) Goal setting
3) . Identifying negative/irrational thoughts and challenging these:
- either using becks cognitive therapy or Ellis’s REBT
4. ) homework

Question 19

Explain the components of CBT?

Answer 19

• All CBT starts with an initial assessment, in which the patient and therapist identify the patient’s problems.
• the patient and therapist agree on a set of goals, and plan of action to achieve these goals.
• Both forms of CBT (Beck’s and Ellis’s) then aim to identify the negative and irrational thoughts, however their approaches are slightly different.

Question 20

Beck’s Cognitive Therapy?

Answer 20

• Therapists will help the patient to identify negative thoughts in relation to themselves, their world and their future, using Beck’s negative triad.
• The patient and therapist will then work together to challenge these irrational thoughts, by discussing evidence for and against them.
• homework

Question 21

Ellis’s Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT)?

Answer 21

Ellis developed his ABC model to include D (dispute) and E (effect or effective). Like Beck, the main idea is to challenge irrational thoughts, however, with Ellis’s theory this is achieved through ‘dispute’ (argument).

The therapist will dispute the patient’s irrational beliefs, to replace their irrational beliefs with effective beliefs and attitudes. There are different types of dispute which can be used, including: logical dispute – where the therapist questions the logic of a person’s thoughts, for example: ‘does the way you think about that situation make any sense?’ Or empirical dispute – where the therapists seeks evidence for a person’s thoughts, for example: ‘where is the evidence that your beliefs are true?’

Following a session, the therapist may set their patient homework. The idea is that the patient identifies their own irrational beliefs and then proves them wrong. As a result, their beliefs begin to change. For example, someone who is anxious in social situations may be set a homework assignment to meet a friend for a drink.

Question 22

Evaluation of the Cognitive Approach to Treating Depression

Answer 22

• One strength of cognitive behaviour therapy comes from research evidence which demonstrates its effectiveness in treating depression.
• Research by March et al. (2007) found that CBT was as effective as antidepressants, in treating depression.
• The researchers examined 327 adolescents with a diagnosis of depression and looked at the effectiveness of CBT, antidepressants and a combination of CBT plus antidepressants. After 36 weeks, 81% of the antidepressant group and 81% of the CBT group had significantly improved, demonstrating the effectiveness of CBT in treating depression. However, 86% of the CBT plus antidepressant group had significantly improved, suggesting that a combination of both treatments may be more effective.

Question 23

Issues with the evaluation of the cognitive approach to treating depression

Answer 23

• requires motivation
• Patients with severe depression may not engage with CBT, or even attend the sessions and therefore this treatment will be ineffective in treating these patients.
• Furthermore, cognitive behavioural therapy has been criticised for its overemphasis on the role of cognitions. Some psychologists have criticised CBT, as it suggests that a person’s irrational thinking is the primary cause of their depression and CBT does not take into account other factors.
• For example, a patient who is suffering from domestic violence or abuse, does not need to change their negative/irrational beliefs, but in fact needs to change their circumstances.