Psychopathology - Depression Flashcards
Behavioural characteristics of depression
Crying, not leaving the house, low activity levels, disruption to sleep/eating, aggression, self-harm
Emotional characteristics of depression
Low mood, stress, low self-esteem
Cognitive characteristics of depression
Unable to do anything, no motivation, poor concentration, dwelling on the negatives, absolutist thinking (concrete, black & white thinking)
Beck’s negative triad (1)
- Negative views of the world
- Negative views of the future
- Negative views of themselves
Beck’s negative triad (2)
Negative self-schema coming from earlier negative experiences -> cognitive biases focused on negatives -> over-generalisations (specific to stimulus) and catastrophising (blowing everything up/exaggerating)
Ellis’ ABC model (1)
Cognitive approach to understanding mental disorders by focusing on the effect of irrationality on emotions (poor mental health -> irrational thinking)
Ellis’ ABC model (2)
A - Activating event
B - Belief (interpretation of event)
C - Consequences (emotional outcome)
Depression involves irrational thinking
Treatment for depression (1)
CBT - Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (combination of cog. & beh. techniques)
- Clarify problems w/therapist
- Identify goals
- Challenge irrational thoughts & test reality
- Set homework to accomplish goals
Treatment for depression (2)
REBT - Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy (adds from ABC model)
D - Dispute irrational thoughts (are the thoughts logical, empirical or pragmatic?)
E - Effects
Homework tasks to test the beliefs
Strengths of Beck’s negative triad
Practical application (Cohen et al 2019 - assessing cognitive vulnerability allows screening for younger people -> earlier intervention of depression)
Research support (Cohen et al - 473 teens tracked)
Limitations of Beck’s negative triad
Cannot be explained by cognitive vulnerabilities/explanations (i.e. anger issues, hallucinations, delusions)
Strengths of Ellis’ ABC model
Practical application (REBT, David et al 2018 - effective in changing negative beliefs and relieve symptoms of depression)
Limitations of Ellis’ ABC model
Only explains reactive depression (many cases are not traceable to life events)
Controversial (blames individuals for their depression due to focused responsibility)
Strengths of CBT treatment
Effective (March et al 2007 - comparing to anti-depressants and combined treatment -> 81% improved with CBT, 81% anti-depressants, 86% combined)
Cost-effective (6-12 brief sessions)
Limitations of CBT treatment
Diversity (Sturney 2005 - lacks effectiveness for people with learning difficulties due to lack of motivation and attention)
Relapsing (long-term outcomes aren’t good; Ali et al 2017 - in 12 months following CBT, 42% relapsed in 6 months & 53% in 12)
