Psychopathology: Depression

Question 1

What is depression?

Answer 1

Category of mood disorders

Question 2

Name the 4 Categories of Depression and their symptoms.

Answer 2

Major Depressive Disorder
- severe short term depression
Persistent Depressive Disorder
- episodes of depression, long term recurring
Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder
- children/teens with ongoing irrationality, anger and intense outbursts
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
- lines up with the menstrual cycle, disruption of mood prior

Question 3

Cognitive Explanation of Depression

Answer 3

Thinking affects behaviour
- individuals who suffer from mental disorders have DISTORTED and IRRATIONAL THINKING

Question 4

What are the 3 parts of the Cognitive Triad (Beck)

Answer 4

1. Negative Self Schemas
2. Faulty Information Processes (cognitive bias)
3. Negative Triad

Question 5

Explain Negative Self-Schemas (Beck)

Answer 5

Will view themselves, the world in a negative light
- interpret information negatively
- leads to cognitive biases

Question 6

Explain Cognitive Biases (Beck)

Answer 6

Misperceive reality

1. Overgeneralisation
   - “this always happens to me” based on a single occurrence
2. Personalisation
   - negative feelings of others attributed to something about you
3. Selective Abstraction
   - focusing on a single aspect
4. Magnification
   - exaggerating significance of events
5. Minimisation
   - underplaying positive events and outcomes

Question 7

Explain the Negative Triad

Answer 7

Negative View of the self
Negative View of the world
Negative View of the future

Question 8

AO3 Cognitive Triad (Beck)

Answer 8

Good supporting research
- increases reliability
Practical applications in CBT
- aspects of depression can be tackled in CBT

Doesn’t explain all aspects of depression
- explains basic symptoms
Ignores biological factors
Doesn’t look at the cause

Question 9

Explain the ABC Model (Ellis)

Answer 9

A - action is affected by
B - individual’s belief which results in
C - a consequence

Question 10

How does the ABC Model work?

Answer 10

EXAMPLE

A - Breaking up with your boyfriend
B - That it’s all your fault, you will never be loved
C - Won’t attempt new relationships

Question 11

AO3 of ABC Model (Ellis)

Answer 11

Set criteria
Applied in CBT
More practical applications
Environment taken into account

“An action” - broad
Ignores biological factors
Irrational thinking could be seen as very extreme
Doesn’t explain all aspects
Partial explanation

Question 12

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Answer 12

Brief - 20 sessions over 16 weeks
Focuses on the here and now
Aims to identify and alter negative beliefs and later dysfunctional behaviours

Question 13

Rational Emotional Behavioural Therapy

Answer 13

Extends the ABCDEF model

D - dispute irrational thoughts and beliefs
E - Effects of disputing
F - Feelings produced

Question 14

3 Different Kinds of Disputing (REBT)

Answer 14

Logical Disputing - does this thinking make sense?
Empirical Disputing - where is the evidence for this belief?
Pragmatic Disputing - how will this belief help you?

Question 15

AO3 CBT

Answer 15

Useful in multiple aspects of clinical practice
Highly individualised
Removes the need for drugs
- less side effects

Lacks effectiveness for severe cases
High relapse rates

Question 16

AO3 REBT

Answer 16

Removes need for drugs
Highly individualised

Lacks effectiveness for severe cases
High relapse rates

Question 17

Strategies of CBT

Answer 17

Behavioural Activation
- focus the client on becoming more active and take part in activities
Homework
- tasks to complete between sessions
- only tasks they can SUCCEED at
Thought Catching
- record negative thoughts in a log and consider how they may challenge these