Psychopathology -> Depression Flashcards
Change in Activity Levels:
Some people experience lethargy leading to reduced movement and speech. They may also withdraw from activities that were once enjoyed. They may also neglect personal hygiene. Other people experience increased activity levels/agitation.
Disruption to Sleep:
Constant insomnia whereby they have difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep. Alternatively they might require large amounts of sleep and they oversleep.
Disruption to Eating Behaviour:
Significant increase or decrease in weight is associated with depression. Some people might eat a great deal when they are depressed and therefore put on weight. Other people have a reduced appetite and eat very little, and therefore lose weight.
Low Mood:
A key characteristic of depression is the ever present and overwhelming feelings of sadness/hopelessness and feeling empty.
Feelings of Worthlessness:
Sufferers of depression often have constant feelings of reduced worth and/or inappropriate feelings of guilt. They might also experience very low levels of self-esteem.
Anger:
The person might feel anger towards others, or towards themselves. Depression may arise from feelings of being hurt and wishing to retaliate.
Negative Schema:
Depressed people often have a negative view of the world, themselves and the future. This leads to the self-fulfilling prophecy whereby if you expect negative things to happen, they will happen because you make them happen. Positive factors in their life will be ignored.
Poor Concentration:
There can be difficulty in paying/maintaining attention, and the person might feel that they cannot stay on task for long periods of time. They might have slower thought processes than normal and difficulty making decisions. Depressed people will also have trouble retrieving memories
The Negative Triad
negative schema
pessimistic view
new situation that resembles the original conditions
cognitive biases
The Self
The World
The Future
Strength of The Negative Triad
Supporting evidence
High cognitive vulnerability
Weaknesses of The Negative Triad
Cause and effect
&
Does not explain all symptoms
ABC Model
Ellis proposed that depression is caused by irrational beliefs. He devised the ABC model to explain how irrational and negative beliefs are formed.
- Activating Event: An incident in someone’s life.
- Beliefs: The thoughts that occur after the activating event. These could be rational or irrational
- Consequences: The emotions that are caused by these beliefs. Rational beliefs are likely to lead to healthy emotions, whereas irrational beliefs are likely to lead to unhealthy emotions.
Strength of ABC Model
There is research to support the idea of the ABC model as a cause of depression. Bates found that depressed participants who were given negative thought statements became more and more depressed; supporting the view that negative thinking helps to cause depression.
Weakness of ABC Model
Although the ABC model gives the client some power to change the situation and improve their symptoms of depression; it blames the client for the depression.
Beck’s Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
thought-catching
patient as scientist
homework assignments
diary to record events
positive reinforcement
cognitive restructuring
Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy
challenging automatic negative thoughts
logical arguments
self-defeating beliefs
engage in behavioural activation
taking part in pleasurable activities
Strengths of REBT
David found that CBT is a better treatment for depression in the long-term than antidepressants. He compared 170 patients with depression who had 14 weeks of CBT with patients who were treated with the drug fluoxetine. Six months later it was found that patients who had received CBT were less likely to have relapsed.
Weaknesses of REBT
Commitment & motivation
Antidepressants might be more effective
&
Ignores other factors
