Psychopathology - Depression Flashcards
what are the emotional symptoms of depression?
loneliness
anger/anxiety
chronic low mood
what are the cognitive symptoms of depression?
negative thoughts
catastrophizing
irrational circular thought patterns
what are the behavioural symptoms of depression?
reduced activity
hypersomnia or insomnia
disturbed appetite
self injurous behaviours
what is depression?
a mood disorder characterized by low mood and low energy levels
what is Ellis’s ABC model for depression?
healthy:
activating event -> rational belief -> flexible consequence
depressed:
activating event -> irrational event -> fixed consequence
what causes irrational beliefs?
mustabatory thinking
what is mustabatory thinking?
cognitions containing fixed terms eg I must receive positive feedback or I am worthless
draw beck’s negative triad
what is the core schema is beck’s triad?
how you would describe yourself
what is ruminating?
repetitive circular thinking with each thought feeding the next
what can a negative core schema lead to?
negative biases, which can affect perception causing irrational perception of events
what is catastrophising?
irrationally negative view and/or predictions of situations
what are the limitations of the cognitive explanation of depression?
ignores biology - certain genes can cause depression, amygdala/PFC volume is smaller in depressed people
ignores behavioural approach - seligman’s learned helplessness
what are some advantages of the cognitive approach to explaining depression?
applications - Beck’s theory formed basis for CBT, modern success rate of 75%
applications - ellis created REBT with a claimed 90% success rate (in reality was lower)
why can’t we interact with cognitions?
they are theoretical constructs to explain thought patterns
what is behavioural training used for?
to challenge and modify cognitions indirectly
what is CBT?
a talking therapy that aims to identify irrational thought patterns and change them
how does CBT use both cognitive and behavioural techniques?
cognitive - identifying and challenging irrational thoughts
behavioural - once irrational thoughts identified, coping strategies are developed
what was the first CBT?
ellis’ REBT
what does REBT stand for?
Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy
what was added onto the ABC model when it was extended?
Distrupting irrational cognitions
Effects of disputing
Feelings that result from the process
what are the principles of CBT?
homework - setting patients tasks between sessions to challenge the beliefs and provide basis for the next session
behavioural activation - activity is psychologically and physiologically rewarding
unconditional positive regard - makes patients feel valued and trusted
what are the advantages of the cognitive approach to treating depression?
after 36 weeks, 81% patients improved
meta-analysis shows that it is reliable
what are the disadvantages of the cognitive approach to treating depression?
requires patient to be willing - depression may be so severe that patients cannot motivate themselves to engage
not sure if it is CBT thats helping - could be simple contact or getting along well with the therapist in general
more effective when patients treated with drugs and CBT together
drugs cheaper and quicker
what was added onto the ABC model when it was extended?
Distrupting irrational cognitions
Effects of disputing
Feelings that result from the process
