Pyschopathology - Depression

Question 1

What are 3 behavioural characteristics of depression?

Answer 1

• changed sleeping patterns
• lowered activity levels
• physical aggression towards yourself such as self harm

Question 2

What are the emotional characteristics of depression?

Answer 2

• constant low mood
• anger
• low self-esteem

Question 3

What are the cognitive characteristics of depression?

Answer 3

• lack of concentration
• selective attention towards negative events
• absolutist thinking

Question 4

What is faulty processing identified by Beck?

Answer 4

Interpreting information about themselves negative occurs due to negative schema.

Question 5

What is Beck’s negative triad?

Answer 5

Negative views of oneself
Negative views about the world
Negative views about the future

Question 6

What is Ellis’s ABC model?

Answer 6

Ellis’ ABC model proposed an (A) activating event, that triggers an irrational (B) belief and results in an emotional (C) consequence in the form of depression. Ellis described irrational thoughts as thoughts preventing us from being happy.

Question 7

What is cognitive behavioural therapy?

Answer 7

Aims to identify and challenge irrational thoughts, replacing them with more productive behavior is, and thus treating depression.

Question 8

How does Becks’s CBT aim to identify patients thoughts and challenge them?

Answer 8

• The therapist encourages the patient to explain their experiences and challenges any negative beliefs by giving evidence that disproves their thoughts, helping the patient to understand that they are not based on reality.
• The patient is then given homework to test the therapist’s hypothesis and to try out coping strategies they have learnt in therapy