The Cognitive Approach to Depression Flashcards
What is Beck’s negative triad?
The idea that people with depression became trapped in a cycle of negative thoughts, depressed people tend to focus on the negative and ignore the positive.
- Negative view of the self
- Negative view of the future
- Negative view of the world
Depression stems from negative schemas… what are these? (Beck’s)
A self schema is a package of ideas we have about ourselves, those that are depressed have negative versions of these. Usually this is an ineptness schema or a self blame schema.
What is an ineptness schema? (Beck’s)
An expectation of failure
What is a self-blame schema? (Beck’s)
A feeling of responsibility for all misfortunes
Depression is maintained by cognitive biases… what are these? (Beck’s)
- Arbitrary interference
- Minimisation
- Magnification
- Overgeneralisation
What is arbitrary interference? (Beck’s)
Conclusions drawn without sufficient evidence
What is minimisation? (Beck’s)
Minimalising any positive life events
What is magnification? (Beck’s)
Exaggerating negative elements
What is overgeneralisation? (Beck’s)
Sweeping conclusions drawn on the basis of a single event
What is Ellis’s ABC model?
Ellis proposed that depression was mainly the result of irrational thoughts about external events. To explain this he proposed a simple concept known as the ABC model. Ellis claimed depression was not really the result of the activating event, but more based on the accompanying beliefs about the events
What does the A stand for in the ABC model?
A = The activation event
What does the B stand for in the ABC model?
B = Beliefs about A. According to Ellis, these beliefs are the crucial difference between individuals who become depressed and those who do not. These are undesirable emotions and thoughts
What does the C stand for in the ABC model?
C = Consequences of undesirable thoughts and emotions which would lead to undesirable behaviour
What is polarised thinking (Ellis)?
Seeing everything in black or white
What is over-generalisation (Ellis)?
Sweeping generalisations
What is catastrophising (Ellis)?
Making a mountain out of a molehill
What are the general basic principles surrounding CBT?
- Simultaneously tackling cognition and behaviour
- Weekly or fortnightly sessions (30 mins to an hour) for 6 weeks to 6 months
- Therapy focuses on the present but may ask about the past
- The client and therapist agree about what to discuss at a session
- Problems are broken down into parts to identify thoughts, emotions and actions
What is the aim of CBT?
To help rationalise and challenge depressed patients irrational thinking as this can help remove the depressive states patients find themselves in. Simultaneously challenges the thinking and behaviour of depressed patients
What are the 4 key features of CBT?
- Identifying negative thinking patterns in depressed patients
- Challenging irrational thoughts of depressed patients
- Skill acquisition and application
- Follow-up
What is identifying negative thinking patterns in depressed patients (CBT)?
Encouraging depressed patients to talk about the specific difficulties and identify any negative automatic thoughts. Beck’s depression inventory consists of 21 questions scored from 0 to 3 giving a total score between 0 and 63. Each question is a different symptom and this gives a good indicator of mood
What is challenging irrational thoughts of depressed patients (CBT)?
Challenging negative thoughts and providing alternatives. Sometimes called cognitive reframing as it shows events in a more optimistic fashion
What is skill acquisition and application (CBT)?
The therapist introduces intervention techniques including new skills and ways of thinking of things. Relaxation techniques and optimistic self-statements can be used alongside setting homework
