The cognitive approach to depression

Question 1

What are the key assumptions of the cognitiive approach?

Answer 1

• There are a number of cognitive explanations of depression which believe that the disorder is the resullt of disturbance in thinking
• They focus on an individuals negative thought, irrational beliefs and misinterpretation of events as being the cause of depression.

Question 2

What did Beck suggest?

Answer 2

That there is a cognitive explanation as to why some people are more vunerable to depression than others.

Question 3

What did Beck suggestthe three pats of cognitive vunrability are?

Answer 3

• The negative triad
• Negative self-schemas
• Cognitive biases

Question 4

What is Becks negative triad?

Answer 4

He suggested that people with depression become trapped in a cycle of nagative thoughts.
-Negative view of the self
-Negative view of the future
-Negative view of the world

Question 5

What did Beck say negative self schemas are?

Answer 5

The negative views stem from negative self-schemas. A self schema is a package of ideas that we have about ourselves.

Question 6

What are the two types of schemas Beck suggested?

Answer 6

• Ineptness schema
• Self-blame schema

Question 7

What is an imeptness schema?

Answer 7

Means the individual expects to fail any type they attempt

Question 8

What is a self blame schema?

Answer 8

Means an individual feels responsible for all misfortunes, even though that are clearly out of their control

Question 9

What is a cognitive bias?

Answer 9

Negative schemas are further maintained by cognitive biases which cause a misperception of reality

Question 10

What did Albert Ellis suggest?

Answer 10

• Proposed that good mental health is the result of rational thinking
• Argued that there are commen irrational belief that underline much depression and suffers have based their lives on these belifs

Question 11

What is Ellis’ ABC model ?

Answer 11

suggested that A is the activating event, B is the individuals belief which reselts in C the consequence.

Question 12

Research evidence from The Temple Wisconsin study.

Answer 12

This study of cognitive vunrablility to depression smapled uni students none of which were suffering with depression and were assesed every few months for 2 years. Results showed for first 2 years 17% of those with high scores on negative thinking went on to experience a period of severe depression compared to 1% of those with low scores

Question 13

Beck and Ellis’ explanations have practical app in CBT

Answer 13

All cognitive aspects of depression can be challenged in CBT, irrational negative beliefs are challenged and this can help to reduce depression symptoms suggesting that irrational beliefs had some rolw in the depression.

Question 14

However we cannot establish cause and effect.

Answer 14

Depressed people undoubtlry have negative thoughts but do the negative thoughts help to cause depression. Or is there a 3rd factor that mights lead to depression and olso to faulty thinking.