The Cognitive Approach To Explaining And Treating Depression Flashcards
What is the cognitive approach to explaining depression?
It’s suggests that abnormal behaviour arises from faulty thought processes
What is Ellis’ ABC model?
A - an Activating event (failing an exam)
B - the Belief (“I failed the exam, so I am dumb and useless”)
C - the Consequence (low self-esteem)
What is musturbation?
Thinking that certain ideas must be true for an individual to be happy
What is ‘I-can’t-stand-it- itis’?
Feeling overwhelmed if something goes wrong, believing it is a disaster
What is Utopianism?
Believing the world should always be fair
What is Beck’s cognitive theory?
Faulty thinking/information processing will lead to depression
What is faulty information processing?
Focusing on negative aspects, maximising small problems
What are negative self schemas?
Packages of information about ourselves based on experience - if they’re negative we interpret everything about ourselves as negative
What is Beck’s ‘negative triad’?
Negative views about the world, future and self
Which study supports the cognitive explanation for depression?
Graziolo and Terry (2000)
What did Grazioli and Terry find, and why does it support the cognitive explanation for depression?
Women assessed to be cognitively vulnerable to depression were more likely to go on to develop post-natal depression - shows negative thoughts do lead to depression
What is a strength of the cognitive explanation for depression?
Effective therapy has been developed because of the theories - CBT
What is a limitation of Ellis’ ABC model?
Relies on depression being caused by an activating event - not all depression is, so it’s a limited explanation
What is a limitation of the cognitive explanation for depression?
The theories cannot explain all aspects of depression (e.g. hallucinations, anger) - therefore it’s only a partial explanation
What does Cognitive Behavioural Therapy aim to do?
It aims to change people’s thinking and the behaviours they have learnt
What is Ellis’ Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy?
An extension of the ABC model - Idea of the therapy is to make the patient understand that their thoughts are irrational, and substitute these thoughts for more effective cognitions
What is the ABCDE model?
A - Activating event
B - Belief
C - Consequence
D - Dispute
E - Effect
What are 3 ways of ‘Disputing’ in Ellis’ REBT?
Logical disputing - does it make sense to think in this way?
Empirical disputing - what evidence is there that this belief is true?
Pragmatic disputing - how is thinking like this going to help?
What does Beck’s Cognitive Therapy aim to do?
It aims to challenge the negative, irrational thoughts that a patient may have (Negative triad), and patients are tasked to test the reality of these beliefs
How may a therapist get patients to test the reality of their negative beliefs?
Encourage them to keep a diary of positive experiences and feelings - client in control. The therapist then refers to the findings whenever a patient is negative.
What is Behavioural Activation?
When patients are encouraged to take part in enjoyable activities, to provide further counter-evidence for their irrational beliefs.
Which study supports the effectiveness of CBT?
March et al (2007) - Depressed adolescents
What did March et al find?
81% of depressed adolescents showed improvement after undergoing CBT, compared to 81% using drugs and 86% using both.
What do the findings of March et al tell us?
That CBT is just as effective as drug treatment
What is a limitation of CBT? (dedication)
CBT requires dedication and motivation - something difficult for people with severe depression - means the treatment cannot be used for everyone
What is a limitation of CBT? (overemphasis on cognition)
Environmental factors ignored (e.g. domestic abuse, unfulfilling jobs) - weakens CBT because changing the patients thoughts won’t change their negative environment, which may be the cause of the depression
