The Cognitive Approach To Explaining And Treating Depression

Question 1

What is the cognitive approach to explaining depression?

Answer 1

It’s suggests that abnormal behaviour arises from faulty thought processes

Question 2

What is Ellis’ ABC model?

Answer 2

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)

Question 3

What is musturbation?

Answer 3

Thinking that certain ideas must be true for an individual to be happy

Question 4

What is ‘I-can’t-stand-it- itis’?

Answer 4

Feeling overwhelmed if something goes wrong, believing it is a disaster

Question 5

What is Utopianism?

Answer 5

Believing the world should always be fair

Question 6

What is Beck’s cognitive theory?

Answer 6

Faulty thinking/information processing will lead to depression

Question 7

What is faulty information processing?

Answer 7

Focusing on negative aspects, maximising small problems

Question 8

What are negative self schemas?

Answer 8

Packages of information about ourselves based on experience - if they’re negative we interpret everything about ourselves as negative

Question 9

What is Beck’s ‘negative triad’?

Answer 9

Negative views about the world, future and self

Question 10

Which study supports the cognitive explanation for depression?

Answer 10

Graziolo and Terry (2000)

Question 11

What did Grazioli and Terry find, and why does it support the cognitive explanation for depression?

Answer 11

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

Question 12

What is a strength of the cognitive explanation for depression?

Answer 12

Effective therapy has been developed because of the theories - CBT

Question 13

What is a limitation of Ellis’ ABC model?

Answer 13

Relies on depression being caused by an activating event - not all depression is, so it’s a limited explanation

Question 14

What is a limitation of the cognitive explanation for depression?

Answer 14

The theories cannot explain all aspects of depression (e.g. hallucinations, anger) - therefore it’s only a partial explanation

Question 15

What does Cognitive Behavioural Therapy aim to do?

Answer 15

It aims to change people’s thinking and the behaviours they have learnt

Question 16

What is Ellis’ Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy?

Answer 16

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

Question 17

What is the ABCDE model?

Answer 17

A - Activating event
B - Belief
C - Consequence
D - Dispute
E - Effect

Question 18

What are 3 ways of ‘Disputing’ in Ellis’ REBT?

Answer 18

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?

Question 19

What does Beck’s Cognitive Therapy aim to do?

Answer 19

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

Question 20

How may a therapist get patients to test the reality of their negative beliefs?

Answer 20

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.

Question 21

What is Behavioural Activation?

Answer 21

When patients are encouraged to take part in enjoyable activities, to provide further counter-evidence for their irrational beliefs.

Question 22

Which study supports the effectiveness of CBT?

Answer 22

March et al (2007) - Depressed adolescents

Question 23

What did March et al find?

Answer 23

81% of depressed adolescents showed improvement after undergoing CBT, compared to 81% using drugs and 86% using both.

Question 24

What do the findings of March et al tell us?

Answer 24

That CBT is just as effective as drug treatment

Question 25

What is a limitation of CBT? (dedication)

Answer 25

CBT requires dedication and motivation - something difficult for people with severe depression - means the treatment cannot be used for everyone

Question 26

What is a limitation of CBT? (overemphasis on cognition)

Answer 26

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