Studies and Evaluation on Cognitive Approach to Depression

If you want to revise the AO1 of Ellis' ABC model and Beck's negative triad etc, go to uplearn! :)

What did Koster et al aim to investigate?

Koster aimed to investigate the ability of attention of people with major depression, and compare it to the ability of attention with a control group.

Describe the procedure of Koster et al’s study

• 30 university students were participants

• Participants sat in front of computer screen

A square would appear either on the left or right. Participants must press the button as fast as they could to indicate where on the screen the square was.

Before this, a DISTRACTOR WORD WOULD APPEAR, which was either positive, negative or neutral

• Dependent variable → reaction time

What did Koster et al aim to investigate?

Koster aimed to investigate the ability of attention of people with major depression, and compare it to the ability of attention with a control group.

Describe the procedure of Koster et al’s study

• 30 university students were participants

• Participants sat in front of computer screen

A square would appear either on the left or right. Participants must press the button as fast as they could to indicate where on the screen the square was.

Before this, a DISTRACTOR WORD WOULD APPEAR, which was either positive, negative or neutral

• Dependent variable → reaction time

What were the findings of Koster et al’s study?

• When a negative distractor word came up

Experimental group = longer reaction time

Control group = shorter reaction time

• When a neutral distractor word came up

Experimental group = same reaction time as control

Control group = same reaction time as experimental

• When a positive distractor word came up

Experimental group = same reaction time as control

Control group = same reaction time as experimental

What was Koster et al’s conclusion?

People with major depression tend to focus on more negative information → they have a negative cognitive bias

Define a cognitive bias

When an individual pays attention to only some of the information.

Explain the practical applications of Beck’s cognitive model for screening and treatment (this is a strength)

Can be applied with cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).

CBT challenges irrational negative thoughts, replacing negative schemas with more positive ones.

One limitation of Beck’s cognitive explanation for depression is that it does not explain all aspects of the disorder. Elaborate on this.

For example, some people generally experience anger or hallucinations with their depression → suggests Beck’s model is limited in explaining other aspects of depression

What is another limitation of Beck’s cognitive model for depression?

Placing the blame on the client for developing the disorder can be considered as an unfair judgement.

One strength is that Ellis’ ABC model has real-world applications. Elaborate on this.

Ellis’ ABC model is applied in ‘Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy’ (REBT) → consists of vigorously arguing with the patient against their irrational negative thoughts

What are the two limitations of Ellis’ ABC model

• Only explains reactive depression (depression caused by negative events) and does not explain endogenous depression (depression not caused by negative events that the patient remembers is significant)

• Ethical issues → unfair to place blame for the development of depression on the person with depression