Explanation for Depression notes

Beck's Negative Triad (1967)

Aaron Beck's cognitive theory explaining vulnerability to depression through three types of negative thinking - negative view of the world, future, and self.

Faulty Information Processing

Depressed individuals focus on negatives, ignore positives, and tend towards black and white thinking.

Negative Self-Schema

Interpretation of information about yourself in a negative way

Self-Schema

The package of information people have about themselves

Schema

A package of ideas and information developed through experience.

The negative Triad

Negative view of the world

Negative view of the future

Negative view of self

Ellis's ABC Model (1962)

Proposed good mental health is the result of rational thinking. Poor mental health result from irrational thoughts.

Activating Event: Irrational thoughts triggered by external events

Beliefs: A range of irrational beliefs. Such as that we must always succeed (musturbation)

Consequences: When an activating event triggers irrational beliefs that are emotional and behavioral consequences

Rational thinking

Thinking in a way that allow people to be happy and free form pain.

Irrational thoughts

Thoughts that interfere with us being happy and free from pain

Strengths of Becks Cognitive Model

David Clark and Aaron Beck (1999):

Concluded that not only were cognitive vulnerabilities more common in depressed people, but they preceded depression.

Joseph Cohen et al(2019):

Tracked the development of 473 adolescents, regularly measuring sognitive vulnerability. Found cognitive vulnerability predicted later depression.

Real world application:

Allows to identify those most at risk of developing depression in the future and monitoring

Strengths of ABC Model

Real world application:

David et al(2018)

REBT can change negative beliefs and relieve symptoms of depression.

Limitations of ABC Model

Only explains reactive depression, not endogenous.

Ethical Issues:

Locates responsibility of depression purely within the depressed person

Reactive Depression

Depression triggered by life events

Endogenous Depression

Depression not traceable to life events

Cognitive Vulnerability

Ways of thinking that may predispose a person to becoming depressed.

Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)

Ellis's approach aiming to alter irrational beliefs through vigorous argumentation in cognitive therapy for depression.