Depression

Behavioural characteristics of depression:

Activity levels, disruption to sleep and eating behaviour, self harm

Emotional characteristics of depression:

Low mood, anger, low self esteem

Cognitive characteristics of depression:

Poor concentration, focusing on the negative, absolutist thinking

Beck’s negative triad:

Negative views of the world, the future and the self. Faulty information processing (pessimism). Negative self-schema (negative lens).

Ellis’s ABC model:

Activating event

Beliefs

Consequence

Both don’t explain depression fully

Beck - doesn’t explain people who become aggressive or see hallucinations/delusion

Ellis - explains reactive depression but not endogenous (when people are depressed without activating event)

Both real-world application in therapy

Beck - forms the basis of CBT, meaning that you challenge the irrational thoughts that you are feeling and counteracting them with correct thoughts.

Ellis - forms the basis of REBT, meaning that you argue with the therapist to break the link between negative life events and depression

Behavioural activation:

Gradually decrease avoidance and increase engagement in activities that improve mood e.g. exercising

Not available for severe cases

Some people may not engage with it or struggle to put in the effort (e.g. some can’t even get out of bed). Drugs may be a better option.

Idiographic approach

Focuses of specific detail, getting to know triggers and solutions. High-benefits in application.

High relapse rate

Ali found a 53% relapse rate by the end of the year. Not very effective long-term.