Cognitive approach to depression, Behavioral approach to phobias, Biological approach to OCD

What is Ellis’s ABC model?

• a model that explains depression as resulting from irrational beliefs following an activating event

What do the letters in Ellis’s ABC model stand for?

• A = Activating Event

• B = Belief (rational or irrational)

• C = Consequence (emotional/behavioural)

What are the three components of Beck’s Negative Triad?

• Negative views about: the self, the world, the future

What is one strength of the cognitive approach to depression?

• it considers thought processes and is supported by evidence (e.g. Hollon and Kendall, 1980)

What is one weakness of the cognitive approach to depression?

• faulty thinking might be a consequence, not a cause

• blame may be wrongly placed on the patient

What are four key features of CBT?

• Identify faulty cognitions

• Set goals

• Focus on the present

• Encourage keeping a diary

What is are advantages of CBT?

• it empowers patients with self-help strategies

• DeRubeis et al. (2005) found it effective

What is are disadvantages of CBT?

• time-consuming and costly

• may not be effective on its own

• some patients still feel guilt

How are phobias acquired and maintained according to behaviourism?

• acquired through classical conditioning

• maintained through operant conditioning (avoidance)

What is classical conditioning in relation to phobias?

• learning through association e.g. Little Albert associating a rat with fear

What is operant conditioning in relation to phobias?

• maintaining a phobia through negative reinforcement - avoiding the fear reduces anxiety

What is Mowrer’s Two-Process Model?

• phobias are acquired by classical conditioning and maintained by operant conditioning

What is one strength of the behavioural approach to phobias?

• supported by lab based studies (e.g. Ehlers and Durand, 1995)

• Effective treatment

What is one weakness of the behavioural approach to phobias?

• Davey (1992) found only 7% of spider phobics had a traumatic experience

What are the steps in systematic desensitisation?

1) Counter-conditioning

2) Fear hierarchy

3) Relaxation techniques

4) Gradual exposure

What is flooding in behavioural therapy?

• immediate and intense exposure to the phobic stimulus until fear subsides

What is one advantage of behavioural therapy for phobias?

• highly effective supported by Zinbarg et al. (1992) and Ost et al. (1991)

What is one disadvantage of behavioural therapy?

• may not be ethical or address the root cause

• risk of relapse if exposure is incomplete

What is the basic assumption of the biological approach to OCD?

• psychological disorders have physical causes - genetic, biochemical, and neurological

What evidence supports the genetic explanation of OCD?

• Billet et al. (1998), Pauls et al. (2005) higher concordance in MZ twins

What is the biochemical explanation of OCD?

• Low serotonin levels are linked to OCD. SSRIs can relieve symptoms (e.g. Soomro et al. 2008)

What is the neurological explanation of OCD?

• abnormality in the basal ganglia (e.g. Max et al., 1995)

What is one strength of the biological approach to OCD?

• has a scientific basis; genetic support; less blame on the individual

What is one weakness of the biological approach to OCD?

• ignores environmental/social factors

• SSRIs don’t work for everyone; side effects

How are SSRIs used to treat OCD?

• SSRIs increase serotonin levels to reduce OCD symptoms

What is are advantages of drug therapy for OCD?

• effective

• less effort required

• supported by studies (e.g. Thoren et al., 1980)

What is are disadvantages of drug therapy for OCD?

• side effects (e.g. nausea)

• up to 50% don’t improve

• may not tackle root cause