Cognitive etiology

Aarons becks Theory

Argues that the root of depression is caused by an individuals automatic thoughts

Automatic Thoughts

are spontaneous, involuntary thoughts that occur in response to a situation

Negative self schemas

based on past experiences organised around failure, loss, worthlessness and triggered by environmental stimuli

Negative cognitive Triad

patients will have a negative view on the world, themselves and the future

Ineptness Schema

I will fail

Self blame schema

always blaming everything on themselves

Negative Self evaluation

I am worthless

Dichotomous thinking

All or Nothing approach on life

Exaggeration

Overestimating the significance of an event

Overgeneralization

applying one incident to other

Strengths

use of longitudinal research, practical application of theory (CBT)

Limitations

Not possible to isolate factors during studies, cannot measure schemas

Alloy Aim

To investigate if ones thinking patterns could be used to predict the onset of depression

Alloy Method

• students were given a test to measure their thinking patterns then split up into high risk or low risk groups

• over the next 5 years researches did follow ups to check their depressive episodes and life events

Alloy Resutls

• only 1% of low risk developed depression

• 17% percent of high risk developed depression

Joiner AIm

to determine the role of depressive and anxious thinking patterns on the development of depressive symptoms

DAS

• measures thinking patterns such as vulnerability, need for approval, perfectionism

• taken before mid term exams

BDI

• measures levels of depressive symptoms

• taken before and after exams

Joiner Results

• those who failed the exam and had a high DAS score had an increase in BDI scores

• those who had a high DAS but passed did not change in BDI

• those who had a low BAS and failed had no change in BDI