3) cognitive explanation for depression

What’s major depressive disorder?

Prolonged presence of depressed mood

What is bipolar disorder?

Two different extreme moods, mania and depression

Behavioural characteristics of depression?

A shift in activity, either reduced or increased. Sleep disturbance eg insomnia. Drastic change in eating behaviour and aggressive behaviour either to self (self-harm) and others

Emotional characteristics of depression

Lowered mood such as sadness and loss of interest in normal activities

Feeling of emptiness and lowered self esteem such as feeling worthless

Cognitive characteristics of depression

Irrational thought process such as overgeneralising, absolutism. Persistent negative beliefs about themselves and their abilities. Thoughts about suicide and slower thought processes such as difficult concentrating

negative schema link to depression

Depressed people may have acquired negative self scheme during childhood which is activated when the persons encounters a new but simula situation. This leads to cognitive bias such as overgeneralising and sweeping thoughts

Beck negative triad?

A negative view of the world, future and self

What’s a negative triad?

A pessimistic and irrational view of three key elements in a person’s belief system

what does the negative triad lead too?

A biased and irrational thinking pattern such as absolutism and over generalisation

Ellis ABC model

An activating event causes feelings of depression. Irrational beliefs based on the events. Self defeating consequences as a result of irrational beliefs

What supporting evidence is there for biased thinking patterns in depressed people?

Researchers conducted a content analysis of internet forums and found that depression and suicidal ideation forums contained more absolutist words than control forums. Suggests that absolutist thinking may be a feature of depression

Why does the cognitive approach to depression have real world application?

Led to the development of cbt snd rebt

why may the cognitive approach be reductionist?

Ignores biological reasons for depression such as low seretonin, and predisposition to depression as it can be inherited

Why is the direction of casualty unclear for depression?

there may be a two way relationship in that negative thinking predisposes depression and depression increases negative thinking g

How does beck cognitive therapy work? (CBT)

The therapist challenges these thoughts and the client is encouraged to test the reality of their negative beliefs such as setting homework like recording when they enjoy an event (the client is the scientist as they create aims and hypothesis and then test them) this record can be used to challenge the client negative beliefs. Also encourages client to partake in pleasurable activities

What does Ellis believe when it comes to treating depression using REBT?

The way to deal with depression is to first identify the source of irrational thinking

How does REBT work?

He proposed disputing an irrational belief by turning into into a rational one and creating a positive effect. This can prevent the indiviso from catastrophising the activating event

What are the types of disputing?

Logical disputing, empirical disputing (no evidence) and pragmatic disputing (uselessness of such beliefs)

Supporting research into the effectiveness of CBT

March et al (2007) compared treatment group of 327 depressed teenagers. Three condition: CBT treatment, drug treatment or both. After 36 weeks.81% showed significant improvement and 86% showed improvement in the both condition

Why is it a benefit that CBT deals with root causes and not just symptoms?

CBT only focuses on drug treatment which can lead to relapse whilst CBT deals with root causes and encourages better life choices

Why is it a disadvantage that CBT is expensive and time consuming

It cannot always be offered and the cost of training professional and long treatment is not efficient compared to drug treatment

Why is CBT reductionist?

CBT is only suitable for reactive depression and may not help if it has been caused by chemicals imbalance in the brain like low serotonin and doesn’t take into account that. Treatment for depression is most effective when combined