COGNITIVE APPROACH TO EXPLAIN DEPRESSION Flashcards
Depression
depression is due to irrational thoughts, resulting from maladaptive internal processes.
becks triad model
beck rpoposed that one has cognitive vulnerability towards developing depression through faulty information processing, negative self schemas and negative thoughts.
through faulty information processing, patients blows small problems out of proportion, thinking in black and white, through negative schemas patient interprets all information about themselves in a negative light, through cognitive triad patient suffers from negative automatic thoughts about themselves, the world and the future.
components of becks triad model
faulty information processing, negative schemas and cognitive triad ( negative thoughts)
supporting research evidence for becks triad model
grazioli and terry evaluation of 65 pregnant women for cognitive vulnerability and depression before and after birth, researchers found a positive correlation between increased cognitive vulnerability and increased chance of acquiring depression.. this supports the link between faulty cognition and depression, which is in line with predictions of becks cognitive theory, thus increasing the validity of the theory.
strength of becks triad
an increased understanding of cognitive basis of depression leads to more effective treatments, elements of cognitive triad can be easily identified by a scientist and thus leading to a more successful therapy.
ellis abc model
ellis proposed that an activating event leads to irrational belief, resulting in an emotional consequence in the form of depression.
strength of abc model
practical application in cbt, effectiveness of cbt suggests identifying and challenging irrational thoughts are the core of curing depression which supports the theoretical basis of ellies abc model.
limitations of abc model ( also applied to triad model)
- cannot explain all aspects of depression , patients become depressed that their symptoms cannot be explained by this theory like hallucinations etc. this causes a ppractical issue as patients may be frustrated that their concerns are not reflected.
- also ellis model doesnot explain the depression apart from those which are clearly caused by an activating event.
limitations of cognitive explanations
family studies and genetic research suggest a predisposition to depression is inherited, genes that influence the activity of neurotransmitters like seretonin, and effectiveness of drug therapies like ssri also suggests that cognitive explanation is incomplete.
cognitive treatment
both becks and ellis model attempt to change negative schemas and challenge irrational thoughts through cognitive reconstructing.
becks cbt
- patient as a scientist = patient generates and tests hypothesis about their irrational thoughts and when it doesnt match reality, this will change their schemas and discard irrational thoughts.
- homework task - includes keeping a diary, used to record negative thoughts and identify situations causing negative thinking.
ellies rebt
rational emotive behavioural therapy
rebt
development of abc model. adding d for dispute and e for effect.
- dispute = therapist confronting clients irrational thought, . empirical argument challenges client to provide evidence for irrational beliefs and logical argument attempts to show beliefs doesnt make sense which causes reduction of irrational thoughts leading to better consequences for future.
supporting research evidence for cognitive therapy
March followed a group of 327 adolescents with a main
diagnosis of depression. After 36 weeks - 81%, 81% and 86% were the respective improvement
rates for each of the three experimental conditions (CBT, antidepressants, CBT+
antidepressants). Therefore, this is compelling evidence for the idea that antidepressants are
effective in treating depression and are based on accurate biological explanations of depression
i.e. linked to the role of serotonin and noradrenaline in the development.
