Beck (1961) Cognitive Explanation

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

to understand cognitive distortions in patients with depression

Question 2

method

Answer 2

clinical interviews with patients undergoing therapy for depression

Question 3

design

Answer 3

Independent measures design

Question 4

Participants

Answer 4

50 participants with depression, 16 males, 34 females 18-48yrs old middle/upper class, average intelligence at least.

compared with 31 non-depressed patients

Question 5

Procedure

Answer 5

Face to face interviews, reports of patients thoughts before and during sessions. diaries were sometimes kept of thoughts and bought to sessions.

Question 6

Results

Answer 6

Certain themes occurred in depressed patients which didn’t occur in non depressed patients:

low self-esteem, self-blame, overwhelming responsibility, desire to escape anxiety and paranoia

often regarded themselves as inferior
distortions were involuntary, plausible and persistent

Question 7

conclusions

Answer 7

Patients showed cognitive distortions that deviated from logical and realistic thinking, this only related to depression and not other disorders