cognitive explanations of depression

Question 1

cognitive approach to depression

Answer 1

emphasizes irrational thinking patterns and cognitive distortions.

Key contributors: Albert Ellis and Aaron Beck.

Main idea: Depression results from irrational thoughts that disrupt happiness and well-being, while rational thinking supports mental health.

Question 2

abc model

Albert ellis

Answer 2

Albert Ellis’s Theory

believes that -
Good mental health results from rational thinking.
Depression stems from irrational beliefs that hinder happiness and overall well-being.

A-B-C Model
A (Activating Event): Event or situation triggers thoughts.
B (Beliefs): Beliefs about the event can be rational or irrational.
Rational beliefs encourage healthy emotional responses.
Irrational beliefs foster unhealthy responses, contributing to depression.
C (Consequences): Emotional and behavioral outcomes depend on beliefs.
Irrational beliefs lead to depressive feelings and behaviors.

for Ellis, learning to spot those irrational beliefs and replace them with more rational, constructive ones can really help lift your mood.

Question 3

becks

Answer 3

Beck zeroed in on certain types of thoughts and mental habits that seem to fuel depression.

focused on types of thoughts + mental habits that seem to fuel depression

Cognitive Biases: depressed ppl usually think in ways that reinforce a negative view of the world.

1. They:
   Overgeneralize, thinking that one bad experience means everything will go wrong.
   Catastrophize, or blow things out of proportion, expecting the worst in every situation.
2. negative schemas

Develop from past negative experiences.
Predispose individuals to interpret personal information in a negative way.
Negative self-schemas perpetuate cognitive biases.

3. The Negative Triad: Beck noticed that depressed people have a pattern of negative thinking focused on three areas:
   Themselves (thinking they’re no good).
   The world (seeing everything as unfair or unkind).
   The future (believing things will never improve).

This combo of negative views reinforces itself, keeping the person stuck in a cycle of depression.

Question 4

limitation 2

Answer 4

p- Ellis’s ABC model only partially explains depression.

e- The model works well for depression caused by specific events, like relationship breakups (reactive depression), but doesn’t explain cases without a clear trigger.

e -This may leave patients without a direct cause for their depression feeling excluded from this model

l- Therefore, the ABC model has limited applicability for understanding all types of depression.

Question 5

strength beck, research support

Answer 5

p- bare research support
e- grazioli and terry , studied 65 preggers woman , found this we who had negative thinking patterns ( cog vul) were more likely to develop post natal depression , + Clark and beck , reviewed studies, found strong support for becks ideas e.g neg schemas and faulty thinking

e- studies show = thinking patterns do increase risk of depression

l= theory = creditable , good explanation on y ppl develop depression

Question 6

limitation ,both , dont explain all symptoms

Answer 6

p- dont explain all symptoms of depression
e- e.g both models = focus on neg thinking , but dont explain more severe symptoms e.g bare anger , hallucinations etc
e= ppl w these symptoms , = therapy doesn’t help them , limits how useful model is
l- not complete explanations

Question 7

limitation , ellis , only explains some types of depression

Answer 7

p- only explains some types of depression
e- model = helpful when caused by specific event , e.g breakup , doesn’t explain depression that comes w/o reason
e- make ppl who can’t link dep to event = think that it doesn’t apply to them
l- not suitable for all cases , limited