cognitive explanations of depression - ao3

Question 1

limitation of cog ex of dep - ignores biological factors influencing depression

Answer 1

P; a biological approach to understanding mental disorders suggests that genes and neurotransmitters may cause depression
E: EG research supports the role of low levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin in depressed ppl and also found that a gene realted to this is 10x more common in ppl w depression (zhang et al 2005)
E: the sucess of drug therapies for treating depression implies significance of neurotransmitters in depression. these drugs act on the serotonin system by inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin thereby increasing the amount of neurotransmitters in the system
L; given the existense of so many different explanations at the very least a diasthesis stress approach may be advisable. this suggests individuals w a genetic vunerability for depression are more prone to the effects of living in a neg environement which then leads to neg irrational thinking

Question 2

strength of cog explanations of depression - practical application

Answer 2

P; one strength of the cog explanation for depression is its application to therapy
E- cog explantions have been used to dev effective treatments for dep including cbt rebt which was dev from ellis abc model
-E- these therapies attempt to identify and challenge neg and irrational thoughts and consistently found to be the most effective treatment for depression, esp when used in conjunction w drug therapies (cuijpers 2013)
L; the success of treatments allevissting symptoms of depression by challenging irrational thinking suggests such thoughts had a role in depression in the first place offering support to the cognitive explanation of depression

Question 3

weakness - not a complete explanation

Answer 3

P: cognitive explanations may not offer a full explanation into why people suffer from depression
E: cognitive theories depend on the assumption that the sufferers thoughts are irrational and automatic
E: however this cannot explain instances where depression is a reasonable response to real life challenges. eg poverty, war
L: thus the cognitive explanation cannot explain all reasons for depression limiting its usefulness and application to a wider range of sufferers. perhaps it is the fact that people without depression have a cog bias where they selectively percieve the world in a positive light with unrealistic optimism. people with depression see the world without this positive bias.

Question 4

research support for the cognitive explanation of depression

Answer 4

P: one strength for the cognitive explanation of depression is that it has research support.
E: visla et al 2016 conducted a meta analysis looking at research from the last 60 years on the relationship between irrational beliefs and psychological distress
E: overall they found irrational beliefs were positively associated with many types psychological distress including depression. so thus role of irrational thinking like the explanation suggests plays a role in explaining depression