Depression

Question 1

what is depression

Answer 1

a disorder that includes disabling moods

Question 2

give 3 behavioural characteristics of depression

Answer 2

1. activity levels
2. disruption to sleep and eating
3. aggression and self harm

Question 3

explain 3 emotional characteristics of depression

Answer 3

1. lowered mood - people with depression often describe themselves as “empty”
2. anger - they frequentl experience anger, this is directed at the self or others
3. lowered self esteem - people with depression tend to report reduced self esteem, this can be quite extreme

Question 4

give 3 cognitive characteristics of depression

Answer 4

1. poor concentration
2. attending and dwelling on the negative
3. absolutist thinking

Question 5

what are the 2 explanations of depression

Answer 5

• becks theory of depression
• ellis’ ABC model

Question 6

becks theory of depression

what are the 3 elements of becks theory of depression

Answer 6

• negative self schemas
• cognitive biases
• the negative triad

Question 7

becks theory of depression

explain the negative self schema element

Answer 7

• if a person has a negative self schema then they interpret all information about themselves in a negative way

Question 8

becks theory of depression

explain the cognitive biases element

give two types

Answer 8

• this is where people attend to the negative aspects of a situation and ignore positives
• overgeneralisation - sweeping conclusions drawn on the basis of a single event. Eg, a student regarding poor performance on one test as proof of his worthlessness
• magnification and minimisation - exaggerations in evaluation of performance. Eg, a man believing hes ruined hiscar due to a small scratch (magnification) or a woman believing herself worthless despite many praises (minimisation)

Question 9

becks theory of depression

explain the negative triad element

Answer 9

• beck concluded that a person develops a dysfunctional view of themselves because of three types of thinking
• negative thoughts about:

1. the self
2. the world
3. the future

Question 10

becks theory of depression

what is a strength of becks theory

Answer 10

cohen et al

• concluded assessing cognitive vulnerability allows us to screen young people
• this helps identify who are at most risk for developing depression for earlier intervention

Question 11

becks theory of depression

what is a weakness of becks theory

Answer 11

ignores biological factors so can be considered a reductonist way of explaining depression

Question 12

ellis’ ABC model

explain the A element in the ABC model

Answer 12

activating event

• irrational thoughts are triggered by external events

Question 13

ellis’ ABC model

explain the B element in the ABC model

Answer 13

beliefs

• you hold irrational beliefs about the event

Question 14

ellis’ ABC model

explain the C element in the ABC model

Answer 14

consequences

• when an activating event triggers irrational beliefs, there are emotional and behavioural consequences

Question 15

ellis’ ABC model

what is a strength of the ABC model

Answer 15

development of therapies such as REBT

Question 16

ellis’ ABC model

what is a weakness of the ABC model

Answer 16

only explains retroactive depression not endogenous depression

Question 17

what are the 2 treatents of depression

Answer 17

1. CBT
2. REBT

Question 18

explain the process of CBT

Answer 18

• the client and the therapist work together to clarify the clients problems
• they jointly identify goals and make a plan to acheive them
• test the reality of the clients negative beliefs
• the client is set homework,somestimes refered to as the “client as the scientist”

Question 19

what is the main aim of CBT

Answer 19

identifying and challenging automatic negative thoughts and replacing them with balanced alternatives.

Question 20

explain the study that supports CBT

Answer 20

march et al

• compared CBT to antidepressants and a combination of the two when treating teens
• 81% CBT group, 81% antidepressant group and 86% of combined group improved

Question 21

explain the study that argues against CBT

Answer 21

Ali et al, 2017

• assessed clients monthly for 12 months after CBT
• 42% relapsed in 6 months
• 53% relapsed within 12 months

Question 22

explain stage 1 of REBT

Answer 22

• identify and make sense of irrational beliefs
• reframe the negative thoughts into more positive and logical thoughts

Question 23

explain stage 2 of REBT

Answer 23

• behavourial activation and pleasant event scheduling are introduced
• this increases physical activity and participation in rewarding activities for the client
• this is to improve the clients mood levels

Question 24

explain stage 3 of the REBT

Answer 24

• cognitive factors are adressed when patients have an improvement in mood
• this involves hypothesis testing of negative thoughts

Question 25

# strength and limitation evaluate becks theory of depression | point only

Answer 25

* strength: allows for intervention (cohen et al) * limitation: ignores biological factors (reductionist)

Question 26

# strength and limitation evaluate ellis' ABC model | point only

Answer 26

* strength: succesful development of therapies such as REBT * limitation: only explains reactive depression not endogeneous