Depression Flashcards
Beck and Ellis' Explanations, Treatments (26 cards)
What is depression?
A category of mood disorders
Name the 4 Categories of Depression and their symptoms.
Major Depressive Disorder
- severe short term depression
Persistent Depressive Disorder
- episodes of depression, long term recurring
Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder
- children/teens with ongoing irrationality, anger and intense outbursts
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
- lines up with the menstrual cycle, disruption of mood prior
What is the Cognitive Explanation of Depression?
Thinking affects behaviour
- individuals who suffer from mental disorders have DISTORTED and IRRATIONAL THINKING
What are the 3 parts of the Cognitive Triad (Beck)?
- Negative Self Schemas
- Faulty Information Processes (cognitive bias)
- Negative Triad
Explain Negative Self-Schemas (Beck)
Will view themselves, the world in a negative light
- interpret information negatively
- leads to cognitive biases
Explain Cognitive Biases (Beck)
People make fundamental errors in logic
- misperceive reality
- tendency to blow small problems out of proportion
- Overgeneralisation
- Personalisation
- Selective Abstraction
- Magnification
- Minimisation
What is Overgeneralisation (cognitive bias)?
Making a general conclusion based on a single occurrence (“this always happens to me”)
What is Personalisation (cognitive bias)?
Negative feelings of others attributed to something about you
What is Selective Abstraction (cognitive bias)?
Focusing on a single aspect, overlooking aspects that lead to a positive conclusion
What is Magnification (cognitive bias)?
Exaggerating significance of events
What is Minimisation (cognitive bias)?
Underplaying positive events and outcomes (“it was a fluke”)
Explain the Negative Triad (Beck)
Maintained by negative schemas and cognitive biases
- Negative View of the World
- Negative View of the Self
- Negative View of the Future
Strengths of Beck’s Cognitive Triad
Good supporting research
- Grazioli and Terry (2000) assessed 65 pregnant women for depression before and after birth. Those with high cognitive vulnerability were more likely to suffer post-natal depression.
Practical applications
- Forms the bases of CBT
- All cognitive aspects of depression can be challenged in CBT
Limitations of Beck’s Cognitive Triad
Doesn’t explain all aspects of depression
- Theory explains basic symptoms
Ignores biological factors
Doesn’t look at the cause
- Cognitive Triad looks at present occurrences, but past traumas may cause depression
Explain the ABC Model (Ellis)
A - action is affected by
B - individual’s belief which results in
C - a consequence
If beliefs are subject to cognitive biases, then they can cause irrational thinking which MAY produce undesirable behaviours
How does the ABC Model work?
EXAMPLE
A - Breaking up with your boyfriend
B - That it’s all your fault, you will never be loved
C - Won’t attempt new relationships
Strengths of Ellis’ ABC Model
Set criteria for depression
- Less subjective
- HOWEVER depression may not be caused by a single event
Applied in CBT
- Extension of the ABC model can be used to treat depression
Environment taken into account
- More personalised to the individual
Limitations of Ellis’ ABC Model
“An action” is broad
- Doesn’t define what kind of action/severity
Ignores biological factors
Irrational thinking could be seen as very extreme
- May seem to ignore less extreme kinds of depression
Doesn’t explain all aspects
- Offers only a partial explanation of depression
- Limited applications outside of REBT
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Brief - 20 sessions over 16 weeks
Focuses on the here and now
Aims to identify and alter negative beliefs and later dysfunctional behaviours
Rational Emotional Behavioural Therapy (REBT)
Extends the ABCDEF model
- part of CBT
D - Dispute irrational thoughts and beliefs
E - Effects of disputing
F - Feelings produced
State the 3 Different Kinds of Disputing within REBT
Logical Disputing - does this thinking make sense?
Empirical Disputing - where is the evidence for this belief?
Pragmatic Disputing - how will this belief help you?
Strengths of CBT
Supporting research
- Blackburn et al (2000) found CBT superior to antidepressants
- CBT was better tolerated over many years
Highly individualised
Removes the need for drugs
- Less side effects
Limitations of CBT
Drugs are seen to be more effective
- Derubeis (2005) studied 3 groups : CBT, Anti-depressant drugs and Placebo
- After 8 weeks, improvement rate was: CBT 43%, Drugs 50% and Placebo 25%
HOWEVER
- CBT was seen to be more enduring and after 2 years, patients were more healthy than those taking the drugs
Lacks effectiveness for severe cases
- High relapse rates
- Individuals need to have motivation to get better
- Tasks can be demanding and may cause further harm
‘Focuses on the here and now’
- Ignores past trauma
Strengths of REBT
Removes need for drugs
Highly individualised
