Depression-EVAL. Explanation

Question 1

One strength of Becks negative triad is that it has good SUPPORTING evidence.

Answer 1

Researcheres assessed 65 pregnant women for cog. vulnerability and depression before and after birth. Those high in cog. vuln were MORE likely to suffer from post-natal depression. This suggests that there’s a LINK between cognition and depression.

However this is a GYNOCENTRIC study as it only studies women, so we cant GENERALISE the findings of depression back to MEN or non-preg women, or this would create a BETA BIAS.

Question 2

Another strength of becks neg triad is that it has practical APPLICATION in terms of treatment through cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT)

Answer 2

E.g. Becks neg triad forms the BASIS of CBT. This aims to try and CHALLENGE the neg triad i.e the BELIEFS of the client and has PROVEN to be successful in treating depression.

Question 3

One weakness of Becks theory is that it doesn’t explain ALL aspects of depression.

Answer 3

This is because it explains the basic SYMPTOMS of depression however it’s a COMPLEX disorder and it can’t explain how some are deeply ANGRY, suffer hallucinations and bizarre beliefs.

Problem for Becks theory as it means it is not as useful if ti can’t explain all aspects of depression.

Question 4

One issue with Ellis’s ABC model as an explanation of depression is that it only offers a PARTIAL explanation

Answer 4

SOME depression does occur as a result of an ACTIVATING event , however not ALL depression arises as a result of an OBVIOUS cause. This is called ENDOGENOUS depression which has NO activating event.

Ellis’s ABC model COULD be a legit explanation of depression for REACTIVE depression but not for endogenous depression that DOESN’T have an activating event.

Question 5

One strength of Ellis ABC model is that it has PRACTICAL APPLICATION in terms of treatment through CBT

Answer 5

Ellis’s ABC model forms the BASIS of CBT (REBT) whereby, irrational negative beliefs are CHALLENGED (Disputing) and this can help to REDUCE depressive symptoms (effects) and has proven to be SUCCESSFUL in healing depression.

Therefore this supports ellis’s ABC model as the fact that we can CHANGE irrational beliefs which treats depression, suggests that the cognition could indeed be an explanation of depression in the first place, supporting Ellis’s ABC model as explanation of depression.

Question 6

One problem with the ABC theory is that it could be ETHICALLY QUESTIONABLE

Answer 6

This is because it blames the PERSON for having depression which is UNFAIR and could lead to MORE psych harm.

However a positive of ABC model is that it has lead to EFFECTIVE therapies and so those who are suffering are able to ACCESS the help they need.

Therefore, in a COST-BENEFIT analysis, even though it’s PROBLEM blaming the patient, it does lead to them getting HELP.