explaining depression

Question 1

what is meant by the word cognitive

Answer 1

relates to our internal mental processes (thoughts, attention, perceptions)

Question 2

what are the explanations for depression

Answer 2

• Becks cognitive traid theory of depression
• Ellis ABC model

Question 3

(the first one) What does Beck’s negative traid theory consist of (s)

Answer 3

• negative self schemas refers to individuals creating negative schemas about themselves
  Aaron Beck theory suggests these negative schemas develop in childhood from negative critism and rejection from significant people in their life , parents or peers.

Beck also suggested that these negative self schemas become cognitive biases and these develop when they become adults

Question 4

what is meant by cognitive bias

Answer 4

an exaggerated or irrational thought pattern

Question 5

examples of cognitive bias

negative schemas lead to cognitive biases

Answer 5

• Overgeneralising - someone suffering from depression makes a sweeping conclusion based on something that has perhaps only occured once
• Catatrophising
  this is where someone suffering from depressions exaggerates a minor incidents and believes that it is a big diaster, filter out postive and only focus on the negative

Question 6

What is the final part of Beck’s traid theory

Answer 6

This is called the negative traid

people suffering with depression according the Beck have a negative irrational view on the self, a negative irrational view of the world and a negative irrational view of the FUTURE this is called the negative traid

Negative self schemas and cognitive biases maintained the negative traid

Question 7

The second explanation from explaining depression

Answer 7

Ellis’s ABC model (Albert Ellis)
he lays emphasis was on rationality (rational thoughts)

Question 8

What does A stand for

Answer 8

activating event

Question 9

what does B stand for

Answer 9

beliefs - here the focus is on the beliefs or the type of thoughts that a person has , how they interpret the activating event that has happened (irrationality)

Question 10

what does C stand for

Answer 10

the irrational thoughts from the beliefs lead to the consequence

consequence of irrational thoughts lead to unhealthy emotions
lowered mood, low self esteem

Question 11

supporting evidence for the explanation of depression

Answer 11

Taghavi et al

method -
29 depressed patients were compared to 34 normal controls on a measurement of irrational beliefs

• Findings
  consistent of Ellis’ ABC model they found depressed patients scored higher in irrational beliefs
  This study was conducted in Iran and it was a replication of previous research that had been conducted in Western countries
  therefore has the potential to apply across cultures

Question 12

Visla et al (2016)
supporting evidence for Ellis’ ABC model

Answer 12

conducted a meta analysis at the past 60 years of research on psychological distress and irrational beliefs

they found irrational beliefs were postiviely associated with various amounts of stress including depression
this study suports Ellis’ ABC model it could be argued that the role of cogniition , specifically irrational thinking is an important factor in explaining depression

Question 13

strenght of the explanation for depression

Answer 13

• Practical application
  Ellis’ ABC model has been used such as a treatment (CBT) which extends the model to ABDE

Question 14

LIMITATIONS of cognitive explanation of depression

Answer 14

it blames the patient rather on the situation
as it is cognitive it focuses on the patients thoughts it means the cause of the depression is the patient themselves.

This is not ideal as blaming the patient doesn’t take into account any situational factors involved in depression and could make things worse., eg someone is domestically abused, asking them to change their mindset and views isn’t the ideal aiding factor it would be to remove the individual from the situation which the cognitive explanation doesn’t take into account

Question 15

limitations for the cognitive explanation of depression (using another explanation)

Answer 15

• biological
• research has found that lower levels of the neuro transmitter serotonin as been associated with depression , this is evident when patients suffering with depression see their symptoms improve when they are given antidepressant drugs SSRI’S which increase serotonin levels
  therefore it could be argued that the explanation cognitive alone may be oversimplified when it comes to understanding depression and taking into account the influence of biological process is an important part to include