Depression

• Behavioural Characteristics of Depression

  Bipolar

  -High Energy

  -Reckless Behaviour

  -Talkative

  Unipolar

  -Loss of energy

  -Social Impairments

  -Poor personal Hygiene

  
  

  -Gain or loss of appetite.

  -Changes in sleep pattern.
• Emotional Characteristics of Depression

  -Sad

  -Lonely

  -Constant low mood

  -Anger

  -Aggression
• Cognitive Characteristics of Depression

  -Difficulty with memory & concentration

  -Absolute thinking (black & white thinking)

  -Irrational

  -Delusional

  -Negative
• Cognitive Approaches in explaining Depression

  -Beck's Negative Triad

  -Ellis's ABC Model
• Beck's Negative Triad

  -He suggested that everybody has negative self schema's which develop in childhood.

  -Negative schema's then lead to negative cognitive biases.

  Beck's negative triad is 3 key elements in a persons belief system;

  -Thinking about themselves

  -Thinking about the future

  -Thinking about the world
• Ellis's ABC Model

  -Ellis proposed that irrational beliefs cause depression.

  A=Activating Event

  -The trigger, usually an external event.

  B=Beliefs

  -These can be rational or irrational.

  C=Consequences

  -Emotional & behavioural changes, e.g.acceptance or depression.
• Evaluation of the Cognitive Approach in Explaining Depression

  :)- Bates et al - Depressed participants who were given negative thought statements became more depressed, supporting the idea that negative thoughts cause depression.

  :(- Cause & Effect? -Do negative thoughts cause depression or does depression cause negative thoughts.

  :(- Alloy & Abrahmason -Suggested depressed people are more likely to see the world for what it is.
• The Cognitive Treatments for Depression

  -Beck's Cognitive Therapy

  -Ellis' REBT
• Beck's Cognitive Therapy

  -CBT attempts to change irrational and negative thinking into positive and rational thinking.

  -It uses techniques from both the cognitive and behavioural approach to abnormality.

  -10-15 weekly 45 mins sessions with a therapist.
• A= Activating Event-The therapist challenges the idea that the belief is causing the negative emotion.

  B= Beliefs

  -The therapist draws attention to positive incidents which contradict the clients negative assumptions.

  C= Consequences

  -Clients may be encouraged to set achievable goals.

  D= Disputing Irrational Thoughts & Beliefs

  -Clients are directly challenged on their way of thinking.

  E= Effects of Disputing & an Effective attitude to life.

  -Clients recognise the effect and impact on life.

  F= Feelings & Emotions which are produced

  -Now thoughts have been changed, feelings should be altered.
• Ellis' Rational Emotional Behavioural Therapy

  A= Activating Event

  -The therapist challenges the idea that the belief is causing the negative emotion.

  B= Beliefs

  -The therapist draws attention to positive incidents which contradict the clients negative assumptions.

  C= Consequences

  -Clients may be encouraged to set achievable goals.
• Ellis' Rational Emotional Behavioural Therapy

  D= Disputing Irrational Thoughts & Beliefs

  -Clients are directly challenged on their way of thinking.

  E= Effects of Disputing & an Effective attitude to life.

  -Clients recognise the effect and impact on life.

  F= Feelings & Emotions which are produced

  -Now thoughts have been changed, feelings should be altered.
• Evaluation of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

  :)- March et al -Compared the effects of CBT with anti-depressants and a combination of the 2 in 327 adolescence with depression. After 36 weeks, 81% of CBT conditions, 81& of anti-depressants and 86% with both were significantly improved.

  :(- Not effective in severe cases -People with severe depression aren't likely to want to go to the sessions.

  :(- Not suitable for everyone -Some people are unwilling to talk about personal things with strangers.