Cognitive approach to explaining depression

• Beck (1967) Negative Triad

  • Faulty info processing: suggested some people more prone to depression because of faulty info processing, like thinking in a flawed way.
  • Depressed people have a negative self schema: schema is a 'package' of ideas developed through experience. Schema used to interpret the world. If a person has a negative self-schema, interpret all info about themselves negatively.
  • The negative triad: Negative view of world, future and self.
• ++ Supporting research for Beck's negative triad. Research concluded cognitive vulnerabilities more common in depressed people. This shows an association between cognitive vulnerability and depression.
• ++Real world application to screening for depression. Assessing cognitive vulnerability in young people most at risk of depression means they can be monitored. This means that the idea of cognitive vulnerability is useful in clinical practice.
• --Partial explanation. Some aspects of depression not explained by cognitive factors. Include experiences of extreme anger, hallucinations and delusions. Suggests that the cognitive model is not a particularly good explanation for all depressive phenomena.
• Ellis (1962) ABC model:

  • Activating event: depression occurs when we experience negative events.
  • Beliefs: negative events trigger irrational beliefs. For example: Ellis called belief we must always succeed 'musterbation' , 'I-can't-stand-it-itis' is the belief that it's a disaster when things don't go smoothly, 'utopianism' is the belief the world must always be fair and just.
  • Consequences: when an activating event triggers irrational beliefs there are emotional and behavioural consequences.
• ++Application of Ellis' model in treating depression. Applied ABC model to treat depression. There is evidence that REBT can both change negative beliefs and relieve symptoms of depression. This means that REBT has real world value.
• --Ellis' model only explains reactive depression. A form of depression which is triggered by negative activating events. Ellis's model does not explain endogenous depression. This means that Ellis's model can only explain some cases of depression.
• --Ethical issues. The ABC model locates responsibility for depression with the depressed person.