Depression

• What are the behavioral characteristics of depression?


  Changed activity levels, aggression, and changes in sleeping and eating patterns
• How can changed activity levels manifest in individuals with depression?


  They may experience psychomotor agitation or an inability to wake up
• What types of aggression are associated with depression?


  Aggression can be directed towards oneself or others, either verbally or physically
• What changes in sleeping and eating patterns can occur in depression?


  Insomnia and obesity, or lethargy and anorexia
• What are the emotional characteristics of depression?


  Lowered self-esteem, constant poor mood, and high levels of anger
• How long does a poor mood last in individuals with depression?


  It can last for months at a time and is high in severity
• What types of anger are experienced by individuals with depression?


  High levels of anger towards oneself and others
• What are the cognitive characteristics of depression?


  Absolutist thinking, selective attention towards negative events, and poor concentration
• What is meant by absolutist thinking in depression?


  Jumping to irrational conclusions, such as feeling like a failure for missing an event
• How does selective attention manifest in patients with depression?


  They often recall only negative events in their lives
• What impact does poor concentration have on individuals with depression?


  It disrupts school and work, adding to feelings of worthlessness and anger
• What are the key characteristics of depression across behavioral, emotional, and cognitive domains?

  • Behavioral:
  • Changed activity levels (psychomotor agitation or lethargy)
  • Aggression (towards self and others)
  • Changes in sleeping and eating patterns (insomnia, obesity, lethargy, anorexia)
  • Emotional:
  • Lowered self-esteem
  • Constant poor mood (lasting months)
  • High levels of anger (towards self and others)
  • Cognitive:
  • Absolutist thinking
  • Selective attention to negative events
  • Poor concentration
• Who proposed the cognitive vulnerability towards developing depression?


  Beck
• What are the components of cognitive vulnerability according to Beck?


  Faulty information processing, negative self-schemas, and the cognitive triad
• How does faulty information processing affect a patient with depression?


  The patient exaggerates small problems and focuses on negatives
• What is a negative self-schema?


  It is a framework through which a patient interprets information negatively
• What does the cognitive triad refer to in Beck's theory?


  Negative automatic thoughts about the self, the future, and the world
• What did Grazioli and Terry's research find regarding cognitive vulnerability and depression?


  There is a positive correlation between cognitive vulnerability and likelihood of depression
• How does understanding cognitive vulnerability improve treatment for depression?


  It allows therapists to identify and challenge irrational thoughts
• What is the main focus of Beck's cognitive therapy?


  Identifying and challenging irrational thoughts
• How can a therapist use a patient's journal in cognitive therapy?


  To provide counter-evidence against irrational beliefs
• What is the purpose of Ellis's rational emotive behavior therapy?


  To identify and challenge irrational beliefs through argument
• What is the role of behavioral activation in treating depression?


  Encouraging patients to engage in enjoyable activities
• What were the improvement rates for CBT, antidepressants, and the combination in March's study?


  81%, 81%, and 86% respectively
• Why might CBT not be suitable for severe cases of depression?


  Patients may lack motivation to attend sessions
• What is a limitation of the cognitive approach regarding past events?


  It may overlook significant past events affecting depression
• How do Beck's cognitive theory and Ellis's ABC model compare in their approach to depression?


  Both focus on irrational thoughts but differ in their mechanisms
• What common disadvantage do Beck's cognitive theory and Ellis's ABC model share?


  They cannot explain all aspects of depression
• What is the significance of the cognitive triad in Beck's therapy?


  It helps identify negative thought patterns in patients
• What is the main goal of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)?


  To identify and challenge irrational thoughts
• How does the cognitive approach view the cause of depression?


  It views current circumstances as responsible for depression
• Why might patients feel frustrated with CBT regarding their past experiences?


  CBT therapists may not address significant past events