explaining depression (cognitive approach)

• explaining depression

  • Beck = Negative Triad (NT)
  • Ellis = ABC model (ABC)
• faulty information processing (NT)

  • Beck suggested that some people are more prone to depression because of faulty information processing (ie thinking in a flawed way)
  • when depressed people attend to the negative aspects of a situation and ignore the positives = they also tend to blow small problems out of proportion AND think in 'black-and-white' terms
• depressed people have negative self-schema (NT)

  • schema = 'package' of ideas and information developed through experience
  • we use schema to interpret the world = so if someone has a negative self-schema, they interpret all information about themselves in a negative way
  • eg = experiences of failure in childhood may lead an individual to develop an ineptness schema whereby they constantly expect to fail
• the negative triad (NT)

  • negative view of the world = eg 'the world is a cold, hard place'
  • negative view of the future = eg 'there is no chance the economy will get any better'
  • negative view of the self = eg thinking 'I am a failure' (this negatively impacts self-esteem'
  • Beck argues that the negative triad is formed and maintained by negative schema and cognitive biases (systematic deviations from an accurate perception of reality in favour of some less accurate interpretation)
• strength = supporting research (NT)

  • Clark and Beck = concluded that cognitive vulnerabilities (eg faulty information processing, negative self-schema) are more common in depressed people
  • Cohen et al = tracked development of 473 adolescents and found that early cognitive vulnerability predicted later depression
  • shows that there is an association between cognitive vulnerability and depression
• strength = RWA to screening for depression (NT)

  • assessing cognitive vulnerability in young people most at risk of developing depression means they can be monitored
  • understanding cognitive vulnerability is applied to CBT to alter cognitions underlying depression, making a person more resilient to life events
  • means that the idea of cognitive vulnerability is useful in clinical practice
• extra evaluation = partial explanation

  • depressed people show particular patterns of cognition, even before the onset of depression
  • => Beck's idea of cognitive vulnerability is at least a partial explanation
  • HOWEVER = some aspects of depression are not explained by cognitive factors. these include experiences of extreme anger and for some people hallucinations and delusions
  • suggests that the cognitive model is not a particularly good explanation for all depressive phenomena
• A = activating event (ABC)

  • Ellis suggested that depression arises from irrational thoughts
  • according to Ellis = depression occurs when we experience negative events (eg failing an important test or ending relationship)
• B = beliefs (ABC)

  • negative events trigger irrational beliefs, eg:
  • musterbation = the belief that we must always succeed
  • I-can't-stand-it-itis = the belief that it is a disaster when things do not go smoothly
  • Utopianism = is the belief that the world must always be fair and just
• C = consequences (ABC)

  • when an activating event triggers irrational beliefs, there are emotional and behavioural consequences
  • eg = if you believe you must always succeed and then you fail at something = the consequence is depression
• strength = application to treating depression (ABC)

  • Ellis applied the ABC model to treat depression (REBT = rational emotive behaviour therapy)
  • David et al = found evidence that REBT can both change negative beliefs and relieve the symptoms of depression
  • means that REBT has real-world value
• limitation = Ellis's model only explains reactive depression (ABC)

  • reactive depression = describes a form of depression which is triggered by negative activating events
  • HOWEVER = in many cases it is not obvious what triggers depression (Ellis's model is less useful in explaining this)
  • => Ellis's model can only explain some cases of depression
• extra evaluation = ethical issues (ABC)

  • the ABC model of depression locates responsibility for depression with the depressed person
  • critics see this as blaming the depressed person
  • HOWEVER = the application of the ABC model to REBT does appear to make at least some depressed people achieve more resilience and feel better
  • means that REBT gives reason for concern but can be ethically acceptable as long as it is carried out sensitively to avoid victim-blaming