Explaining depression: Cognitive approach

• How does Ellis’s ABC model have practical application to CBT?

  By challenging irrational negative beliefs a person can reduce their depression: supported by evidence

  
  

  Lipsky et al (1980)

  • supports that irrational beliefs have sole rolein depression
• 1 strength of Ellis' ABC model

  Practical application to CBT
• How does Ellis's ABC model not explain all aspects of depression

  Explains basic symptoms, depression is complex

  • Beck Connor explain anger, hallucinations and buzzard beliefs
  • Very occasionally, depressed patients suffer Cotard syndrome; the delusion that they are zombies ( Jarrett 2013)
• How is there only a particular explanation for Ellis's ABC model?

  Only looks at reactive depression ( depression that follows an activating event )

  • different kind of depression which arises without obvious cause
  • Only applies to some kinds of depression
  • therefor only a partial explanation for depression
• 2 limitations of Ellis's ABC model

  - A partial explanation

  - doesn't explain all the aspects of depression
• Describe Consequences (ABC model)

  When an activating event triggers irrational beliefs there are emotional and behavioural consequences
• Describe Beliefs (ABC model)

  “Musturbation” - the beliefs that we must always succeed or achieve perfection

  “I-can’t-stand-it-itis’ - belief is a major disaster whenever something does not go smoothly

  Utopianism - the belief that life is always meant to be fair
• Describe activating events (ABC model)

  We get depressed when we experience negative events, triggering irrational beliefs
• What are the 3 parts to Ellis's ABC model?


  A - activating event

  B - beliefs

  C - consequences
• What did Ellis's ABC model propose?

  Good mental health is a result of result of rational thinking.

  - Anxiety and depression result from irrational thoughts

  ABC model to explain how irrational thoughts affect our behaviour and emotional state
• How does Beck's cognitive theory not explain all aspects of depression?

  Explains basic symptoms, depression is complex

  • Beck Connor explains anger, hallucinations and buzzard beliefs
  • Very occasionally, depressed patients suffer Cotard syndrome; the delusion that they are zombies ( Jarrett 2013)
• What is a limitation for Beck's Theory of depression?

  • doesn't explain all aspects of depression
• How does Beck's Theory on depression have practical applications in CBT?

  Forms the basis of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

  • Cognitive aspects can be identified and challenged with CBT ( includes components of the negative triad which are easily identified )
  • Therapists can challenge them
  • Translates into a successful therapy
• How is there evidence for beck's theory for depression?

  Supports that depression is associated with faulty information processing, negative schemas, and negative triad

  
  

  Grazioli and Terry (2000)

  • assessed 65 pregnant women for cognitive vulnerability and depression before and after birth ( Women with cognitive vulnerability were more likely to develop)

  
  

  Clark and Beck (1999)

  • reviewed research and concluded that there was solid support for all these cognitive vulnerability factors. These cognitions can be seen before depression develops
  • suggesting cognition causes depression
• 2 strengths of Beck's cognitive theory of depression

  • Good supporting evidence
  • Practical application
• Describe the Negative triad

  A person develops a dysfunctional few of the selves because of their 3 types of automatic thinking

  • Negative view of the World
  • Negative view of the Future
  • Negative view of the Self
• Describe Negative self-schemas

  Schema = a ‘package’ of information developed through experience

  
  

  Self-schema = the package of information we have about ourself

  
  

  When you have a negative self-schema you interpret all information about yourself in a negative way
• Describe Faulty information processing in terms of Becks' theory?

  When depressed we attend to the negative aspects of a situation

  • also tend to blow the small problems out of proportion and think in ‘black and white’
• What does Beck's cognitive theory of depression suggest?


  It is a person's cognitions that create the vulnerability to depression

  
  

  3 Parts to this vulnerability:

  • Faulty information processing
  • Negative Schemas
  • The Negative Triad
• What are the 2 ways of explaining depression?

  • Becks cognitive theory of depression (1967)
  • Ellis's ABC model (1962)