Ellis' ABC model evaluation

• Links to real world

  One strength of Ellis's ABC model is its real-world application in the psychological treatment of depression.

  Ellis's approach to cognitive therapy is called rational emotive behaviour therapy or REBT for short. The idea of REBT is that by vigorously arguing with a depressed person the therapist can alter the irrational beliefs that are making them unhappy. There is some evidence to support the idea that REBT can both change negative beliefs and relieve the symptoms of depression (David et al. 2018).

  This means that REBT has real-world value.
• Limited explanation- only reactive

  One limitation of Ellis's ABC model of depression is that it only explains reactive depression and not endogenous depression.

  There seems to be no doubt that depression is often triggered by life events - what Ellis would call 'activating events. Such cases are sometimes called reactive depression. How we respond to negative life events also seems to be at least partly the result of our beliefs. However, many cases of depression are not traceable to life events and it is not obvious what leads the person to become depressed at a particular time. This type of depression is sometimes called endogenous depression. Ellis's ABC model is less useful for explaining endogenous depression.

  This means that Ellis's model can only explain some cases of depression and is therefore only a partial explanation.
• Ethical issues

  The ABC model of depression is controversial because it locates responsibility for depression purely with the depressed person. Critics say this is effectively blaming the depressed person, which would be unfair.

  On the other hand, provided it is used appropriately and sensitively, the application of the ABC model in REBT (discussed on next spread) does appear to make at least some depressed people achieve more resilience and feel better