cognitive approach to depression

• symptoms

  emotional = loss of pleasure and low mood

  behavioural = change in appetite and change in sleep pattern and social withdrawal

  cognitive = difficulty concentrating and irrational negative beliefs
• what is the main assumption of depression (EXPLANATION)

  irrational negative beliefs cause depression
• outline Beck's assumptions for explaining depression (EXPLANATION)

  1. Everyone has a schema. People with depression have a negative schema. This creates a distorted perception of the world.
  2. Negative schemas can be acquired though childhood trauma
• outline Beck's negative cognitive triad (EXPLANATION)

  1. negative views of self
  2. negative views of the world
  3. negative views of the future
• Outline Ellis' ABC model (EXPLANATION)

  1. Activating Event
  2. Beliefs about the causes of event
  3. Consequences of the belief

  • People with depression have Irrational negative beliefs about the event.
• outline the process of cognitive behaviour therapy (TREATMENT)

  1. help patient identify irrational negative beliefs
  2. challenge the irrational negative beliefs
  3. patient gathers evidence to test their hypothesis
  4. patient and psychologist evaluate evidence
• evaluate CBT (TREATMENT) - strength

  Cujjpers et Al. found CBT was more effective than no treatment
• evaluate CBT (TREATMENT) - limitations

  1. sometimes unethical as it aims to change cognitions, sometimes forcefully.
  2. precise role of CBT undetermined because its not clear whether faulty cognitions are the cause or a consequence of depression
• evaluate the cognitive approach to explain depression (strengths)

  1. places blame solely on patient. this may empower depressed people to overcome their disorder by changing thought process
  2. lots of research to support that faulty cognitions and behavioural abnormality are linked.
  3. supports free will which allows decision making and choice
• evaluate the cognitive approach to explain depression (limitation)

  faulty thought process may be a consequence not a cause