Depression

• Two behavioural symptoms of depression are;

  • Self-harm
  • Disruption to sleep and eat
• Two cognitive symptoms of depression are;

  • Only focusing on the negative
  • Reduced concentration
• Two emotional symptoms of depression are;

  • Anger
  • Lowered self-esteem
• The cognitive approach explain depression in two ways;

  • Becks negative triad
  • Ellis ABC model
• Beck identifies that depressed people view events in a negative way which causes their depression.
• Beck identified there are three parts to his approach;

  1. Cognitive triad
  2. Negative self-schema
  3. Errors in logic
• The cognitive triad is the elements in life which one views negatively these are; the self, the world, the future.
• A negative self-schema is when depresses individuals hav a negative view on themselves which can steam from rejections, abuse etc
• Errors in Logic is when people with a negative self-schema make errors in logic around their thinking and can become self-defeating.
• A03 What is a strength to Becks theory?

  Effective Treatment/Real world application

  • It has lead to a development in a range of therapies which have proven to be effective.
• A03 What is weakness to Becks explanation of Depression?

  Does not explain all aspects of Depression

  • Fails to explain why some are deeply angry and suffer from extreme conditions
• Another explanation for depression is Ellis ABC Model
• Ellis proposed that depression occurs as a result of irrational thoughts.
• Ellis identified three aspects to his idea;

  A - activating agent - an external event occurs for the individual

  B - beliefs - individual holds negative beliefs about an event

  C - consequences - negative belief results in a consequence
• AO3 What is a strength to Ellis ABC Model?

  Real world application

  • It has lead to successful therapy as challenging irrational belief's which has reduced depression
• AO3 What is a limitation to Ellis ABC Model?

  Partial explanation

  • Not all depression arises through an activating agent like Ellis suggests.
  • So it does not explain all causes of depression.
• CBT is the most common form of treatment for depression
• CBT begins with an assessment in which the patient and therapist work together to identify the patient's problem. They then put together a plan for their sessions in order to get rid of the depression.
• There are two types of CBT identified by Beck and Ellis;

  Beck identified TNAT

  Ellis identified REBT
• TNAT by Beck is when;

  • Patient and therapist work to identify and challenge negative thoughts
  • Patient may write down hoe they fell when engaging in an activity
  • Therapist may set them homework
  • Can lasts up to 4 months
• REBT by Ellis is when;

  • Develops his ABC model and adds on D(disputing) and E(effect)
  • The aim is to move the patient away from the C(consequence) by changing the negative B(belief) about an A(activating agent)
  • Patient encouraged to record an event and challenge to re-frame the belief
  • Ellis identified two methods of disputing
• The two methods of disputing by Ellis are;

  Empirical argument - involves disputing whether there is evidence to support negative belief

  Logical argument - involves disputing whether the negative belief follows logical facts