cognitive apporoach to depression

• Beck's cognitive theory of depression

  • it's cognitions (how they think) that create depression vulnerability
  • faulty information processing
  • negative schemas (self blame)
  • negative triad (world, future, self)
• Ellis' ABC model

  • depressives blame external events for unhappiness and it's irrational thoughts (thoughts that interfere with us being happy
  • A: activating events
  • B: beliefs
  • C: consequences
• example of Ellis' ABC model


  A: activating event - failing driving test

  B: beliefs aboout A - RATIONAL - i will pass next time

  - IRRATIONAL - i will never pass

  C: consequences of B about A: DESIRABLE - pratices more

  UNDESIRABLE - gives up
• what did clark and beck find? - strength for Beck's cognitive triad

  • 1999
  • cognitive vulnerability was seen before and after depression diagnosed suggesting it could be a cause
• Beck's cognitive triad strengths

  • research support from Clark and Beck (1999)
  • Pratical application in CBT
• Beck's cognitive triad limitation

  • doesn't explain all aspects of depression
• Ellis' ABC model strength

  • pratical application in CBT
• Ellis' ABC model

  • a partial explanation
  • doesn't explain all aspects of depression
• CBT: Beck's cognitive therapy

  • cognitive behavioural therapy
  • identify automatic thoughts about the world, self and future (negative triad)
  • once identified, thoughts are challenged
  • aim to help patients test reliability of their negative beliefs
  • set homework (record when they enjoyed an event) which is known as 'patient as scientist'
  • use the evidence to prevent future negative comments (no one likes me)
• Ellis' rational emotive behaviour therapy (REBT)

  • uses the ABCDE model (activating event, belief, consequence, dispute effect)
  • aims to identify and challenge irrational thoughts and change the irrational belief to break link with negative events and depression
  • disputing may involve looking at evidence and logical arguments following from facts
• CBT limitations

  • severe cases of depression may cause the patient to be unmotivated and not able to engage with CBT (may need medication) so shows CBT alone wouldn't work
  • ignores patient's past as it only deals with present and future but childhood trauma could have caused the depression
• CBT strength

  • research support - MARCH (2007) compared CBT effects with antidepressants in teens and after 36 weeks found 81% of CBT group were equally improved as the antidepressant group.
  • this shows CBT is just as effective as medication and there's a good argument for making it first choice treatment in NHS