The Cognitive Approach to Explaining Depression

• Becks proposed that one has a cognitive vulnerability towards developing depression, through faulty information processing, negative self-schemas and the cognitive triad of automatic negative thoughts.
• Beck: Through faulty information processing, the patient blows small problems out of proportion, attending to and dwelling on the negative, whilst thinking in ‘black and white’ terms.
• Beck: Through negative self-schemas, the patient interprets all information about themselves from the world in a negative light, further lowering their self-confidence.
• Beck: Through the cognitive triad, the patient suffers from negative automatic thoughts about the self, the future and the world.
• STRENGTH OF BECK'S EXPLANATION:

  Supporting research evidence

  • Grazioli and Terry’s evaluation of 65 pregnant women for cognitive vulnerability and depression before and after birth.
  • Researchers found a positive correlation between an increased cognitive vulnerability and an increased likelihood of acquiring depression after birth.
  • This supports the link between faulty cognition and depression, which is in line with the predictions made by Beck’s cognitive theory, thus increasing the validity of this theory.
• 2. STRENGTH OF BECK'S EXPLANATION:

  More effective treatments due to better understanding

  • Elements of the cognitive triad can be easily identified by a therapist and challenged as irrational thoughts on the patient’s part.
  • Thus, it translates well into a successful therapy and the consequent effectiveness of CBT is merit to the accuracy of Beck’s cognitive theory as an explanation for depression.
• Ellis proposed that an activating event (A), leads to an irrational belief (B), which results in an emotional consequence (C) in the form of depression.
• The key thing in the ABC model is the specific interpretation of the irrational belief, which is why some people have depression, whilst others don’t, according to the ABC model.
• WEAKNESS OF ELLIS' EXPLANATION:

  Cannot explain all types of depression

  • Works for those which clearly have an activating event i.e. reactive depression.
  • However, many suffer from depression without an apparent cause, and may feel frustrated that their concerns/experiences are not reflected in this theory.
  • Therefore, this suggests that the ABC model is limited at best.
• STRENGTH OF ELLIS' EXPLANATION:

  Practical application in CBT.

  • The effectiveness of CBT suggests that identifying and challenging irrational beliefs are at the core of ‘curing’ depression, which in turn supports the theoretical basis of the ABC model, through a specific focus on the role of faulty cognitions in the development of depression and specifically, in the interpretation of an activating event.
• OVERALL WEAKNESS

  • Both the ABC model and Beck’s theories cannot explain all aspects of depression e.g. hallucinations, anger, Cotard Syndrome.
  • This can become a practical issue in that patients may become frustrated that their symptoms cannot be explained according to this theory and therefore cannot be addressed in therapy.