Cognitive approach explaining depression

• Cognitive


  Referring to mental processes, including thoughts, perceptions, attention, and memory
• Beck's cognitive triad theory of depression

  • Three-part explanation for depression
  • Negative self-schemas
  • Cognitive biases
  • Negative triad (negative view of self, world, and future)
• Negative self-schemas


  Patterns of negative thinking about oneself, developed through experiences like criticism and rejection in childhood
• Cognitive biases


  Exaggerated or irrational thought patterns, such as over-generalizing and catastrophizing
• Negative triad


  Negative and irrational view of oneself, the world, and the future
• Ellis's ABC model of depression

  • A - Activating event
  • B - Beliefs (irrational thoughts)
  • C - Consequences (negative emotions and behaviors)
• Ellis's focus was on rationality and having rational thoughts
• Rational means reasonable and logical, irrational means unreasonable or illogical
• Irrational thoughts in depression


  • Thinking boyfriend/girlfriend is off with someone else when they don't reply to a message
• Irrational thoughts lead to negative feelings and behaviors in the ABC model
• Consequences of irrational thoughts in depression

  • Lowered mood, loneliness, lack of motivation, low self-esteem
• Research supports the cognitive explanations of depression, showing depressed people have higher levels of irrational beliefs
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a practical application of the cognitive explanation, challenging irrational thoughts
• Cognitive explanation of depression

  Can be seen as blaming the patient rather than the situation
• Cognitive explanation of depression

  May be oversimplified, and biological factors like serotonin levels should also be considered