eval

• AO3

  It may be that negative thinking generally is also an effect rather than a cause of depression. Perhaps individuals only start experiencing negative thoughts after having developed depression. However, evidence that negative thinking can be involved in the development of depression was obtained by Lewinsohn et al. (2001).
• Measuring negative thinking in non-depressed adolescents

  1. Assessing life events of participants over the previous 12 months

  2. Assessing whether participants were suffering from depression
• Experiencing many negative life events

  Increased likelihood of developing depression
• Being initially high in negative attitudes


  Increased likelihood of developing depression when exposed to stressful life events
• The cognitive approach to depression is limited in that genetic factors are ignored
• Little attention is paid to the role of social factors relating to life events and gender in the cognitive explanation of depression
• AO3

  The precise role of cognitive processes is yet to be determined. It is not clear whether faulty cognitions are a cause of psychopathology or a consequence of it.

  Sometimes these negative cognitions are, in fact, a more accurate view of the world: depressive realism.

  Cognitive theories lend themselves to testing. When experimental subjects are manipulated into adopting unpleasant assumptions or thoughts, they become more anxious and depressed (Rimm & Litvak, 1969).
• Strength of this therapy

  • It has shown to be very effective in treating depression
  • It has been shown to produce longer-lasting recovery than antidepressants
• The precise role of cognitive processes is yet to be determined
• It is not clear whether faulty cognitions are a cause of psychopathology or a consequence of it
• Sometimes these negative cognitions are in fact a more accurate view of the world: depressive realism
• When experimental subjects are manipulated into adopting unpleasant assumptions or thoughts

  They become more anxious and depressed
• Advantage of CBT


  • It tends to be short (compared to psychoanalysis), taking three to six months for most emotional problems
  • Patients attend a session a week, each session lasting either 50 minutes or an hour
• Another strength of CBT

  • It can reduce ethical issues – the way this therapy works is that the client is actively involved and in control
  • They feel empowered as they help themselves