cognitive explanation & treatment of depression

• Beck's negative triad (1967):

  • there are different factors that make people vulnerable to depression - this vulnerability is a result of how people think/negative schemas.
  • vulnerability is created by faulty info processing (dwelling on negatives) & negative self-schemas.
  • the negative triad: negative view of oneself, the world and the future.
• Ellis' ABC model:

  • depression is caused by an activating event, beliefs and the consequences of this.
  • activating event: the trigger of depression.
  • beliefs are either rational or irrational. There are 3 types of beliefs: I-can't-do-it-it-is (everything is a disaster); utopianism (world should be fair) and musterbation (need to succeed).
  • consequences are what happen because of the beliefs held. Consequences are either adaptive or maladaptive, they are also either emotional or cognitive.
• Negative triad - AO3

  • research support: Clark & Beck (1999). Cognitive vulnerabilities are more common in depressed people. Means that the explanation is valid.
  • clinical application: used to test & treat depressed people via CBT. Explanation is useful and has external validity.
• Ellis - AO3:

  • explanatory power. Explanation is used to treat depression with REBT. Increases the external validity of the explanation. HOWEVER, this explanation blames the patient for their depression - they say it is the way the patient thinks. Socially sensitive.
  • limited explanation: explains reactive depression only, not endogenous depression. It is a partial explanation of depression.
• Beck's cognitive therapy/CBT:

  • identify negative thoughts clients have & have them keep a diary to write about their life
  • therapist focuses on positive incidents to challenge dysfunctional cognitions
  • clients are given homework to complete in between sessions
  • the therapist shows the client that their thoughts are irrational
  • therapists help clients set small goals
  • behavioural techniques are used to help change negative behaviour to positive behaviour e.g., homework tasks
  • 'clients as a scientist'
• Rational emotive behaviour therapy (REBT) - Ellis' therapy:

  • extended the ABC model (ABCDE model - activating event; beliefs; consequence; dispute; effect)
  • irrational thoughts are challenged by disputing them
  • use different behavioural techniques to to dispute behaviour - use empirical & logical arguments. Example - decatastrophising: replace catastrophic thoughts with realistic ones (works for i-can't-do-it-it-is belief), use additional methods like reframing & mindfulness
  • therapists use logical arguments and evidence to change beliefs from irrational to rational
• Beck's cognitive therapy and REBT (Ellis' therapy - rational emotive behaviour therapy) are both forms of CBT.
• CBT - AO3:

  • research support: March et al (2007) found that CBT is as effective as antidepressants at treating depression (both CBT & AD groups improved by 81%). D: group that had CBT & AD improved more (86%), using both is more effective. But, CBT is an effective treatment.
  • alternative treatment: CBT needs motivation, antidepressants don't. Depression = less likely to be motivated so may not attend the sessions. Means that there are better treatment options.
  • social sensitive. Trying to treat depression by working with irrational thoughts. People may feel like they're being blamed. Harmful.