About the lecture

In this lecture, we think about two cognitive models of depression and their corresponding treatments, focusing in particular on: (i) Ellis’s ABC model and Rational Emotive Therapy (RET) which locates the causes of depression in our irrational beliefs; (ii) the role of the therapist in RET being to challenge these beliefs and help the patient to understand and their thoughts, feelings and behaviours; (iii) Beck’s Cognitive Triad and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), contrasting it to Ellis’ earlier model as a more collaborative and experimental approach; (iv) the different types of negative thought that constitute Beck’s Cognitive Triad; (v) how CBT aims to capture and challenge these thoughts; (vi) the behavioural aspect of CBT which aims to help those suffering from depression to recover a sense of mastery and pleasure in their daily activities.

About the lecturer

Professor Linda Gask trained in medicine at the University of Edinburgh and in psychiatry in the North West of England. She was a 2000-2001 Harkness Fellow in Health Care Policy based at the Center for Health Studies in Seattle. She has also worked as a consultant for the World Health Organisation and has been a zonal representative for the World Psychiatric Association.