Cognitive Errors in Depression
Aaron Beck
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The Cognitive Triad negative thoughts about:
1. oneself,
2. the situation, and
3. the future.
Cognitive Errors of Depressed People
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Selective abstraction
Personalization
Magnification and minimization
Dichotomous thinking
Process time
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Take out E.Q. Chart, Mood Disorders
 Mania,
Bipolar, Dysthymia, Major Depression
 See what you have already written for Depression.
 Add Beck’s explanation for Depression
Loneliness and Depression
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Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale
Reverse numbers 2, 5, 6, 11, 12, 14, 16, 17, 18, 20
 (1=
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5, 2 = 4, 3 = 3, 4 = 2, 5 = 1)
Add up all of the numbers to obtain a total score
Range 20 – 100
50 – 59 suggests mild to moderate depression
60 – 69 suggests moderate to severe depression
70 and above suggests severe depression
Loneliness and Depression, part 2
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Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale
 Reverse
numbers 1, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 15, 16, 19, 20
 (1 = 4, 2 = 3, 3 = 2, 4 = 1)
 Add up for a total score
 Range 20 – 80
 Mean scores
 Males
37.06 Females 36.06
 Correlations ranging from .51 to .62 were found between
loneliness scores and depression
The Body Investment Scale
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Reverse the numbers
1 = 5, 2 = 4, 4 = 2, 5 = 1
For numbers 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 17, 22
Body Investment Scale - Israel Orbach and
Mario Mikulincer
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Scores can range from 24 - 120
Higher scores reflect a more positive emotional
investment in one’s body.
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Orbach and Mikulincer scale predictive of selfdestructive behavior, including suicidal tendencies
higher scores = higher self-esteem as well as
greater maternal care
sensual and bodily pleasures versus overprotective
parents
Self-mutilation
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Estimate approx.
2,000,000 selfmutilators in the U.S.,
vast majority are
women.
Typically begin cutting
as teenagers.
Self-mutilation, cont’d.
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Usually, self-mutilators not suicidal.
sexually abused, learned to shield themselves from
trauma by dissociating from emotions.
Cutting a replacement for absent
language/communication at home.
Princess Diana
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“You have so much
pain inside yourself
that you try to hurt
yourself on the outside
because you want
help.”
Edwin Schneidman’s 10 Common
Characteristics of Suicidal People
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Unendurable
psychological pain
Frustrated psychological
needs
Search for a solution
An attempt to end
consciousness
Helplessness and
hopelessness
Schneidman’s 10 Common Characteristics of
Suicidal People
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Constriction of options
Ambivalence
Communication of intent
Departure
Lifelong coping patterns