Cognitive Model of Psychopathology

 

Central theme of Cognitive Model

Abnormality results from cognitive complications i.e. dysfunctional beliefs are largely responsible for psychiatric symptoms and disorders.

 

Psychopathology

            The science that studies and diagnose psychological disorders.

 

Some of the Cognitive Complications

            (i)         Irrational and inaccurate assumptions about self.

            (ii)        Faulty attitudes about self.

            (iii)       Thinking repeatedly in illogical way.

            (iv)       Making over-generalizations.

            (v)        Drawing broad, negative conclusions on the basis of a single insignificant event.

            (vi)       All or nothing thinking [only two options].

            (vii)      Distorted physiological sensations.

            (viii)     Magnification and minimization.

            (ix)       Selective abstraction.

            (x)        Overgeneralization and misattribution.

            (xi)       Personalization and emotion-based reasoning.

            (xii)      Catastrophization.

            (xiii)     Labeling.

 

Key Principles

            The vulnerability toward psychological dysfunction lies in

            (i)         Core schemas,

            (ii)        Beliefs,

            (iii)       Assumptions, and

            (iv)       Automatic thoughts.

 

Cognitive Model Some Insights

            The perceptions and subsequent reactions are expression of cognitive health. The             response pattern of immediate and spontaneous thoughts influences the individual’s life. The faulty or inappropriate perception leads to distorted reality which interferes with emotional expression and subsequently the behaviour. This process engenders abnormality. “The cognitive model works on information-processing framework, which postulates that individuals with psychiatric disorders tend to experience rigid and distorted patterns of thinking and are thus less able to process information accurately when exposed to stressful or negative experiences. These information-processing errors lead to distorted and inaccurate thoughts, which serve to maintain psychiatric problems” (Dobson et al., 2018).

 

Explanation of Cognitive Model

1.         Childhood Experiences – The unfortunate experiences during childhood may be due to inappropriate parental behaviour leading to disturbed development.

2.         Schema – The cognitive structures equivalent to a cognitive map which activates from the internal as well as external cues. The subsequent schemas distort the perceptual ability leading to inaccurate interpretation of events. This results in cognitive distortions. They influence What and How we think. If schemas are maladaptive certainly, they will form distorted, biased, and/or dysfunctional perceptions and faulty problem solving They are select, encode and retrieve information (Dobson et al. 2018).

3.         Core Beliefs – They are important components of cognitive schemas. They are fixed, absolute, and generalized that people hold about themselves, others, and the world in general. When these beliefs tends to be negative, it leads to maladaptive behaviour.

4.         Assumptions – These are conditional propositions that direct an individual’s everyday choices and reflect their standards, values, and rules for living. They are often in the form of

            (i)         If–then” statement, (positive or negative direction)

            (ii)        Rule of living

            (iii)       Attitude (Dobson et al., 2018). The maladaptive assumptions tend to focus on three major       issues: acceptance, competence and control.

Themes of Core Beliefs &Psychological Disorders

Psychological Disorders	Core Beliefs
Depression	Negative Self-evaluation, hopelessness, failure, deprivation
GAD	Worry, need to self-sacrifice, unrelenting standards
Panic Disorders	Fear of medical catastrophe or a mental health catastrophe
Social Phobia	Fear of being rejected, criticized or humiliated
OCD	Fear of losing mental or behavioural control that leads to harm to self and others
BPD	Beliefs that undermine medication compliance, manic and depressive beliefs
Anorexia Nervosa	Impaired autonomy, impaired limits, overcontrol
Suicidal ideation and intent	Shame, isolation, alienation, failure, defectiveness.
Courtesy: Dobson et al. 2018.

 

5.         Trigger – The external environmental stimuli or events that initiate a chain of [negative] thoughts.

6.         Negative Automatic Thoughts – These are quick, continuous, comprehensive, involuntarily and uncontrollable. They are event and situation specific. They directly influence the psycho-physiological state of an individual which results into inappropriate behaviour.

 

References:

1.         Verma, L. P. (1965). Psychiatry in ayurveda. Indian J Psychiatry. 1965;7:292.

2.         पांडेय, जगदानंद. (1956). असामान्य मनोविज्ञान. पटना: ग्रंथमाला प्रकाशन कार्यालय।

3.         Coleman, J. C. (1981). Abnormal psychology and modern life.

4.         Dobson, K. S., Poole, J. C., & Beck, J. S. (2018). The fundamental cognitive model. In R. L. Leahy       (Ed.), Science and practice in cognitive therapy: Foundations, mechanisms, and applications (p.       29–47). Guilford Press.

 

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