Question
(a) Describe what psychologists investigating the treatment and management of mood (affective) disorders have discovered about:
• MAOI anti‑depressants, and
• Ellis’s rational emotive behaviour therapy (REBT). [6]
(b) Evaluate what psychologists investigating the treatment and management of mood (affective) disorders have discovered about:
• MAOI anti‑depressants, and
• Ellis’s rational emotive behaviour therapy (REBT), including a discussion of reductionism versus holism.
Evaluation in your answer can include strengths, weaknesses and a discussion of issues and debates. [10]
Section B: Consumer Psychology
Answer all questions.
Mark scheme
4(a) Describe what psychologists investigating the treatment and management of mood 6 Annotations:
(affective) disorders have discovered about: Add the levels to get the mark
• MAOI anti‑depressants, and awarded e.g. NAQ and L2 = 2
• Ellis’s rational emotive behaviour therapy (REBT). marks, L1 and L2 = 3 marks,
L1 and L3 = 4 marks, L3 and
Syllabus content L3 = 6 marks
• Biological treatments including the use of anti-depressants (tricyclics, MAOIs and SSRIs)
• Ellis’s rational emotive behaviour therapy (REBT) Plus, overall level at the
bottom of the response as
For each bullet point award L1 to L3 depending on detail and accuracy. If bullet point not follows:
creditworthy annotate with NAQ. 1 or 2 marks = L1
3 or 4 marks = L2
MAOIs 5 or 6 marks = L3
• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) act to inhibit the enzyme monoamine oxidase.
• Monoamine oxidase is responsible for breaking down and removing the neurotransmitters REBT – if outlines features of
noradrenaline, serotonin and dopamine, which means MAOIs prevent this breakdown and CBT only can achieve L1
levels of these neurotransmitters remain high in the brain.
• Evidence shows MAOIs are effective.
• MAOIs have been used since the 1950s but are usually only used now for depressive
disorder where other antidepressants (such as SSRIs) have been unsuccessful.
• Numerous side-effects – headache, drowsiness, insomnia, constipation but more
importantly can interfere with other medication and certain foods high in tyramine (certain
cheeses, red wine, fermented foods such as tofu). Can cause dangerously high blood
pressure (hypertensive crisis).
Ellis’s rational emotive behaviour therapy (REBT)
• REBT is based on the principles of stoicism (we are only affected by our perception of
external events rather than the events themselves)
• In REBT therapist helps patient to understand the ABC model, where ‘B’ (belief) is most
important part.
• ABC model consists of ‘A’ Activating agent – what is the behaviour and/or attitude of the
patient towards events in their lives, ‘B’ Beliefs – what is the belief of the patient toward the
event, and ‘C’ Cognitive – what types of thoughts does the patient have with regard to the
event.
4(a) • Ellis believes if a person has constant negative beliefs about events in their lives, they are
likely to suffer from depression.
• The goal of therapy is to identify the unhelpful thoughts and replace them with more rational
and constructive thoughts.
• Main technique used is ‘disputing’ where the therapist questions irrational beliefs
• As a result of therapy, patient can see setbacks and choose how to think and feel about
them.
• REBT focuses on the present, with little desire to explore past (like psychoanalysis would
do)
• Metanalysis by Lyons and Woods (1991) of 70 REBT studies, found those receiving REBT
showed significant improvement compared to control groups.
Other appropriate responses should also be credited.
4(b) Evaluate what psychologists investigating the treatment and management of mood 10
(affective) disorders have discovered about:
• MAOI anti‑depressants, and
• Ellis’s rational emotive behaviour therapy (REBT),
including a discussion of reductionism versus holism.
Evaluation in your answer can include strengths, weaknesses and a discussion of issues
and debates.
4(b) Named issue – reductionism versus holism
Both treatments could be seen a reductionist. MAOIs see the source of affective disorders being
the action of neurotransmitters, that are single fundamental units, rather than seeing the whole
person and need to treat other aspects of their depression such as thoughts. REBT sees
dysfunctional thoughts as the cause of depression, and these could be seen as reductionist.
However, REBT does recognise that although it is the beliefs about events that are key to
depression, the events themselves are important too. It could also be seen that MAOIs
recognise the role of multiple neurotransmitters rather than just one.
Application to everyday life
Both treatments have research evidence regarding efficacy. Evidence for effectiveness of MAOIs
has been around since the 1950s. As a drug, MOAIs are a relatively inexpensive treatments and
easily available (although require a clinician to prescribe). It will impact somewhat on the
individual’s life with regard to side effects and the need to avoid certain foods. REBT is also very
effective (meta-analysis by Lyons and Woods (1991) shows this). However, as it is a therapy
requiring one-to-one sessions this may not be as available to patients (compared to drug
therapies). It needs a specialized therapist and for the patient to be able to get to the therapist.
There may be some availability increasingly online, however it will tend to be more expensive
than drug treatments whether provided by medical services or privately. Some patients may
simply be unable to access it. In addition, REBT may not be suitable for all. It is quite a
confrontational therapy that may be difficult for a depressed patient to engage wit h (lack of
motivation or low self-esteem).
Individual and Situational
MAOIs are an individual treatment as the depression is caused by levels of neurotransmitters,
which are individual. However, the neurotransmitter levels themselves could be caused by
situational effects. Indeed, the link between levels of neurotransmitters and the existence of
mental illness is correlational. Are the levels caused by the depression, or does the depression
cause the levels? Similarly, REBT is individual in that the experience of depression depends
upon the individual’s own beliefs about events. Yet the events themselves must, by their very
nature, also affect the depression and these are situational. For example, for someone facing a
huge stressor such as redundancy, divorce or bereavement (all of which are situational),
depression is far more likely to arise however functionally a person thinks.
4(b) Determinism versus free-will
Both treatments are somewhat deterministic. MAOIs show biological determinism in that we
have no free will over the action of neurotransmitters. However, it could be seen that the
decision to take (or not) a drug is the action of free-will. REBT would argue that it is our personal
perception of events (beliefs) that determine depression and so a change in thinking determines
recovery. Again, it is the patient’s own free will to accept and work in the therapy that will lead to
recovery.
Generalisations from findings
Research evidence regarding efficacy could be said to be generalisations and both treatments
are effective. However, there will be individual differences in recovery or acceptance of
treatment. For many MAOIs are a drug treatment given because other drugs have been shown
to have not helped. Side effects will affect some patients more than others. REBT is not easy to
engage in due to its confrontational nature, so it is not suitable for all.
Other possible issues/debates
Cultural differences
Nature versus nurture
Ethics
Nomothetic vs idiographic
Other appropriate responses should also be credited.
4 The audience – age can affect chances of being persuaded – younger people are more
easily persuaded than the elderly; less educated are more likely to rely on an expert and so
be persuaded.