PSY512 Behavioral Activation Model: Scientific Evidence Analysis

Questions 600

1. Provide scientific evidence for each tenet of that theoretical model (60%) Need to detail the level of scientific evidence available for each tenet. You must not only consider the quantity of studies available but also the rigour in which they were conducted (e.g., population, sample size, methodology, statistics), and any contradictory evidence (including its rigour).. Refer to sample paper on the last page. TENETS ARE LISTED BELOW 1-4

More word count here as this is 60%

EVIDENCE MUST BE RECENT IN THE PAST DECADE, can have a few old ones. NEED A LOT OF SOURCES must elaborate on them eg sentence on their method, results and conclusions plus a strength

Model Below Is Found In The Assigned Theoretical Paper if you need further information

The assigned theoretical paper:Manos, R.C., Kanter, J. W., & Busch, A. M. (2010). A critical review of assessment strategies to measure the behavioral activation model of depression. Clinical Psychology Review, 30, 547-561.

Tenet 1:

Reinforcement: decreased positive reinforcement/healthy behaviour leads to depressed mood

Tenet 2:

Reinforcement: decreased positive reinforcement/healthy behaviour and depressed mood leads to behaviour which is decreased activation and an increase in avoidance and depressed behaviour

Tenet 3:

Behaviour: Decreased activation and an increase in avoidance and depressed behaviour leads back to Reinforcement which is increase in negative reinforcement and increase in depressed behaviour

Tenet 4:

Behaviour: Decreased activation and an increase in avoidance and depressed behaviour leads to increase in depression depressive symptoms

Sample Example Case Study that Answers to paper is the link below

https://scholar.google.com.au/scholar_url?url=https://www.academia.edu/download/61529332/cognitivehlers_clark_200020191216-51842-1i64qzc.pdf&hl=en&sa=X&ei=lMMXZP7QG4iqygTcorKwBQ&scisig=AAGBfm1VTcKS7_O4Oua0GeeDyFMj_WP7QQ&oi=scholarr

Theoretical Model and Scientific Evidence

Below, I systematically explain Ehlers and Clarks (2000) cognitive model for PTSD and demonstrate that most tenets of the model have strong scientific support.

1. The model firstly posits that misappraisals of a traumatic event and/or its aftermath create an inaccurate sense of a current serious threat. Perceived threats can be either external (e.g., the world is dangerous) or internal (e.g., I attract disaster) and are accompanied by intrusions, arousal, and strong emotions.


2. There is substantial evidence from longitudinal and experimental studies that a variety of misappraisals, such as overestimating the probability of danger, blaming oneself, and viewing oneself as damaged, predict re-experiencing, arousal, and distress symptoms after a trauma for both children and adults (Agar et al., 2006; Carek et al., 2010; Cheung & Bryant; 2017; Duffy et al., 2015; Dunmore et al., 2001; Ehlers & Steil, 1995; Foa & Rothbaum, 1998; Horsch et al., 2012; Lancaster et al., 2011; Moser et al., 2007; ODonnell et al., 2007; Wilksch & Vandervord Nixon, 2010).


3. The model also assumes that a trauma memory that is poorly incorporated into autobiographical memory (i.e., memory about the self and personal experiences) leads to fragmented intentional recall and frequent unintentional recall. Poorly encoded memories are thought to be missing contextual details about when and where they occurred. As a result, specific details about the event are difficult to retrieve, while at the same time, the fragmented memory is experienced as if it is happening in the here and now rather than as a recollection of the past. The here and now quality of a trauma memories produces a sense of current threat even though no actual danger is present.


4. There is mounting evidence supporting the role of autobiographical memory disturbances in the maintenance of PTSD. Two meta-analysis examining dozens of studies found that an overgeneralized autobiographical memory was associated with a trauma history and that individuals with a PTSD diagnosis have greater overgeneralised autobiographical memory than those who have experienced a trauma but do not meet criteria for PTSD (Barry et al., 2018; Ono et al., 2016). In these studies, overgeneralised autobiographical memory was defined as having difficulty recalling specific personal events and having a general tendency to recall general impressions instead. Thus, these data provide evidence for poorer autobiographical memory overall, not just for trauma memories.


5. The model also posits that associative learning may be particularly strong for traumatic events. The stimuli present immediately before and during a trauma are thought to become strongly associated with the trauma, such that encountering them or similar stimuli, may easily trigger memories of the trauma.


6. Experimental studies using the conditioned-intrusion paradigm, which pairs neutral cues with a trauma-film, have shown that these neutral cues and similar cues provoke intrusions, arousal, and anxiety when encountered later in the laboratory and after participants have returned home (Holmes & Bourne, 2008; Franke et al, 2021; James et al., 2016; Lau-Zhu et al., 2018; Streb, Conway, & Michael, 2017; Wegerer et al., 2013a, Wegerer et al., 2013b).


7. A bidirectional relationship between the nature of a trauma memory and negative appraisals about the trauma and its aftermath is presumed to exist. For example, when an individual purposively recalls the trauma memory it may be biased by their appraisals about the event (e.g. a no one helped me appraisal may lead to the help received not being retrieved). Limited retrieval may then prevent a person from contradicting their misappraisals. Likewise, a fragmented memory may be appraised in a way that maintains the misappraisal and current threat (e.g., I cant remember everything that happened, so I must be damaged).


8. Few studies have directly examined this assumption. Indirect support can be gleaned from a systematic review examining the autobiographical memory of war veterans in that it showed that fragmented memory retrieval was influenced by veterans identities and ideology (Islam et al., 2021). A recent study examining autobiographical memory flexibility training also provides indirect support for this tenet. In this study, individuals who were trained to improve their access to and elaboration of autobiographical memories showed greater improvement in PTSD misappraisals than individuals randomly assigned to a wait-list control group (Moradi et al., 2021).


9. The model also posits that when an individual perceives a serious current threat and corresponding intrusion, arousal, and emotional symptoms, that they will try to reduce the threat and its associated symptoms through a range of behavioural and cognitive strategies.


10. Numerous cross-sectional, prospective, and longitudinal studies have demonstrated that individuals engage in avoidant coping after a trauma (An et al., 2012; Bistricky et al., 2019; Boden et al. 2012; Hetzel-Riggin, & Meads, 2016). A recent study of 1139 trauma patients provides evidence that the type of avoidant behaviour people engage in to cope may change across time. Flashbacks and intrusions were strongly associated with avoidance of thoughts immediately after a trauma, while dysphoric symptoms were associated with avoidance of reminders, emotional numbing, and social distancing 12 months later (Bryant et al., 2017).


11. The final tenet in the model posits that strategies aimed at reducing the threat and its associated symptoms maintain PTSD as they prevent changes in misappraisals and of the trauma memory from occurring. By avoiding stimuli associated with the event, an individual is unable to incorporate contextual details of the event into their memory, extinguish the stimulus-stimulus and stimulus-response associations that have been encoded in their memory (e.g., knock on door ? violence), and disconfirm misappraisals about themselves and the world.


12. Several maladaptive avoidance strategies identified in the model (rumination, thought-suppression, substance use, avoidance of trauma reminders) have been shown to contribute to the maintenance of PTSD overtime (Badour, Blonigen, Boden, Feldner, & Bonn-Miller, 2010; Clohessy & Ehlers, 1999; Spinhoven et al., 2015; Ullman, Relyea, Peter-Hagene, & Vasquez, 2013).