Welcome to

Metacognitive Training for Depression

(D-MCT)

12/14
© Jelinek, Hauschildt,
Moritz & Schneider;
[email protected]
D-MCT: Satellite Position
 Today‘s Topic

Behavior Memory

Depression

Denken und
Thinking and
Perception of
Schlussfolger
Reasoning
Feelings
n

Self-Worth
D-MCT Topic:

Thinking and
Reasoning 1
How is "thinking and reasoning" related to
depression?
 Many individuals with depression process
information differently.
How is "thinking and reasoning" related to
depression?
 Many individuals with depression process
information differently.

 These depressive thought patterns are often not

based on reality or tend to be very one-sided
(i.e. paying attention only to your own errors or
only negative details of situations, events,
relationships, etc.).
How is "thinking and reasoning" related to
depression?
 Many individuals with depression process
information differently.

 These depressive thought patterns are often not

based on reality or tend to be very one-sided
(i.e. paying attention only to your own errors or
only negative details of situations, events,
relationships, etc.).

 We refer to this as "distorted thinking ", which

can contribute to the development or
maintenance of depression.
 Thought Distortions in Depression
adapted from Beck et al., 1979; Burns, 1989

1. Mental Filter

2. Overgeneralization
Mental Filter
adapted from Beck et al., 1979; Burns, 1989
 Mental Filter
adapted from Beck et al., 1979; Burns, 1989

 Search for and pay

attention to only negative
details.
 Mental Filter
adapted from Beck et al., 1979; Burns, 1989

 Search for and pay

attention to only negative
details.
 Perceptions of reality are
clouded, like a single drop
of ink which clouds an
entire glass of water.
 Mental Filter
adapted from Beck et al., 1979; Burns, 1989

 Search for and pay

attention to only negative
details.
 Perceptions of reality are
clouded, like a single drop
of ink which clouds an
entire glass of water.

Have you felt like this?

 Mental Filter
Example

Situation: While you‘re presenting your ideas in a

work meeting, most people are listening; however,
one person is playing with their phone.
 Mental Filter
Example

Situation: While you‘re presenting your ideas in a

work meeting, most people are listening; however,
one person is playing with their phone.

Mental Filter:
???
 Mental Filter
Example

Situation: While you‘re presenting your ideas in a

work meeting, most people are listening; however,
one person is playing with their phone.

Mental Filter:
"No one was listening to me – my ideas are stupid!"
 Mental Filter
Example

Situation: While you‘re presenting your ideas in a

work meeting, most people are listening; however,
one person is playing with their phone.

Mental Filter:
"No one was listening to me – my ideas are stupid!"

What is the consequence of this mental filter?

???
 Mental Filter
Example

Situation: While you‘re presenting your ideas in a

work meeting, most people are listening; however,
one person is playing with their phone.

Mental Filter:
"No one was listening to me – my ideas are stupid!"

What is the consequence of this mental filter?

"I feel stupid and less confident in myself. I
probably shouldn‘t bring up any new ideas in the
next meeting."
 Mental Filter
Example

Situation: While you‘re presenting your ideas in a

work meeting, most people are listening; however,
one person is playing with their phone.

Mental Filter:
"No one was listening to me – my ideas are stupid!"

Is this thought justified? NO! Therefore: What can

I think instead?
 Mental Filter
Example

What can I think instead?

???
 Mental Filter
Example

What can I think instead?

"A few people asked relevant questions, so they
must have been listening. Not everyone will like my
ideas. This colleague often plays on their phone
during team meetings."
 Mental Filter
Example

What can I think instead?

"A few people asked relevant questions, so they
must have been listening. Not everyone will like my
ideas. This colleague often plays on their phone
during team meetings."

What is the outcome of this thought?

???
 Mental Filter
Example

What can I think instead?

"A few people asked relevant questions, so they
must have been listening. Not everyone will like my
ideas. This colleague often plays on their phone
during team meetings."

What is the outcome of this thought?

"I‘m possibly frustrated by my colleague who did
not pay attention, but I handeled the questions
from my other colleagues well. Overall, I am
satisfied with my performance and will contribute in
the future to team meeting."
 Mental Filter
Personal Example?

Have you had situations in which you only paid

attention to negative details?
 Mental Filter
Personal Example?

Have you had situations in which you only paid

attention to negative details?

What could you have thought instead?

Overgeneralization
adapted from Beck et al., 1979; Burns, 1989
 Overgeneralization
adapted from Beck et al., 1979; Burns, 1989

 A single negative event is

seen as part of a never-
ending series.
 Overgeneralization
adapted from Beck et al., 1979; Burns, 1989

 A single negative event is

seen as part of a never-
ending series.

 In describing such events,

words such as "always" or
"never" are often used.

Have you felt this way?

 Overgeneralization
Example

Event Overgeneralization
Helpful Appraisal
You pronounced an unfamiliar ??? ???
word incorrectly.
 Overgeneralization
What would be a more helpful thought?

Event Overgeneralization
Helpful Appraisal
You pronounced an unfamiliar "I’m stupid! I never use that word correctly."
word incorrectly. ???
 Overgeneralization
What would be a more helpful thought?

Event Overgeneralization
Helpful Appraisal
You pronounced an unfamiliar "I’m stupid! I never use that word correctly."
word incorrectly. "Using one word incorrectly does not mean
that I‘m stupid. That can happen to anyone."
 Overgeneralization
Personal Example?

Event Overgeneralization
Helpful Appraisal
??? ???
???
 How can you make more helpful
appraisals?
 Step out of the "wheel of
generalization“.
How can you make more helpful
appraisals?
 How can you make more helpful
appraisals?
1. Make concrete statements about a specific
situation that relates to the here and now.
 How can you make more helpful
appraisals?
1. Make concrete statements about a specific
situation that relates to the here and now.

For example, if you forget the birthday of a

friend, instead of telling yourself …

"I’m always a
bad friend."
 How can you make more helpful
appraisals?
1. Make concrete statements about a specific
situation that relates to the here and now.

For example, if you forget the birthday of a

friend, instead of telling yourself …

"I’m always a "I forgot her birthday

bad friend." this year. That is not
ideal, but I can still
send her a belated
birthday wish."
 How can you make more helpful
appraisals?
2. Changing perspective
 What would you tell a good friend if they
experienced the same situation or a similar
situation?
 How can you make more helpful
appraisals?
Example: You have missed the deadline for an
appealing job.
 How can you make more helpful
appraisals?
Example: You have missed the deadline for an
appealing job.

 Now consider how hard you could possibly judge

yourself.
 How can you make more helpful
appraisals?
Example: You have missed the deadline for an
appealing job.

 Now consider how hard you could possibly judge

yourself.
 Instead, think about what you would tell a good
friend.
 How can you make more helpful
appraisals?
Example: You have missed the deadline for an
appealing job.

 Now consider how hard you could possibly judge

yourself.
 Instead, think about what you would tell a good
friend.
 You would probably comfort him/her and identify
good reasons why his/her failure is forgiveable.
 How can you make more helpful
appraisals?
Example: You have missed the deadline for an
appealing job.

 Now consider how hard you could possibly judge

yourself.
 Instead, think about what you would tell a good
friend.
 You would probably comfort him/her and identify
good reasons why his/her failure is forgiveable.

Personal example?
 How can you make more helpful
appraisals?
3. Find out the following based on an experiment:

Does everyone think the same as I do?

 How can you make more helpful
appraisals?
3. Find out the following based on an experiment:

Does everyone think the same as I do?

Consult with a trusted person, who was also

there, about how they assessed the situation
(ex: During my presentation, a colleague played
with her phone. What do you think, why could
she have been playing with her phone?).
Mental Filter, Overgeneralization

What else can help with distorted appraisals?

 What else can help
with distorted appraisals?
If you notice that one single negative aspect of an
event is overshadowing all positive aspects
(i.e."one drop of ink clouds the water"), try to
imagine the situation in an absurd or funny way.

Have a little fun with your own thought

distortions! This may help you to gain a different
perspective and adjust how you relate.
 Deliberate Exaggeration
Example

Event Depressive Appraisal

You‘ve made all of your I‘m a failure and can‘t do anything right.
Christmas Tree decorations Christmas is ruined.
yourself this year. You notice
that a star is misshaped.

Possible Exaggeration:
???
 Deliberate Exaggeration
Example

Event Depressive Appraisal

You‘ve made all of your I‘m a failure and can‘t do anything right.
Christmas Tree decorations Christmas is ruined.
yourself this year. You notice
that a star is misshaped.

Possible Exaggeration:
A friend of yours discovers the misshaped star. He
is excited about your creative take on "traditional
rituals" and asks you to mass produce them. Your
decorations become popular and the whole country
is decorating their Christmas tree with your star.
Thinking and Reasoning 1
Learning Points
 Thinking and Reasoning 1
Learning Points

 Pay attention to the discussed depressive

appraisals (Mental Filter, Overgeneralizations) in
everyday life!
 Thinking and Reasoning 1
Learning Points

 Pay attention to the discussed depressive

appraisals (Mental Filter, Overgeneralizations) in
everyday life!
 Generate more helpful appraisals, for example:
 Thinking and Reasoning 1
Learning Points

 Pay attention to the discussed depressive

appraisals (Mental Filter, Overgeneralizations) in
everyday life!
 Generate more helpful appraisals, for example:
 Make concrete statements about a specific
situation that relates to the here and now.
 Thinking and Reasoning 1
Learning Points

 Pay attention to the discussed depressive

appraisals (Mental Filter, Overgeneralizations) in
everyday life!
 Generate more helpful appraisals, for example:
 Make concrete statements about a specific
situation that relates to the here and now.
 Change your perspective: What would I say to
a good friend if they experienced the same or
a similar situation?
 Thinking and Reasoning 1
Learning Points

 Pay attention to the discussed depressive

appraisals (Mental Filter, Overgeneralizations) in
everyday life!
 Generate more helpful appraisals, for example:
 Make concrete statements about a specific
situation that relates to the here and now.
 Change your perspective: What would I say to
a good friend if they experienced the same or
a similar situation?
 Gain a different perspective by trying to
deliberately exaggerate your appraisal
(imagine the situation in an absurd or funny
way).
Thank you!

Thinking and
Reasoning