REBT and Depressive Disorders

Rational-emotive behavior therapy (REBT) emphasizes the role of irrational beliefs as causes of emotional disturbance (i.e., dysfunctional emotions, like depression). REBT relies on the ABC model (Ellis, 1994), where the activating event (A) is further interpreted in a rational or irrational manner (B), thus leading to functional or dysfunctional emotions and behaviors, respectively (C). In the case of depression, a negative activating event (usually related to loss) is irrationally appraised by demandingness and self-downing beliefs, and thus, as a result, the dysfunctional emotion and its associated behavioral consequences (e.g., inactivity) occur.