Rev. Fr. George Morelli, Ph.D.
OCAMPR EJournal, Volume I Number 1 (September 2003)
Depression is the third most prevalent mental disorder, with about 8% of the population suffering from this disorder (Robins & Regier, 1991). The effects of depression are varied with insidious consequences both to the suffering patient, his/her family and society. Depression was known to Job who tells us: “My eye has grown dim from grief [depression], it grows weak because of all my foes” (Job 17:7)(italics mine) . The prophet Jeremiah tells us: “My grief [depression] is beyond healing, my heart is sick within me”(Jer 8:18)(italics mine). The Apostles and Church Fathers equally knew the deleterious effects of depression. “…worldly grief produces death.”, states St. Paul. This “death” is both of the social and occupational functioning, expected of us in this world and a “spiritual death” of the soul blocking out the light of God’s love and leaving us in the darkness of despair. St John Cassian tells us: “But first we must struggle with the demon of dejection who casts the soul into despair. We must drive him from our heart. It was this demon that did not allow Cain to repent after he had killed his brother, or Judas after he had betrayed his Master.”
Because we are made in God’s image and likeness, we can use our intelligence to help understand and treat mental disorders such as depression. The best use of our “intelligence” today is scientific research. One of the fruits of this research is the Cognitive-Behavioral Model of Emotional Dysfunction (Beck, Rush, Shaw & Emery, 1979,; Ellis, 1962,; Morelli, 1987, 1988. 1996). According to this model, emotions such as depression are produced by distorted or irrational beliefs, attitudes and cognitions. Situations, (some event that has happened or something that someone has said or done) do not produce or cause emotional upset, rather we upset ourselves by our irrational “interpretations” of the situation. Recent research by Izard (1993) has revealed additional pathways of emotional activation which include sensorimotor and affective neural events. Morelli (1996) has pointed out however, that because of the reciprocal interaction of these events, cognitive behavioral treatment is usually effective with patients suffering from emotional disorders activated by any of the three (cognitive, sensorimotor, affective) pathways. Thus an understanding of the cognitive distortions that produce dysfunctional emotions, and more specifically depression, is important for effective clinical intervention.
There are eight cognitive distortions. [read more in .pdf file]
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