Abstract

POWER, Michael J.. Cognitive psychopathology: The role of emotion. Aná. Psicológica [online]. 2009, vol.27, n.2, pp.127-141. ISSN 0870-8231.

This paper examines the role of emotion in the understanding of psychopathology. The influential Cognitive Therapy model of Beck is briefly reviewed and a number of limitations are considered. Two particular weaknesses are highlighted in the understanding of cognitive psychopathology; namely, the importance of multi-level processing systems and the importance of emotion. The Power and Dalgleish (1997, 2008) SPAARS model is presented to show the advantages that arise from the inclusion of multi-level processes combined with a theoretical account of emotion. In order to illustrate the application of the SPAARS model to cognitive psychopathology, findings from a recent emotion profile analysis of clinical depression and anxiety are summarised. The analyses also illustrate the importance of shame-related emotions in depression in contrast to the guilt-related emotions that are highlighted in classification systems such as DSM-IV.

Keywords : Cognition; Emotion; Psychopathology.

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