CBT: Beck & Ellis

Question 0

Concept

Answer 0

Irrational beliefs about the self ad delusion are directly responsible for causing distress and other negative emotions.
Goal is to challenge these thoughts and them to a reality test.
Patient has to provide supporting evidence for delusions and the patient is encouraged to generate alternatives with more plausible explanations.
The therapist should never supply one.
Therapist must begin with least important belief and work up to the most significant.
Also wok with evidence for the belief rather than the belief itself to avoid reinforcing it.
Challenging belief imparts insight into the connection between events, beliefs, emotions and behaviours.
There is no distress as long as the therapist is non judgemental, empathic and open minded.

Question 1

Concept

Answer 1

Irrational beliefs about the self and delusions are directly

Question 2

Evaluation of CBT: Beck and Ellis

Answer 2

Been demonstrated to show a 49% reduction in the severity of psychotic symptoms in long term patients.
Cognitive therapy led to a faster response to treatment during acute psychosis then just drugs.
Can last a long time.
Only works on some people and virtually impossible to predict who will respond best.
Degree of cognitive flexibility and willingness to disclose are good signs.

Question 3

Methodological Isssues

Answer 3

Lack of suitable comparison groups.
Lack of blind rating.
More recent studies have dealt with these problems and the results look good.