CBT in depression

Question 1

What is CBT ?

Answer 1

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Question 2

What does it involve ?

Answer 2

CBT- Change Belief (cognitive)- Change Behaviour. It aims to try and change faulty cognitions.

Question 3

What are the steps involved in CBT ?

Answer 3

1) The therapist and client identify the faulty cognitions
2) The therapist tries to help the client see that these cognitions are not true
3) Together, they then set goals to think in more positive or adaptive ways.
4) Although the client may occasionally need to look back on past experiences, the treatment mainly focuses on the present situation
5) Therapists sometimes encourage their clients to keep a diary, to record thought/feeling patterns.

Question 4

Advantages of CBT

Answer 4

It empowers the patient, puts them in charge of their own treatment. Few ethical issues
It is effective (81%) improvement rate. More cost-effective, they can continue to use methods used in therapy outside of therapy and even once discontinued.

Question 5

Disadvantages of CBT

Answer 5

It does not always work, treatment requires a lot of motivation. Some clients symptoms are so severe they cannot motivate themselves.
There is an over emphasis on cognitions, it does not look at whether a client has gone through something previously, may become too reliant on the therapist. The client could feel as if they are to blame for their conditions/ problems.