cognitive approach to treating depression

Question 1

cognitive approach

Answer 1

assumes that depression is caused by negative and irrational thinking

suggests that abnormality can be treated by challenging the patient to replace their thoughts with positive and rational cogntitions

Question 2

rebt

Answer 2

ellis, form of CBT used to treat patients with depression

structured and time limited: 10-15 weekly 45m sessions

patient describes their negative self-schemas, negative automatic thoughts and negative congnitive biases

therapist tries to persuade patient their irrational thinking is causing their depression using an ABCDEF chart

work through this process together using a 6 columns chart

therapist aims to challenge their irrational beliefs by using disputing techniques

Question 3

ABCDEF

Answer 3

activating event
belief
consequence
disputing irrational belief
effects of disputing irrational belief
feelings produced

Question 4

logical disputing

Answer 4

asking the patient to consider ‘does it make sense for me to think like this’

Question 5

empirical disputing

Answer 5

asking the patient to consider ‘is there any evidence to justify my thoughts’

Question 6

pragmatic disputing

Answer 6

asking the patient to consider ‘how useful is it for me to think like this’

Question 7

homework tasks

Answer 7

patient asked to complete homework tasks after sessions where the clients negative thinking is tested and the evidence evaluated

e.g. diary records to monitor events and identify situations in which negative thinking occurs so these can be targeted

Question 8

strength 1

Answer 8

supporting research evidence for CBT

Cuijipers et al 2013

performed a meta analysis of 75 studies which incorporated over 5 countries. found that CBT was superior the control group (no treatment)

suggests CBt is an effective treatment for deperssion, and due to using a met-analysis, it can be conclusded that the effectiveness of CBT is found around the globe

Question 9

limit 1

Answer 9

some patients want to explore their past

one of the basic principles of CBT is that the focus of the therapy is on the patients present and future, rather than thier past

for example, CBT requires patients to dispute their negative irrational beliefs. other psychotherapies which are equally as effective make links between childhood experiences and current depression

this suggests CBT over emphasises the patients present circumstances and ignore the role of past experiences

Question 10

limit 2

Answer 10

success of CBT may be due to the therapist-patient relationshio

Rosenzweig 1936

suggested that the quality of the relationship between the client and therapist determines success, rather than any particular technique

suggests that although CBT attempts to address/treat the cause of depression (irrational beliefs), disputing these beliefs may not be the therapies active ingredient, weakening its credibility

Question 11

limit 3

Answer 11

some research suggests all treatments are equally effective

march et al 2007

compared the effect of CBT antidepressants and a combination of the two in 327 depressed patients. at a 36 week follow-up, found that for both cbt and antidepressants 81% had shown significant improvement and for the combination group a 86% improvement

suggests that although cbt is an effective therapy for depression, it is not more effective than other treatments and a combination of treatments might be best