Cognitive Approach To Treating Depression

Question 1

What does CBT stand for

Answer 1

Cognitive behavioural therapy

Question 2

Aim of CBT

Answer 2

To challenge negative thoughts and replace them with healthy ones through a highly structured programme involving 1:1 sessions with a therapist

Question 3

Four steps to CBT

Answer 3

-therapist first gets client to realise their irrational thoughts
-therapist then gets the client to provide evidence of events in their life that the therapist uses to challenge these irrational thoughts
-therapist sets homework that encourages the client to engage in reality testing in which they compare their negative thinking to evidence in the real world, taught to be objective when events occur and take time to make judgements about a situation to develop positive feelings
-also give client homework of writing diaries to identify situations in which negative thinking occurs so these can be targeted, used to identify the trigger for these thoughts

Question 4

Five characteristics of CBT

Answer 4

-practical (helps identify specific problems and tries to solve them)
-highly structured (discuss specific problems and sets goals to achieve)
-focused on current problems (concerned with how you think rather than attempting to resolve past issues)
-collaborative (therapist works with client to find solutions to current problems)
-patient is a scientist (generates hypotheses to test the validity of irrational thoughts)

Question 5

What is REBT and who was it developed by and how does it differ to Beck’s CBT

Answer 5

Rational emotive behavioural therapy developed Ellis, is more confrontational than Beck’s by challenging the client’s self defeating beliefs in intense debates

Question 6

Four steps of REBT

Answer 6

-recognising the irrational thoughts (first learn to recognise the automatic thoughts filtering through your consciousness at times you feel at your worst)
-challenging these irrational thoughts (learn to dispute the thoughts by challenging them with contrary evidence collected through homework eg diary, taught to focus on the evidence)
-reality test (then learn to develop more realistic explanations by comparing negative thinking to real world)
-develop positive feelings (recognising negative emotions and replacing them with positive ones)

Question 7

What do the D and E stand for in Ellis’ model for treating depression

Answer 7

D- disputing irrational beliefs
E- effective new beliefs replace irrational ones

Question 8

Expand on strength that CBT had research to support its effectiveness

Answer 8

-March compared CBT with drug therapy in hundreds of depressed adolescents and found that although drug therapy appeared faster acting, CBT was just as effective in improving symptoms by 36 weeks and was more effective in reducing suicidal thoughts and attempts
-suggests that CBT is an effective t treatment and may be more appropriate than drug therapy for depression

Question 9

Expand on strength that CBT has real world application

Answer 9

-highly structured nature of CBT means it can be provided in different formats including in groups, self-help books and online therapy
-this enables patients to access treatment that suits their schedule meaning patients and more likely to attend
H: attending CBT sessions and completing homework can be time consuming meaning some may find this challenging and drop out

Question 10

Expand on limitation that CBT may not be universal

Answer 10

-it can be argued that CBT simply teaches one how to deal with the symptoms of depression rather than getting to the root cause of the problem, other psychologists would argue that psychoanalysis is more appropriate and it attempts to tackle the root of depression by addressing childhood trauma
-this means the treatment may not be able to be applied to those suffering with depression as a result of trauma