cognitive approach to treating depression Flashcards
Explain cognitive behavioural therapy
- commonly used psychological treatment for depression (CBT)
- patient+therapist work together to clarify problems
- identify goals+how to achieve them
What is the aim of CBT?
- identify irrational thoughts
- then change those irrational thoughts to introduce more effective thinking
What are the two types of CBT?
- Becks cognitive therapy
- Elis’ rational emotive behavioral therapy (REBT)
What is the name of Elis’ CBT?
-(REBT) rational emotive behavior therapy
explain beck’s cognitive therapy in treating depression
- to identify feelings about the world, future and self
- these feelings are then challenged
- may be set homework to record when they enjoyed themselves
- therapists can then rebut any negatives feelings they have about themselves with this evidence
why are patients set homework in becks cognitive therapy?
- homework = keeping a record of when they enjoyed themselves
- this investigates the reality of their negative beliefs= can rebut them
- if patient says they didn’t have fun and there was no point in going out, therapist can refer to the record they kept
what is Elis’ REBT model
- (REBT) is an extension of the ABC model= ABCDE
- (D) dispute irrational thoughts+ (E) effects
- aim is to identify and dispute irrational thoughts
explain how Elis’ REBT treats depression
- patient may say how unlucky they are
- therapist would rebut with Utopianism and challenge this
- therapist would argue with intention of changing beliefs through vigorous argument there are different forms of argument eg. empirical+ logical
explain behavioral activiaton
- alongside cognitive CBT
- therapist may encourage patient to become active
- to provide more evidence for the irrational nature of beliefs
what are the 3 evaluation points for cognitive approaches to treating depression
- it is effective
- CBT may not work for all cases
- success may be due to therapist-patient relationship
evaluate how CBT is effective in treating depression
STRENGTH
- study made comparing CBT with antidepressants and a combination of both with 330 adults with depression
- after 36 weeks
- 81% of CBT/antidepressants improved
- 86% the combination of 2 were improved
- shows effectiveness of CBT and would be a good option in NHS
evaluate why CBT may not work for all cases
WEAKNESS
- patients with severe depression cannot motivate themselves to engage in hard cognitive work of CBT
- antidepressants will b more effective and use CBT when they are motivated
- limitation of CBT as it cannot be used as a sole treatment for severe cases
evaluate why success may be due to therapist patient relationship?
WEAKNESS
- there is little difference between SD and CBT
- they both have therapist-patient relationships
- quality of relationship might be the factor that determines success
- therefore it is not the therapy just the opportunity to talk to someone that reduces depression
