Cognitive Approach to treating depression

Question 1

Define the terms CBT and irrational thoughts

Answer 1

CBT (Cognitive Brain therapy) - A method that treats mental disorders based cognitive techniques like thinking (challenging negative thoughts) and behavioural techniques like behavioural activation.

Irrational Thoughts- Dysfunctional thoughts that interfere with ones happiness and can lead to depression. (seen in Ellis’s model and therapy)

Question 2

Explain Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Answer 2

CBT is the most common treatment for depression. Its focus is on challenging irrational thoughts and replacing them with more beneficial ones. CBT takes from Beck’s cognitive therapy or Ellis’s rational emotive behavioural therapy - usually both.

Beck’s CT:
Identify and challenge negative triad of future, self and world. Sometimes ‘patient as scientist’

Ellis’s REBT:
Extends ABC model to ABCDE (Dispute and Effect). Vigorous argument is a key factor ie) empirical or logical argument.

Behavioural Activation:
Provides more evidence of irrational nature of beliefs as therapist encourages patient to do more activities.

Question 3

Evaluate CBT

Answer 3

It is effective - CBT shown to be beneficial alongside medicine and alone as March et al’s study shows 81% CBT, 81% Antidepressant drugs an 86% together of 327 adolescents.

CBT may not work for severe cases - Can’t always be used as sole treatment and antidepressants may be a better option as patient may not be motivated or have attention to do hard cognitive work.

Success may be due to patient- therapist relationship- CBT and SD aren’t very different. All treatments include a therapist, so Rosenzweig says that key to success is the patient-therapist relationship.

Some patients really want to explore their past- ‘present-focus’ of CBT on world and future can be annoying when patient wants to talk about past and knows their depression links with certain childhood experiences.

Overemphasis on cognition- McCusker says that CBT is heavily focused on cognition, which isn’t helpful in cases that focus on environment like abuse or poverty.