Cognitive Approach To Treating Depression

Question 1

What is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)?

Answer 1

A therapy which assumes that if depression is the result of irrational thinking, it can be treated by challenging these irrational thoughts and replacing them with rational ones.

Question 2

What happens first during CBT?

Answer 2

The client is made aware that it is not the events themselves but how they think about the events that makes them anxious/negative - achieved through teaching the ABCDE Model.

Question 3

What is the client required to do?

Answer 3

Gather evidence of situations where negative thinking occurs (keeping a diary).

Question 4

What does the therapist help teach the client to write down in the diary?

Answer 4

After experiencing a difficult situation, they are taught to write the Activating Event (A), the Beliefs (B) which might be irrational, and the Consequences (C) which is the idea that irrational beliefs lead to unhealthy emotions (depression).

Question 5

What is the client encouraged to do after ABC?

Answer 5

Dispute (D) their irrational belief by writing down challenging rational beliefs.

Question 6

What does practising Dispute (D) eventually do?

Answer 6

Allows the person to challenge irrational beliefs naturally and in their heads rather than on paper.

Question 7

What should the client feel in result of Dispute (D)?

Answer 7

The Effect (E) of thinking of rational beliefs should make the client feel less anxious which will have a positive effect on their behaviour.

Question 8

What are the five evaluation points for CBT?

Answer 8

\+ effective at treating depression.
\+ does not have side effects.
\+ beneficial for the economy.
- impractical.
- blames the patient.