Cognitive behavioural therapy

Question 1

What is CBT

Answer 1

A type of therapy used to treat many different mental disorders. It aims to:
Help the patient change the way they think (Cognitive part)
Help the patient change the way they act to improve the symptoms they’re having (Behavioural part)

Question 2

Stages of CBT

Answer 2

1. Discuss their symptoms with a therapist and explain how they feel and what makes them feel this way
2. Challenging these irrational ways of thinking and replacing them with more rational and positive ways of thinking
3. Homework that might involve trying to change the way they think about a situation then writing about how they feel in a diary

Question 3

Strengths of CBT for depression

Answer 3

Research evidence suggests it is effective for example a study found that patients treated with CBT improved more than those who were waiting for or not receiving any treatment
It is a longer-lasting treatment than only using antidepressants as patients learn to control their symptoms by changing their irrational thoughts to rational ones.

Question 4

Weaknesses of CBT for depression

Answer 4

Relies on patients wanting to change. A symptom of depression is a lack of motivation so a patient may not be able to come to CBT sessions or do homework
There may be some ethical concerns around the treatment as some people believe that the therapist is telling the patient that the way they think is wrong and they should think in a different way