Cognitive Behavioural Therapy as a treatment for depression Flashcards
What is the main aim of CBT?
To help the patient change the way they think.
To help the patient change the way they act to improve the symptoms they are having.
How does CBT work?
It is based on the understanding that the way we think affects the way we feel, and how we feel influences how we behave.
If a person changes the way they think, their behaviour should also change.
What happens in the first stage of CBT?
The patient will discuss all their symptoms with the therapist and explain how they feel and what makes them feel this way.
What happens in the second stage of CBT?
Involves challenging these irrational ways of thinking.
When a person can recognise thoughts that are irrational or negative they should try to replace them with more rational and positive ways of thinking.
What will the patient have to do in between therapy sessions?
Homework - this might involve trying to change the way they think about a situation and then writing about how they feel in a diary.
This stage helps them practise using mor4e rational thought processes.
What does evidence published by the NHS in 2012 state about CBT?
When patients with depression are given CBT alongside other treatments, there is a more significant improvement in their symptoms.
This suggests that CBT is effective in treating patients with depression.
Who provided evidence for the support of CBT to treat depression?
Beltman et al (2010) found that depressed patients treated with CBT improved more than those who were still waiting for treatment.
What is a further strength of treating depression with CBT?
It may be a longer lasting treatment than only using anti-depressants.
People learn how to control their symptoms by looking at their own thoughts and trying to change the negative ones. They then have the skills to do this whenever they need to.
What is a weakness of using CBT to treat depression?
It relies on the patient wanting to change their behaviour and being able to recognise when their thoughts are irrational.
What is a further weakness of CBT in relation to ethics?
Some people argue that the therapist is encouraging the patient to think that their own thought processes are a problem and that they should think in a different way.
The implications of this is that the therapist may have the opportunity to abuse their position of power by telling the patient they should change to suit what the therapist thinks is ‘normal’.
