Cognitive treatment for depression

Question 1

what treatments are their for depression?

Answer 1

• CBT
• Becks cognitive therapy
• Ellis’ Rational emotive behaviour therapy

Question 2

Outline what CBT is and how it is used to treat depression?

Answer 2

• The first step of CBT is the therapist challenging irrational thoughts by asking the patient to provide justification or evidence for their irrational beliefs.
• The second step is Homework, the therapist will ask the patient to record all the events that happen in their lives to see if any positive events occur to try and eliminate cognitive bias. They will also be asked to try positive thinking strategies this is down to eliminate irrational beliefs.
• The third step is behavioural activation- There is a specific focus on encouraging more active participation in activities, this will try and reduce the lowered mood as clients may take part in pleasurable activities which can lead to them to having positive emotions

Question 3

identify evaluation points for CBT

Answer 3

• Low relapse rates compared to drugs
• Economy implications
• Slow compared to drugs
• Clients might not want to talk about their past

Question 4

Describe becks cognitive therapy for depression

Answer 4

• the purpose of the therapy is to identify and to alter negative thoughts about the self, the world and the future (cognitive triad)
• The therapy involves challenging patients with regards to these thoughts and the patient is asked to provide evidence for these negative thoughts to provide justification if they should exist or not.
• They also keep a homework diary to note down any positive and negative events in there life to provide a bank of evidence for the therapist and patient to show them that not everything in life is negative
• they are encouraged to assess there own thinking as well

Question 5

Describe Ellis’s rational emotive behavioural therapy

Answer 5

-purpose is to identify and challenge irrational thoughts. The therapist attempts to help client alter irrational thoughts, which will affect beliefs and behaviour continuously again and again which will then change and challenge their beliefs helping the patient realise the thoughts are irrational.