Cognitive Treatments For Depression

Question 1

CBT AO1

Answer 1

• Its aim is to chnage negatuve thoughts and alleviate depression (cognitively restructure)
  1. THOUGHT CATCHING: where u identify thoughts. Then the patient is asked to generate a hypothesis to test the validity of their thoughts. This is known as patient as scientist
• the patient may be asked to gather info and compare the evidence w their hypothesis to check if they match
• they may also be asked to complete homework assignments, in between therapy sessions to test the thoughts irl and evaluate evidence
• they may be asked to keep a diary and record events where they think negatively, so it can be targeted

2. POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT: It comes after the thought catching. When patients report positive thoughts, the therapist praises them and gives them positive reinforcement

Question 2

REBT AO1

Answer 2

• rational emotive behavioural therapy
• developed by Ellis(1994)
• it is a CBT therapy for depression
• challenges negatuve thoughts and Replaces with positive thoughts
  USING
  Logical - is used to show patients that their negative beliefs does not logically come from situations (if friend didn’t say hello, Doesn’t mean they hate u)

Empirical - is used to show patients that their negative thoughts are not consistent with reality (it doesn’t make sense if everyone hates u but still invited u out)

• encouraged to Engage in exercise and pleasurable activities - behavioural activation

Question 3

Evaluation of CBT

Answer 3

+ March et al (2007) found that CBT was effective as antidepressants. They examined 327 adolescents with depression. They compared the effectiveness and after 36 weeks 81% of both groups improved . A combo of both group is better as they improved 86% tho

+ David (2008) found that CBT is a better treatment than long term antidepressants. He compared 170 patients who had 14 weeks of CBT tho those who took a drug (fluoxetine). 6 months later, those who took CBT were less likely to relapse

_ CBT requires commitment and motivation. Patients may not engage w CBT. Antidepressants don’t require as much motivation, which poses a problem for CBT

_ psychologists criticised CBT, as it only mainly focuses on a persons irrational thinking as a main cause, not other factors. For example a person being abused doesn’t need to change their thoughts, but needs to change their circumstances.

_ CBT relies on patients self-reporting which can be unreliable and is difficult to verify if they’re accurate or not