Evaluation of CBT

Question 1

Effectiveness- Research support, Cahill et al 2003?

Answer 1

By the end of CBT (12-20 sessions), 71% of patients who had completed their therapy experienced significant reduction in symptoms
Only 13% of patients who didn’t do CBT showed improvement

Question 2

Effectiveness- research support, Jarrett et al 1999

Answer 2

Found CBT was as effective as some antidepressants when treating 108 patients with severe depression over a 10 week period

Question 3

Effectiveness- research support, Hollon et al 1992?

Answer 3

Found no difference in CBT when compared to a different antidepressant drugs in a sample of 107 patients over a 10 week period

Question 4

SEEW paragraph for research support?

Answer 4

S- One strength of CBT is that there is convincing evidence to show that CBT is effective for many clients in reducing symptoms
E- Use Cahill et al then explain this
E- Suggesting clients who completed CBT will experience less negative self beliefs. Particularly in comparison to clients who don’t complete a course of CBT as they didn’t show much improvement
W- This is a strength because it shows that through the process of challenging negative thought patterns can help an individual adopt a healthier mindset and reduce mental health symptoms. However, this is most effective when a patient completes all sessions of the therapy

Question 5

Effectiveness- therapist competence, what does this mean?

Answer 5

That the success of CBT can largely rely on how good the therapist is

Question 6

Effectiveness- therapist competence SEEW paragraph?

Answer 6

S- A weakness of CBT is that it largely relies on the skill and competence of the therapist
E- This is because CBT relies on skills such as abilities to structure sessions, plan and review assignments, application relaxation skills, ability to engage and foster good therapeutic relaxation
E- For example Kuyken and Tsivicos 2009 found that 15% of the various outcomes of CBT rely on therapist competence
W- This is a weakness as people may believe the therapy works for them but it doesn’t, meaning a waste of money if your with the wrong therapist

Question 7

Therapist competence- Kuyken and Tsivrikos 2008?

Answer 7

15% of the various outcomes of CBT rely on therapist competence

Question 8

Effectiveness- individual difference?

Answer 8

CBT can be more useful for some people compared to others, therefore affecting the effectiveness of the therapy. CBT requires a lot of motivation and commitment from the client as they have to be willing to change

Question 9

Effective individual differences- Simone et al?

Answer 9

Clients less likely to listen if they have high levels of irrational beliefs and are resilient to change

Question 10

Effective individual differences- SEEW paragraph?

Answer 10

S-A weakness of CBT is that it may be more suitable to some compared to others
E-CBT requires plenty of motivation, this means clients who find it difficult to change due to their negative beliefs
E- Simone et al, clients less likely to listen if they have high levels of irrational beliefs and are resilient to change
W- This is a weakness as its not an effective therapy for clients who find it difficult to change negative beliefs

Question 11

Effectiveness- Empowerment?

Answer 11

CBT helps clients feel empowered because they can make their own choices

Question 12

Effectiveness- Empowerment, SEEW paragraph?

Answer 12

S- A strength of CBT is that it makes clients feel more empowered
E- Compared to other therapies such as drug therapy as they have a lot more control over recovery
E- For example, in CBT if a client cant cope with determination if they dislike ideas behaviour is Made up by biology, It’s the most widely used therapy in the NHS
W- This is a strength because the clients feel more in control of their mental state

Question 13

Ethics- patient blame?

Answer 13

Patients may feel responsible for the onset of a mental heath disorder due to factor they have no control over- but made to feel like its there fault in the way they interpret the situation

Question 14

Ethics- patient blame SEEW paragraph?

Answer 14

S- One weakness of CBT is patient blame
E- They may feel like its their fault as they have these and doubt themselves
E- If there suffering family issues that the client can’t change
W- This is a weakness as blaming individual isn’t helpful as it may take other aspects to change and to feel better

Question 15

Ethics- psychological harm?

Answer 15

What one person thinks is irrational, may be rational to another, as this is a subjective idea. Saying someone’s thinking is irrational could affect self esteem and lead to psychological harm

Question 16

Ethics- psychological harm- Alloy and Abrahamson 1979?

Answer 16

Depressed people are able to see things normal people distort ‘rose tinted’ sadder but true

Question 17

Ethics- psychological harm SEEW?

Answer 17

S- One weakness of CBT is psychological harm
E- One person may interpret as rational but another may disagree leading to more harm
E- Alloy and Abrahamson 1979 Depressed people are able to see things normal people distort ‘rose tinted’ sadder but true
W- This is a weakness as it may damage self esteem

Question 18

Additional research- ethics, waiting time?

Answer 18

-1/10 people are waiting over a year to receive treatment

Question 19

Additional research- choice of therapy ethics?

Answer 19

58% of people weren’t offered a choice in therapy
-3/4 people weren’t given a choice in where they received treatment
-1/2 said full treatment wasn’t enough
-11% had to pay for treatment

Question 20

Additional research ethics- equal access to therapy?

Answer 20

BMA- 1/10 believed it met their needs however 1/3 disagreed
-40% of people had to request therapy rather than being offered