Lesson 10 - Cognitive Treatments for Depression

Question 1

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Answer 1

Central aim is to change irrational thoughts and so alleviate the depression

Question 2

Beck’s Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Answer 2

First step is to identify irrational thoughts (thought-catching)
Patient is encouraged to generate a hypothesis to test validity of their irrational thoughts
Patient may gather data, complete homework or keep a diary
When patient reports positive thoughts, they are praised and provided with positive reinforcement
Aim is cognitive restructuring

Question 3

Rational Emotional Behavioural Therapy

Ellis (1994)

Answer 3

Aims at challenging automatic negative thoughts and replacing them with rational beliefs
Therapist uses logical arguments to show patients that their self-defeating beliefs do not logically follow from the information available
Uses empirical arguments to show beliefs are not consistent with reality
Patients encouraged to engage in behavioural activation

Question 4

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Evaluation
March et al. (2007)
Positive

Answer 4

Found CBT was effective as antidepressants
Researched examined 327 adolescents with depression
Looked at effectiveness of CBT, anti-depressants and a combination of both
After 36 weeks, 81% of anti-depressant group and 81% of CBT group significantly improved
86% of combination group improved
Suggests combination is most effective

Question 5

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Evaluation
David (2008)
Positive

Answer 5

Found CBT is a better treatment than anti-depressants in long term
Compared 170 patients with depression who had 14 weeks of CBT with patients who were treated with the drug fluoxetine
Six months later, patients who had CBT were less likely to relapse

Question 6

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Evaluation
Commitment
Negative

Answer 6

CBT requires a lot of commitment and motivation
Patients with severe depression may not be engaged with CBT or even attend sessions so the treatment will be ineffective
Alternative treatments like anti-depressants do not require same levels of motivation and commitment so might be more effective
Poses problem for CBT as is cannot be use as sole treatment for severely depressed patients

Question 7

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Evaluation
Root of Depression
Negative

Answer 7

Attempts to address cause of depression as it assumes root cause is irrational thought processes
Ignores other factors or circumstances that might contribute to a person’s depression
A person suffering from domestic violence or abuse does not need to change thoughts but circumstances instead

Question 8

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Evaluation
Self-Reporting
Negative

Answer 8

Relies on patients on self-reporting their thoughts as thoughts cannot be objectively observed or measured
These self-reports could be unreliable and it is difficulty to verify they are accurate or not

Question 9

Cognitive Treatments for Depression Evaluation Points

Answer 9

March et al. (2007) Positive
David (2008) Positive

Commitment Negative
Root of Depression Negative
Self Reporting Negative