Lesson 10: The cognitive Behavioural therapy- treating depression

Question 1

Who developed cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)

Answer 1

Beck

Question 2

What is the main aim of CBT?

Answer 2

To CHALLENGE and RESTRUCTURE negative ways of thinking so that they become more POSITIVE and RATIONAL

Question 3

What are the 4 features of CBT?
(Hint: Individual controls present therapist)

Answer 3

1) can be used on individual or small groups
2) allows patient to have control over their thinking
3) focuses on present experiences
4) must be conducted by a HIGHLY trained therapist

Question 4

What is the FIRST step of CBT

Answer 4

THOUGHT-CATCHING- the identification of IRRATIONAL thoughts

Question 5

What is the SECOND step of CBT?

Answer 5

PATIENT AS SCIENTIST

Question 6

What happens during the “patient as a scientist” stage of CBT

Answer 6

The patient is encouraged to generate a HYPOTHESIS to test the VALIDITY of their irrational thoughts

Question 7

What are the 3 possible strategies that a patient is encouraged to do during a CBT session?

(Hint: Incidents, homework, diary)

Answer 7

1) Patient may be asked to gather data about behaviour and INCIDENTS and then compare evidence with their hypothesis to see if they match

2) Set homework in between THERAPY session to test irrational thoughts in the REAL WORLD and evaluate evidence

3) Patients could be asked to keep a DIARY to record events and identify situations in which NEGATIVE thinking occurs so these can be TARGETED

Question 8

State a POSITIVE EVALUATION of CBT
(Hint: root cause)

Answer 8

-Receives praise as it tends to get to the ROOT cause of depression
-CBT uncovers UNDERLYING ISSUES which lead to depression in the FIRST PLACE

In comparison to other treatments e.g drugs that do not get to the ROOT CAUSE but tend to act as a “PLASTER” that merely MASKS symptoms of depression

-Works as a cure for depression

Question 8

Fill in the blank:
When patients report positive thoughts they are praised by the therapist,
which provides __________________ .

Answer 8

Positive reinforcement

Question 9

State a POSITIVE EVALUATION of CBT
(Hint: widely respected)

Answer 9

-it is WIDEY RESPECTED and supported by vast amounts of research as a therapy for DEPRESSION

-it is OFFERED as a Cost-effective treatment for many DISORDERS by the NHS in Britain, ESPECIALLY for depression

Therefore, the treatment is quite ECONOMIAL compared to other treatments e.g drug therapy

Question 10

State a NEGATIVE EVALUATION of CBT
(HINT: drugs AND cbt)

Answer 10

Drugs require less EFFORT than CBT+may serve as a MORE EFFECTIVE treatment than CBT

HOWEVER…
CUJIPERS (2013) found hat CBT can be EFFECTIVE if combined with DRUG THERAPY.

Inferring
CBT on its own is not effective in treating depression and should be used alongside drug therapy

Question 11

State a NEGATIVE evaluation of CBT
(HINT: mild depression)

Answer 11

• ONLY Effective to use when a patient has MILD depression
  -CBT stops mild depression from getting WORSE
  -Addresses mild symptoms of CBT, if symptoms become SEVERE patients will HAVE TO rely on anti-depressant drugs as alternative treatment

Question 12

What is REBT

Answer 12

Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy

Question 13

Who came up with REBT?

Answer 13

Ellis

Question 14

What is the aim of REBT

Answer 14

aims to challenge NEGATIVE thoughts by interpreting the ABC model in a more POSITIVE and LOGICAL way

Question 15

Ellis’ DEF model in TREATING depression?

Answer 15

1) Disputing irrational thoughts and behaviour

2) Effects of disputing + effective attitude to life

3) Feelings/ emotions

Question 16

How does disputing irrational thoughts + behaviours help treat depression?

Answer 16

Therapist may use LOGICAL or EMPIRICAL disputing in order to challenge irrational thoughts.

Logical disputing-> self defeating beliefs do not follow LOGICALLY from the info available

empirical disputing-> self defeating beliefs are not CONSISTENT with reality

Question 17

How does effective disputing help treat depression?

Answer 17

Effective disputing changes SELF DEFEATING beliefs into more RATIONAL beliefs.

helping the client move away from negative and irrational thinking

Question 18

How does effective disputing influence a patient’s FEELINGS/EMOTIONS?

Answer 18

depressed patient will start to think in a more POSITIVE + RATIONAL way=feel better

Question 19

State a POSITIVE evaluation of REBT
(hint: depressive stroke victims)

Answer 19

Flannaghan et al. (1997) supports the use of REBT as an effective way to treat DEPRESSIVE stroke victims.

Suggesting-> REBT is a SUITABLE treatment for SPECIFIC GROUPS of people with depression + can help them think in a more POSITIVE way.

Question 20

State a POSITIVE evaluation of REBT
(hint: fluoxetine vs REBT)

Answer 20

There is RESEARCH EVIDENCE to support the use of REBT as a therapy for depression.

David (2008) compared 170 depressed patients who had 14 weeks of REBT to depressive patients who were treated with-> FLUOXETINE.

Outcomes were compared 6 months after treatment-> REBT was a better LONG TERM treatment for depression in comparison to DRUG THERAPY

Question 21

State a NEGATIVE evaluation of REBT
(cause and effect)

Answer 21

It is unclear if DISTORTED THINKING is the CAUSE of depression or merely a SYMPTOM.

if it is only a symptom then REBT is not tackling the ROOT CAUSE of depression-> depression may return in the future= has not been cured properly

Question 22

State a NEGATIVE evaluation of REBT
(hint: articulate, severe depression)

Answer 22

REBT is dependent on the depressed patients being ARTICULATE + talk about their thought processes COHERENTLY.

therefore-> wouldnt work with patients with severe depression if they were unable to TALK or COMMUNICATE properly.

Other treatments would need to taken into consideration

Question 23

State a NEGATIVE evaluation of REBT
(expertise of psychologist)

Answer 23

Success of REBT is dependent on the SKILL and EXPERTISE if the therapist.

more skilled= better therapeutic outcome for depressed patient