Lesson 10 - Treating Depression with CBT

Question 1

Who made CBT?

Answer 1

Beck

Question 2

What is the usual size of a CBT group?

Answer 2

Sometimes it is individual,
Sometimes it is in small groups

Question 3

What is the aim of CBT?

Answer 3

To challenge and restructure negative ways of thinking, so that they can become more positive and rational.
It also aims to give the patient some control over their thinking.

Question 4

What does CBT focus on?

Answer 4

Present experiences

Question 5

What level must the therapist be at?

Answer 5

Highly trained

Question 6

What theory did Beck use as the basis for his CBT?

Answer 6

The Cognitive Triad

Question 7

What is “thought catching”, and why is it done?

Answer 7

This is where the patients are encouraged to identify and challenge their negative thoughts. They are then taught to test them out, e.g. checking if the thoughts actually make sense. The patient acts as a scientist checking their theories. They then record the events, and use these to challenge their negative thinking.

Question 8

What is “reinforcement” (in a CBT sense)?

Answer 8

This is where the patient reaffirms their positive thinking, in order to make someone feel good about themselves.

Question 9

How often are CBT sessions?

Answer 9

They are weekly.

Question 10

Evaluation of CBT - Extremely effective on mild depression, significantly less effective on severe depression.

Answer 10

CBT is very effective on mild depression, as it stops it from getting much worse. However, it does not work on severe depression. Drugs may be more effective on severe depression than CBT.

Question 11

Evaluation of CBT - Cujipers

Answer 11

Cujipers (2013) found that CBT can be extremely effective, if combined with drugs. CBT on its own is likely not very effective, however if used alongside drugs it becomes the most effective form of treatment.

Question 12

Evaluation of CBT - Widely respected in the real world + cost effective.

Answer 12

CBT is widely respected and supported by vast amounts of research as a therapy. It is a cost effective treatment for many disorders by the NHS in Britain, especially for depression. It is significantly more economical when compared with treatments such as the psychodynamic approach.

Question 13

Evaluation of CBT - Addresses the root of the problem

Answer 13

It tends to get to the root of the depressive problem. CBT can uncover the real underlying issues that caused the depression in the first place, such as job loss or divorce. This is a very good point because other treatments for depression such as medication and drugs, do not actually address the root of the problem. They are simply a plaster.

CBT is a real cure.

Question 14

Evaluation of CBT - Long term cure

Answer 14

CBT is a long term cure for depression. Once a patient has undergone CBT, it has lasting positive outcomes, and there is a high chance that the patient has been truly cured. It has significantly lower relapse rates than medication or placebos. CBT might be cost effective, as there is significantly lower relapse rates.

Question 15

Who made Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy (REBT)?

Answer 15

Ellis (1975)

Question 16

What does REBT involve?

Answer 16

It involves challenging negative thoughts by reinterpreting the ABC model, in a more positive and logical way. For example, rather than self blame, they would say that the exam was difficult, or the client did not revise enough.

Question 17

What is homework (REBT)?

Answer 17

Homework is when depressed clients are asked to complete tasks. These tasks involve testing irrational beliefs out in the real world, and replacing them with more positive and rational beliefs.

Question 18

What is Behavioural Activation (REBT)?

Answer 18

This is where clients are encouraged to become more active, and engage in pleasurable activities. Many depressed clients often do not do this, so the therapist would recommend this.

Question 19

What are the 3 phases of REBT? (DEF MODEL)

Answer 19

1) Disputing irrational thoughts and behaviour
2) Effects of disputing and effective attitude to life
3) Feelings / Emotions

Question 20

What is disputing irrational thoughts and behaviour (REBT)?

Answer 20

This has 2 parts:
Logical disputing and empirical disputing.
Logical disputing: This is when self defeating beliefs do not follow logically from the available information.
Empirical disputing: This is where the self defeating beliefs are not consistent with reality, as there is no proof of them.

Question 21

What are the effects of disputing and effective attitude to life (REBT)?

Answer 21

Effective disputing aims to change self defeating beliefs into more rational beliefs. The depressed client can move away from negative and irrational thinking, towards more rational interpretations of events.

Question 22

What are feelings / emotions (REBT)?

Answer 22

The depressed patient will finally begin to think in a more positive and rational way, and they will begin to feel better.

Question 23

Evaluation of REBT - Flannaghan

Answer 23

Flannaghan (1007) supports the use of REBT. They suggest that REBT is a suitable treatment for specific groups of people with depression, and can help them become more positive over time.

Question 24

Evaluation of REBT - David

Answer 24

David (2008) compared 170 depressive patients who had 14 weeks of REBT and compared them to depressive patients who were treated with the drug fluoextine. He found that 6 months after the treatment, the REBT was a better long term treatment.

Question 25

Evaluation of REBT - Cause and effect

Answer 25

It is unclear whether the negative thinking causes depression or is just a symptom. REBT is not tackling the root of the cause, and this means the depression may return in future.

Question 26

Evaluation of REBT - Relies on the patient being open

Answer 26

The depressed clients must be articulate and able to talk about their processes coherently. REBT would not work for people with severe depression that cannot talk or communicate properly, or feel uncomfortable talking about their feelings with a psychologist.

Question 27

Evaluation of REBT - Skill issue with the therapist

Answer 27

The outcome of the REBT completely depends upon the skill and expertise of the therapist. The more skilled the therapist, the better the therapeutic outcomes will be for the depressed client, and this is essential for the treatments effectiveness. Therefore psychologists need to be highly skilled, with a good relationship with their client in order for REBT to be successful.