Psychological Approaches to Mental Health Problem

Question 1

What is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy?

Answer 1

How thoughts relate to feelings and behaviour.

Focusses on the here and now rather than the past. It is short term, problem focussed and goal oriented.

Question 2

What is CBT useful for?

Answer 2

Particularly good for depression, anxiety, phobias, OCD, PTSD.

Question 3

How does Cognitive Behavioural Therapy work?

Answer 3

Therapist helps client

• Identify thoughts, feelings and behaviours
• Assess whether thoughts are unrealistic or unhelpful
• Identify what can change

Question 4

What kinds of thoughts are unrealistic or unhelpful?

Answer 4

Automatic negative thoughts Unrealistic beliefs
Cognitive distortions

Catastrophising
All or nothing thinking
Perfectionism

Question 5

What does the client do in CBT?

Answer 5

Client engages in homework which challenges the unrealistic or unhelpful thoughts

• Graded exposure
• Response prevention

Question 6

What is behavioural activation?

Answer 6

• Focus on avoided activities
  (activity scheduling, functional analysis)
• Focus on what predicts and maintains an unhelpful response by various reinforcers
• Client taught to analyse unintended consequences of their way of responding ie things that make them feel worse

Question 7

Examples of social withdrawal

Answer 7

Not answering telephone

Avoiding friends

Question 8

Examples of Cognitive avoidance

Answer 8

• Not thinking about relationship problems
• Not making decisions about the future
• Not taking opportunities
• Not being serious about work or studies

Question 9

Example of Emotional avoidance

Answer 9

Use of alcohol and other substances

Question 10

Example of Non-social avoidance

Answer 10

• Not taking on challenging tasks
• Sitting around the house
• Spending excessive time in bed

Question 11

Example of Avoidance by distraction

Answer 11

• Watching rubbish on television
• Playing computer games
• Gambling
• Comfort eating
• Excessive exercise

Question 12

What is the aim of behavioural activation?

Answer 12

Behavioural activation stops these behaviours to stop the association between behaviour and mood.

Question 13

What is interpersonal psychotherapy?

Answer 13

Depression often follows a disturbing change in or contingent with a significant interpersonal event.

Dealing with that event

Question 14

What are the principles of motivational intervention?

Answer 14

Express empathy
Avoid argument
Support self efficacy

Question 15

What are the stages of change in motivational intervention?

Answer 15

1. Pre-contemplation
2. Contemplation
3. Planning and determination
4. Action
5. Maintenance

Question 16

What are the four main methods of psychotherapy?

Answer 16

CBT
Behavioural activation
Interpersonal psychotherapy
Motivational Intervention