Psychological Therapies

Question 1

What is CBT?

Answer 1

Therapy to reverse the negative cognitive triad with which patients regard themselves, their situation and their futures. It involves the identification of the negative automatic thoughts that maintain the negative perceptions that feed depression. These commonly include catastrophizing, over-generalizing and categorical (‘all-or-none’) thinking. CBT then involves identifying the links between these thoughts, consequent behaviour and feeling low, and then testing their logic. This is done by looking at the evidence either in the therapy sessions or in behavioural ‘experiments’ 
Short 12 week therapy
Problem focussed and goal orientated
Graded exposure
Response prevention

Question 2

What conditions are CBT useful for?

Answer 2

depression, anxiety, phobias, OCD, PTSD

Question 3

What is behavioural activation?

Answer 3

Focus on avoided activities:
as a guide for activity scheduling
for a functional analysis of cognitive processes that involve avoidance
Focus on what predicts and maintains an unhelpful response by various reinforcers
Client taught to analyse unintended consequences of their way of responding
Structured agenda – review progress
Small changes – build to long term goals

Question 4

What is interpersonal therapy?

Answer 4

The therapist focuses on those interpersonal relationships involved in, or affected by, the patient’s illness (especially relationship changes or deficiencies), using problem-solving techniques to help the individual to find solutions
Short term-12 weeks and no homework
Not good if poor social network or if patient cant reflect

Question 5

What are the stages of change involved in motivational interviewing?

Answer 5

Precontemplation
Contemplation
Planning
Action
Maintenance
Motivational interviewing good for those who are thinking of changing (drinking etc)