Psychological Treatments For Depression

Question 1

Psychological Therapies for depression

Answer 1

Psychoanalysis

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Question 2

Psychoanalysis

Answer 2

Aims to uncover unconscious feelings of loss using methods such as free association, dream analysis and transference.

Question 3

Techniques used in psychoanalysis

Answer 3

Free Association - patients let their thoughts run free and the analyst will piece together feelings of loss
Dream Analysis - patients explain their dreams and analyst looks for feelings of loss
Transference - analyst sees how behaviour towards them shows conflict about loss

Question 4

Svartberg and Stiles

Answer 4

Conducted a meta-analysis of 19 studies finding that psychoanalysis was no better at treating depression than the controls who received no treatment.

Question 5

Thase et al

Answer 5

Completed a 6 study meta-analysis with 595 patients comparing a group who had psychoanalysis and antidepressants to a group who just had psychoanalysis and found it was just as effective with less severe patients but less effective with severe patients

Question 6

Is psychoanalysis appropriate?

Answer 6

Psychoanalysis is expensive and time consuming therefore is not affordable for most
Requires retrospection which a lot of people aren’t capable of
Time consuming so not suitable for the severely depressed

Question 7

Dangers of psychoanalysis

Answer 7

This therapy places a huge amount of power in the hands of he analyst, who may guide the patient towards traumatic memories.
Patients should be warned about these dangers before undergoing psychoanalysis

Question 8

Cognitive therapy

Answer 8

Aims to challenge faulty thinking about themselves, the world and the future.
Behavioural element aims to get the patient doing pleasurable activities and rewarding them for doing so

Question 9

Steps of CBT

Answer 9

1: Draw a schedule of activities and become more active and confident
2: Keep a diary of negative thoughts and bring them to sessions
3: Therapist helps identify the faulty thinking in the negative thoughts
4: Patient shown by therapist how to test negative thoughts while being encouraged to do pleasurable activities

Question 10

Rush et al

Answer 10

Found that CBT was as effective as antidepressants

Question 11

Luke’s

Answer 11

Found that CBT is used in conjunction with antidepressant drugs

Question 12

Is cognitive therapy appropriate?

Answer 12

It is important that patient has verbal skills for introspection
Patients with difficult concentrating may also struggle and be left feeling frustrated.
Patients must be motivated, so people with severe depression won’t be suitable

Question 13

Strengths of psychological therapies

Answer 13

Avoids dependence and side effects
Reduces relapse
Gives patient free will

Question 14

Kuyken and Tsivrikos

Answer 14

Found 15% of the variance in outcome studies is due to the therapist