Psychology C2 - treatment and managements

Question 1

CBT

Answer 1

-cognitive behavioural therapy, (cognitive) focuses on the way we think (behavioural) focuses on how addictions are learned
-irrational ways of thinking leads to addiction

Question 2

two elements to how CBT treats addictions

Answer 2

1. cognitive element aims to change the irrational thinking underlying addictions
2. behavioural element aims to help clients learn to avoid high-risk situations or to cope better

Question 3

functional analysis

Answer 3

-starts with functional analysis, client and therapists work together to identify high-risk situations
-both work out which distorted thoughts and irrational beliefs trigger client’s cravings and addiction-related behaviours
-reflect on clients thoughts before, during and after – ‘thought diary’
-ongoing process – help identify if problems are still occurring

Question 4

behaviour change

Answer 4

-client learns new skills to replace their main way of coping (addiction)
-therapist uses skills training (assertiveness, anger management and social skills)
-provides opportunities for client to practice skills in a safe environment and also real world

Question 5

relapse prevention

Answer 5

-learns techniques to prevent relapse
-cues that trigger addictive behaviour
-help to identify cues and learn to cope
-get rid of distorted thoughts and irrational beliefs

Question 6

practical uses
(evaluation)
+

Answer 6

-CBT has clear practical applications for helping people who are addicted
-example, CBT is useful when helping prevent relapse in clients who stick, addictions isn’t a one-off event, it is a cycle of addiction
-CBT = useful, it has realistic views on relapse, temporary setback and an opportunity for further cognitive restructuring and behavioural change
-suggests combination of cognitive and behavioural strategies = useful

Question 7

support for effectiveness
(evaluation)
+

Answer 7

-CBT is effective in treating drug addictions
-Magill and Ray (2009) reviewed 53 trails of CBT
-studies selected for the review all compared CBT treatment with control groups, included other treatments and ‘treatments as usual’
-shorter CBT treatments = more effective, women benefitted more
-58% of CBT had better outcomes
-strong evidence that CBT = effective

Question 8

limited effectiveness
(evaluation)
-

Answer 8

-evidence suggesting it doesn’t have any real long term benefits
-Magill and Ray’s study found that benefits of CBT for substance addiction tailed off after 6-9 months
-benefits reduced further after one year
-another review of 11 studies = CBT is very effective in reducing gambling behaviour for up to 3 months, after 12 months there wasn’t a difference
-‘durability of the therapeutic gain is unknown’ (Cowlishaw et al. 2012)
-CBT = effective as a short term treatment