psychopathology: cognitive approach to treating depression Flashcards
What is CBT?
CBT is the most commonly used psychological treatment for depression.
It is a method for treating mental disorders based on both behavioural and cognitive techniques
What techniques does CBT use?
Both behavioural and cognitive techniques.
What is the primary aim of cognitive therapy?
To identify negative thoughts and challenge them.
What does ‘thought catching’ refer to?
Identifying irrational beliefs.
What is the focus of cognitive therapy?
Feelings, behaviours, and thoughts experienced ‘here and now’.
What is reality testing in cognitive therapy?
Helping clients test the reality of their negative beliefs through gathering evidence to rpove their belifes are incorrect
What is an example of reality testing?
Comparing evidence of enjoyable events with negative thoughts.
Why doesn’t the therapist just tell the client he is not useless?
The client needs to see their thoughts as irrational independently.
They will then be able to begin doing this without the help of the therapist and they build the skills manage their condition themselves.
This is called a ‘DIY method’.
What does REBT stand for?
Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy.
What does the ABC + DE model in REBT stand for?
A = Activating event, B = Beliefs, C = Consequences, D = Dispute, E = Effect.
What is the purpose of disputing in REBT?
To dispute the patient’s irrational thoughts.
what are 2 methods of disputing irrational thoughts
- Empirical argument: involves disputing whether there is actual evidence to support the negative belief
- Logical argument: involves disputing whether the negative thought follows from the facts
What happens to individuals as they become depressed?
They tend to avoid difficult situations and become isolated.
What is the goal of behavioural activation?
To decrease avoidance and isolation in depressed individuals.
List some activities that therapists might encourage in behavioural activation.
- Exercise
- Going out for a meal
What is the relationship between negative life events and depression according to REBT?
The aim is to break the link between them.
Is this empirical or logical argument?
Disputing whether the negative thought follows from the facts.
LOGICAL
AO3: time consuming and expensive
CBT is takes time and is expensive.
CBT costs more for the patient or NHS as patients often need an average of 12 sessions, each at a rate of £40-£60 pounds. This requires time as the patient has to travel too and from sessions, and may therefore have to miss
work. As a result drug treatments such as antidepressants may be a better option. As they are quick and easy to take and cost less for the patient or NHS, as 1 prescription costs £9.40 and lasts for 1/2 months
COUNTER: However, recent research has indicated that CBT is more effective in reducing relapse, CBT may in fact be cheaper in the long term, this is because it prevent relapse and is therefore deemed as a more permanent solution. Drug treatments only treat the symptoms not the
root cause so it is a short term solution, these individuals may be signing up for a life time of drug therapy as apposed to 12 sessions of CBT
AO3: CBT isn’t suitable for all
One limitation of CBT for depression is the lack of effectiveness for severe cases and for clients with learning
difficulties. > In some cases depression can be so severe that clients cannot motivate themselves to engage with the cognitive work of CBT.
They may not even pay attention to what is happening in a session.
Additionally, the complex rational thinking involved in CBT makes it unsuitable for treating depression in clients with learning disabilities
WEAKNESS as this suggests that CBT may only be appropriate for a specific range of people with depression
AO3: may not be effective
One weakness of CBT is that the treatment itself may not be effective
The aim of CBT is to identify and challenge the irrational thoughts. However the success of CBT may depend more on the quality of the patient-therapist relationship.
WEAKNESS as it suggests that the techniques involved in CBT are not what is useful in treating depression.
AO3: research to support
There is in fact a large body of evidence to support the effectiveness of CBT.
March (2007) found that CBT was as effective as antidepressants in treating the symptoms and reducing the risk of relapse at an 81% success rate. With such a high success rate it is evident that CBT is an effective form of treatment especially with regard to the risks associated with drug therapy e.g. dependence and side effects.
COUNTER: However, in some cases it has been found that those with severe depression may have lowered activity levels and may not have the motivation to attend and co-operate in CBT therefore drugs are seen as beneficial in helping engage the patient with CBT in the
first place. So taking a combination of CBT and drug therapy may be more suitable. As drug therapy will target the symptoms while CBT targets the root cause.
WEAKNESS as it cant be used as a sole treatment in some cases.
