[Psychopathology] Topic 7 - The cognitive approach to treating depression

Question 1

[CBT - Cognitive Behavioural Theraphy]

Ellis’s REBT:

Answer 1

• Ellis’s REBT is a type of CBT that aims to turn irrational thoughts into rational thoughts and resolve emotional behavioural problems. The model was expanded to ABCDEF, where D is disputing irrational thoughts and beliefs, E is the effects of disputing and effective attitudes to life, F is the new feelings that are produced.
• REBT focuses on challenging or disputing irrational thoughts through logical, empirical and pragmatic disputing and replacing them with effective rational beliefs which produce new feelings.
• Effective disputing changes self defeating beliefs into more rational beliefs and Catastrophising thoughts are turned into rational interpretations which helps clients feel better and more self accepting

Question 2

[CBT - Cognitive Behavioural Therapy]

Becks CBT

Answer 2

• Clients complete homework assignments between therapy sessions such as asking a person they feared would reject them on a date.
• Homework enables irrational beliefs to be tested against reality and putting new rational beliefs into practice
• Therapist provide clients with unconditional positive regard.
• Another feature is for the client to become more active, since being active leads to rewards that are an antidote to depression.

Question 3

A strength of Ellis’s REBT

Answer 3

• A strength of Ellis’s REBT is that it is supported by research showing it is an effective therapy.
• For example, Ellis claimed a 90% success rate with treatment completed in an average of 27 sessions.
• However, the therapy is not always effective at reducing the symptoms of depressions which suggest that clients do not always put their revised beliefs into actions.

Question 4

A weakness of CBT is that individual differences influence its effectiveness

Answer 4

• A weakness of CBT is that individual differences influence its effectiveness
• Elkin et al found it is less suitable where peoples irrational beliefs are rigid and resistant to change
• Ellis believes that some people simply do not want the direct sort of advise that CBT therapists tend to dispense
• This means that CBT is suitable for some but not others