Techniques in CT

Question 1

Levels of cognitions

Answer 1

Voluntary thoughts
Automatic thoughts
Maladaptive assumptions
Core beliefs

Down in stability, up in accesability

Question 2

Behavioural experiment technique

Answer 2

1. Identify the belief/thought the experiment will target
2. Collaborate w patient to brainstorm ideas for experiment
3. Write predictions about outcome
4. Anticipate problems
5. conduct/review

Question 3

Mechanisms

Answer 3

1. Comprehensible framework
2. Patients emotional engagement in the problem situation
3. Reality testing in that situation

Question 4

Steps of treatment

Answer 4

1. Monitor the negative, automatic thoughts
2. Recognize the connections among cognition, affect and behaviour
3. Examine the evidence for and against distorted automatic thoughts
4. Substitute more reality oriented interpretations for these biased cognitions
5. Learn to identify and alter beliefs that predispose them to distort experiences

Question 5

Cognitive techniques

Answer 5

Decatastrophizing; what if technique, prepare for feared consequence

Reattribution, test by considering alternative causes of events (pie chart,

Redefining; mobilise a patient who believes a problem to be beyond personal control

Decentrering; Treating anxious who believe they are the focus of attention

Intrusive imagery, modified to reduce impact (rewriting the script)

Question 6

Behavioural techniques

Answer 6

Homework (opportunity to apply cognitive principles eg self-observation/monitoring.

Hypothesis testing; specific hyp.

Exposure therapy

Behavioral rehearsal/role-play

Diversion techniques; reduce strong emotion (eg sports)

Activity scheduling; provides structure

Graded-task assignment; initiate activity, gradually increasing difficulty

Question 7

Multidimensional evaluation

Answer 7

Evaluating what the feeling means under multiple categories (opposites)