The Cognitive Approach to Treating Depression

Question 1

CBT assists patients to identify what?

Answer 1

Irrational thoughts and change them.

Question 2

Why does CBT seek changing irrational thoughts?

Answer 2

As behaviour is seen as being generated by thinking, the logical way of changing maladaptive behaviour is to change irrational thinking

Question 3

CBT involves what 2 elements?

Answer 3

Cognitive and behavioural

Question 4

What is the cognitive element in CBT?

Answer 4

identifying and challenging irrational thoughts

Question 5

What is the behavioural element of CBT?

Answer 5

once irrational thoughts have been identified, coping strategies are developed.

Question 6

What are the key elements of CBT?

Answer 6

-Identifying irrational thoughts
-Challenging the irrational thoughts via direct questioning (disputing)
-More rational thoughts leading to the effect of feeling better
-Behavioural activation

Question 7

How is challenging irrational thoughts done in CBT?

Answer 7

Using evidence to contradict the clients irrational thoughts

Question 8

What does REBT stand for?

Answer 8

Rational Emotive Behvaioural Therapy

Question 9

What is REBT?

Answer 9

A specific type of CBT

Question 10

What does REBT do?

Answer 10

Works by identifying and challenging irrational thoughts to show the client how irrational their thoughts are. Replacing them with more effective and rational beliefs

Question 11

For Ellis ABC model what did he do for therapy involving REBT?

Answer 11

Extended it to ABCDE.

Question 12

What does the D and E stand for in Ellis’ ABCDE extended model for therapy?

Answer 12

Disputing irrational thoughts
Effect

Question 13

What are the ways the irrational thoughts are disputed in REBT?

Answer 13

Logic disputing and Empricial disputing

Question 14

What is logic disputing in REBT?

Answer 14

The therapist challenged the irrational thoughts to show they don’t logically follow from the information avaliable/facts.

Question 15

What is am example of logic disputing?

Answer 15

Does it make sense that if your friend doesn’t text you back immediately that he hates you

Question 16

What is empricial disputing in REBT?

Answer 16

Therapist challenging irrational thoughts to show they they may not be consistent with reality. They present evidence as a counterargument.

Question 17

What is an example of empricial disputing?

Answer 17

Where is the proof that the thought that you have no friends is accurate?

Question 18

What is an example of empricial disputing where the therapist provides an example?

Answer 18

Messages from a friends that are asking them to come to dinner with them

Question 19

What is the intended effect of the therapist challenging irrational thoughts in REBT?

Answer 19

Break the link between negative life events and depression. Changing the thoughts therefore leads to healthier emotions and symptoms are alleviated.

Question 20

What is homework in REBT?

Answer 20

Clients are asked to complete homework assignments between therapy sessions

Question 21

What does homework involve in REBT?

Answer 21

May include asking a person on a date when they’re afraid of rejection, looking for a new job.

Question 22

Why is homework in REBT important?

Answer 22

It’s vital in testing irrational thoughts against reality and placing rational beliefs in practice.

Question 23

What is behavioural activation in REBT?

Answer 23

The idea that being active leads to rewards that act as an antidote to depression. Such activity provides evidence of the irrational nature of the thoughts.

Question 24

A strength is that there is lots of evidence to suggest that CBT is effective in treating depression. What evidence is there to support this?

Answer 24

After 36 weeks, 81%of patients treated with CBT and 81% with medications, 86% treated with the combination significantly improved.

Question 25

A strength is that there is lots of evidence to suggest that CBT is effective in treating depression. How can this be explained?

Answer 25

A good case for making CBT first choice treatment in NHS as its just as effective as meds.
Positive economic impact as it can help people return to work.

Question 26

A weakness is that some cases, depression can be severe that patients can’t motivate themselves to engage with the hard cognitive work of CBT. What evidence is there to support this?

Answer 26

They may not be able to pay attention to what is happening in the session. In this case medication is started initially such as SSRI’s and then CBT when they are alert and motivated.

Question 27

A weakness is that some cases, depression can be severe that patients can’t motivate themselves to engage with the hard cognitive work of CBT. How can this be explained?

Answer 27

A combination of treatment is appropriate to severely depressed clients. Cuijpers found that CBT was most effective with drug therapy.

Question 28

A weakness is that CBT has been criticised for overemphasis on the role of cognitions. Suggesting it is the clients irrational thinking for their disorder. It is good as it gives the client power to change but it has disadvantages. What evidence is there to support this?

Answer 28

CBT ignores other factors/circumstances to depression. Such as someone suffering domestic abuse they do noy need to change their irrational beliefs but their circumstances.

Question 29

A weakness is that CBT has been criticised for overemphasis on the role of cognitions. Suggesting it is the clients irrational thinking for their disorder. It is good as it gives the client power to change but it has disadvantages. How can this be explained?

Answer 29

CBT may not be an appropriate treatment for all depressed people. Therefore, would be ineffective for those with circumstances.
Machine reductionist.

Question 30

A weakness is that it has been suggested that the differences between different therapies such as CBT and psychodynamic psychotherapy may be small. What evidence supports this?

Answer 30

They share one common aspect of therapist-client relationship. May be quality of the relationship which determines the succus of the therapy than a technique. Review studies have found little difference between different therapies.

Question 31

A weakness is that it has been suggested that the differences between different therapies such as CBT and psychodynamic psychotherapy may be small. How can this be explained?

Answer 31

Suggests it may not be the strategies in CBT that are effective but the relationship.
Should be cautious when arguing a casual explanation for CBT and depression.