The cognitive approach to treating depression

Question 1

What is cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT)?

Answer 1

Method for treating mental disorders - deals with thinking by using behavioural techniques

Question 2

What are the 2 elemets of CBT?

Answer 2

• Cognitive element
• Behaviour element

Question 3

What is the cognitive element of CBT?

Answer 3

• Assessment identifying problems
• Identify goals and create a plan to achieve these goals
• Identify where irrational thoughts are

Question 4

What is the behavioural element of CBT?

Answer 4

• Working to change irrational thoughts by putting effective behaviours into place

Question 5

What is Beck’s CBT?

Answer 5

• Aims to identify and challenge automatic thoughts about the world, self, future
• Helps clients test the reality of their negative beliefs (set tasks- record when they enjoy an event, etc)

Question 6

What are irrational thoughts?

Answer 6

‘Dysfunctional thoughts’, that are likely to interfere with a person’s happiness

Question 7

What is REBT?

Answer 7

• Rational emotive behaviour therapy
• Extention of the ABC model to: ABCDEF (dispute irrational beliefs, effects of disputing, feelings produced)

Question 8

What is Ellis’s rational emotive behaviour therapy?

Answer 8

• Identify and dispute irrational thoughts
• Involves a vigorous arguement to break the link between negative life events and depression
• Methods of disputing: empirical arguement (evidence to support belief), logical arguement (thoughts due to facts)

Question 9

What is behavioural activation?

Answer 9

• Depressed individuals tend to avoid difficult situations and isolate themselves (conditions worsen)
• Goal is to work with individuals to decrease avoidance and isolation, increase engagement in mood improving activities

Question 10

What are the strengths of the cognitive approach to treating depression?

Answer 10

• Evidence for effectiveness
• Suitable for a range of people
• The Dodo bird effect
• Client preference

Question 11

What are the limitations of the cognitive approach to treating depression?

Answer 11

• Unsuitable for diverse clients
• Relapse rates are high
• Not favoured by clients

Question 12

Strength:
I- Evidence for effectiveness

Answer 12

D- March et al compared CBT to antidepressants (and combination) when treating 327 adolescents. 81% of CBT, 81% of antidepressants, and 86% of both improved after 36 weeks. CBT is just as effective when used alone, as used alongside drugs
E- Means CBT is typically the first choice of treatment

Question 13

Strength-
I- Suitable for a range of people

Answer 13

D- Lewis and Lewis say CBT was as effective as antidepressants and behavioural therapies for severe cases. Taylor et al said when used appropriately, CBT is effective for those with learning disabilities
E- Means CBT is suitable for a range of people

Question 14

Strength-
I- The Dodo bird effect

Answer 14

D- Rosenzweig argued all methods of mental disorder treatment were fairly equal. Lack of difference attributes to general similarities between treatments
E- Suggests success is due to therapist-patient relationship

Question 15

Strength-
I- Client preference

Answer 15

D- People improve after treatment. CBT does identify and change unhelpful patterns of thinking/behaviour
E- Suggests in short term, depression improves after CBT

Question 16

Limitation-
I- Unsuitable for diverse clients

Answer 16

D- Lacks effectiveness for severe cases and for those with learning difficulties- unable to motivate themselves to engage. Complex rational thinking is hard for those with learning difficulties. Sturmey says any form of psychotherapy is unsuitable for those with learning disabilities
E- Suggests CBT is only appropriate for a specific range

Question 17

Limitation-
I- Relapse rates are high

Answer 17

D- Ali et al assessed depression in 439 clients every month for a year, following CBT and found 42% relapsed within 6 months, and 53% within a year
E- Means CBT may need to be periodically repeated to be effective

Question 18

Limitation-
I- Not favoured by clients

Answer 18

D- Some depression clients want to tackle symptoms urgently, so prefer medication. Yrondi et al- depressed people rated CBT as their least preferred psychological therapy
E- Raises an issue of client choice