The cognitive approach to treating depression

Question 1

Which psychological approach can be applied to the treatment of depression?

Answer 1

The cognitive approach can be applied to the treatment of depression.

Question 2

How many cognitive treatments for depression are there?

Answer 2

There are two cognitive treatments for depression.

Question 3

There are two cognitive treatments for depression. Name these two treatments.

Answer 3

• Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)

- Rational emotive behaviour therapy (REBT)

Question 4

Which psychologist’s work influenced the development of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)?

Answer 4

Beck’s work led to the development of cognitive behavioural therapy.

Question 5

Beck’s work influenced the development of CBT. What is cognitive behavioural therapy?

Answer 5

CBT is a method for treating mental disorders based on both cognitive and behavioural techniques. From the cognitive viewpoint the therapy aims to deal with thinking, such as challenging negative thoughts. The therapy also includes behavioural techniques such as behavioural activation.

Question 6

What is the central aim of cognitive behavioural therapy?

Answer 6

One of the central aims is to identify where there might be dysfunctional or irrational thoughts that will benefit from challenge.

Question 7

How do the therapist and client work together to activate change during CBT?

Answer 7

A therapist will work closely with their patients to identify irrational thoughts and will work together to set goals for these to change.

Question 8

What type of thoughts does CBT aim to rectify?

Answer 8

Cognitive behavioural therapy aims to identify automatic thoughts about the world, the self and the future. Together these thoughts are known as the ‘negative triad’.

Question 9

What are the six steps of CBT?

Answer 9

• The therapist helps the client to identify irrational
  thoughts. The client achieves this by keeping a diary.

-The therapist challenges these dysfunctional cognitions
by drawing on positive incidents

-Clients are asked to complete homework between
sessions in order to test the reality of their negative
beliefs. Homework might be to record when people
have been nice to them.

-The therapist uses their work so far to show that a
client’s negative thoughts are irrational (e.g. if they
claim everyone hates them, the therapist can show
the client their previous homework where they
recorded positive experiences).

-Behavioural techniques are used to encouraged positive
behaviour

-Small goals are set to encourage personal achievements

Question 10

The third step in CBT is ‘reality testing’. Why is this sometimes referred to as the ‘patient as scientist’?

Answer 10

This is sometimes referred to as the ‘patient as scientist’ because the client is encouraged to investigate the reality of their negative beliefs in the way a scientist would.

Question 11

Whose work influenced the development of REBT therapy?

Answer 11

Ellis’s work influenced the development of REBT therapy.

Question 12

What does REBT stand for?

Answer 12

Rational emotive behaviour therapy

Question 13

How is the REBT model influenced by Ellis’s original ACB model?

Answer 13

REBT extents the ABC model to an ABCDE model

Question 14

What does the ‘A’ stand for in Ellis’s ABCDE model?

Answer 14

Activating event

Question 15

What does the ‘B’ stand for in Ellis’s ABCDE model?

Answer 15

Beliefs

Question 16

What does the ‘C’ stand for in Ellis’s ABCDE model?

Answer 16

Consequences

Question 17

What does the ‘D’ stand for in Ellis’s ABCDE model?

Answer 17

Dispute

Question 18

What does the ‘E’ stand for in Ellis’s ABCDE model?

Answer 18

Effect

Question 19

What is the central technique of REBT?

Answer 19

The central technique of REBT is to identify and dispute (challenge) irrational thoughts.

Question 20

A patient discusses how unlucky they have been and how unfair things seem. How might this patient be treated using REBT?

Answer 20

An REBT therapist would identify these as examples of utopianism and challenge this as an irrational belief. This would involve a vigorous argument. The vigorous argument is the hallmark of REBT.

Question 21

What is the intended effect of REBT?

Answer 21

The intended effect is the change the irrational belief and break the link between negative life events and depression.

Question 22

How many methods of disputing have been identified by Ellis?

Answer 22

Ellis identified two methods of disputing.

Question 23

Which two methods of disputing have been proposed by Ellis?

Answer 23

• Empirical argument

- Logical argument

Question 24

A empirical argument is one method for disputing. What does this entail?

Answer 24

Empirical argument involves disputing whether there is actual evidence to support the negative belief.

Question 25

A logical argument is one method for disputing. What does this entail?

Answer 25

Logical argument involves disputing whether the negative thoughts logically follows from the facts.

Question 26

A CBT therapist might encourage behavioural activation. What does this entail?

Answer 26

A CBT therapist might encourage a depressed parent to be more active and engage in enjoyable activities. This behavioural activation will provide more evidence for the irrational nature of beliefs.