treating depression Flashcards
what is the cognitive approach to treating depression?
cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
how does CBT aim to challenge thought processes?
- patient and therapist work together to change the way the client thinks by challenging irrational and maladaptive thought processes
- this will lead to a change in behaviour as a response to new thinking patterns
how is Beck’s theory showed in CBT?
through challenging the thoughts in the negative triad, so the patient can have a active role in their treatment
how did Ellis extend the ABC model to create 3 CBT stages?
Ellis extended his ABC model to ABCDEF.
D (1) -disputing irrational thoughts and beliefs
E (2) -effects of disputing and effective attitude to life
F (3) -new feelings that are produced
what are the 3 stages involved in CBT?
- identification of irrational thoughts and confrontation
- hypothesis testing
- reinforcement of positive thoughts; cognitive restructuring
what is the process of identification?
- question the irrational beliefs that occur
e.g. ‘where is the proof that this belief is accurate’
‘how is this belief likely to help me?’
what is the process of hypothesis testing?
- patient as ‘scientist’ data gathering through set homework
- this phase is designed to put new rational beliefs into practice
what is an example of patient as ‘scientist’ in CBT?
-a patient may record each time someone was nice to them for the past week.
- next time they say that everyone hates them, the therapist can point towards the journal as counter-evidence
- proving the patient’s beliefs as irrational
what is the process of reinforcement?
- client is encouraged to carry out activities that are pleasurable to them e.g. sports
S: supporting research evidence
ID: supporting research evidence
Q: March. researched into the effectiveness of CBT as a treatment for depression
EX: for example, after following a group of 327 adolescents with depression, he found that after 30 weeks an 81% improvement rate from CBT, an 81% improvement rate from anti-depressants and a 86% improvement rate from a combination
AN: therefore, this is a strong argument that CBT should be used in public health services as it avoids the side effects of drug treatments. increasing external validity
W: may not be appropriate for all cases
ID: however, CBT may not be an appropriate treatment for all cases of depression, particularly the
most severe cases
Q: this idea could also have been reflected in the evidence provided by March et al, where a combination of CBT and antidepressants was the most effective combination.
EX: for example, this is because those with severe depression may not be able to attend the regular CBT sessions, due to a lack of motivation/ an inability to get out of bed in the morning, and also may feel completely hopeless i.e. that they are beyond help
AN: this means that CBT cannot be used to address all cases of depression, and arguably is not suitable for cases which need help the most
W: criticised for over-emphasis on role of cognitions
ID: furthermore, CBT can be criticised for its over-emphasis on the role of cognitions
Q: this means that, some psychologists have criticised CBT as it suggests that personal irrational thoughts are the primary cause of depression. CBT does not take into account other factors
EX: for example, domestic abuse. a patient who is suffering other causes of depression doesn’t need to challenge their irrational beliefs, but rather their circumstances
AN: therefore, CBT would be un-effective in treating these patients until their circumstances have changed, meaning it may be an over-simplified treatment.
