Treating Depression

Question 1

what is the cognitive element of cognitive behavioural therapy?

Answer 1

• CBT begins with an assessment where the client and the cognitive behaviour therapist work together to clarify the client’s problems
• they then identify goals for the therapy and put together a plan to achieve them
• one of these tasks is to identify where their negative or irrational thoughts arise from

Question 2

what is the behavioural element of cognitive behavioural therapy?

Answer 2

• CBT involves working to change negative and irrational thoughts and put more effective behaviours into place

Question 3

explain Beck’s cognitive therapy.

Answer 3

• identify automatic thoughts about the world, the self and the future (cognitive triad)
• once identified these through must be challenged
• cognitive therapy aims to help clients test the reality of their negative beliefs = they may be set homework, e.g when they enjoyed an event
• they the therapist uses these as evidence to prove that the clients statements are true

Question 4

explain Ellis’ rational emotive behaviour therapy.

Answer 4

• rational emotive behaviour therapy extends the ABC model to ABCDE model
• D = dispute and E = effect
• ## REBT = identity and challenge irrational thoughts

Question 5

what is behavioural activation.

Answer 5

• as individual become depressed they tend to increasingly avoid difficult situations and become isolated, which maintains or worsens symptoms
• behavioural activations involves working with depressed individuals to gradually decrease their avoidance and isolation, and increase their engagement in activities that have been shown to improve moods
• therapist aims to reinforce such activity