Treating Depression

Question 1

What is the main psychological treatment to treating depression?

Answer 1

Cognitive behavioural therapy

Question 2

What is an example of cognitive behavioural therapy?

Answer 2

Rational e,price behaviour therapy

Question 3

What is rational emotive behaviour therapy?

Answer 3

It was developed by Ellis and involves making patients irrational and negative thoughts more rational and positive

Question 4

What is stage 1 of rational emotive behaviour therapy?

Answer 4

It involves using the ABC model to keep a dairy of irrational beliefs
A- activating event: patients record events leading to disordered thinking
B- beliefs: patients record negative thoughts associated with the event
C- consequence: patients record negative thoughts or behaviours that follow
It involves reframing and challenging negative thoughts by reinterpreting the ABC in a more positive, logical way

Question 5

What is stage 2 of rational emotive behaviour therapy?

Answer 5

This is where behavioural activation and pleasant event scheduling are introduced which are aimed at increasing physiological activity and participation in social events and other rewarding activities. Cognitive factors are then assessed after the patients have experienced improvement in mood and energy by being taught to identify faulty thinking responsible for low mood and to challenge these thoughts. These involve hypothesis testing of negative thoughts through behavioural coping skills. Therapists only set tasks they’re confident patients can succeed at. Treatment generally involves one or two sessions of therapy every two weeks for about fifteen sessions.

Question 6

What are three strengths of the cognitive approach treating depression?

Answer 6

1. CBT is the most effective psychological treatment for moderate and severe depression and it has few side effects
2. CBT occurs over a relatively short period of time compared to other treatments
3. It puts the control back in the clients own hands and gives them the skills to manage their own problems and to find new ways of coping with new situations

Question 7

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

Answer 7

1. For patients with difficulty concentrating, often problematic with depressives, it can be unsuitable leading to feelings of disappointed
2. It isn’t suitable for patients who have difficulties talking about their inter feelings or for those without the verbal skills to do so
3. It is still not certain whether negative thoughts occur after the onset of a problem rather than before it. There may be other reasons for the original depression so therefore changing thoughts in therapy will not cure the disorder