treating depression: cognitive approach

Question 1

name 2 things that the ‘behavioural’ aspect of CBT attempts to change

Answer 1

reversing negative/irrational thoughts

putting more effective behaviours into place

Question 2

name 2 things that the ‘cognitive’ aspect of CBT does

Answer 2

identifies negative thoughts
identifies goals for therapy + puts together a plan to achieve them

Question 3

what do clients identify during Beck’s cognitive therapy?

Answer 3

identify automatic thoughts about world/self/future (negative triad)

Question 4

true or false?
Beck’s cognitive theory of depression has an application in his treatment

Answer 4

true

Question 5

what does Beck’s cognitive therapy aim to help clients do?

Answer 5

test the reality of their negative beliefs

Question 6

give an example of how patients may be asked to test the reality of their negative beliefs

Answer 6

they may be set ‘homework’ to record an event that they enjoyed etc.
this is to prove that there are some positive elements within their thoughts

in future sessions therapist can produce evidence of self-records to prove client wrong when they are being negative

Question 7

what does Ellis’ ‘REBT’ stand for?

Answer 7

rational emotive behaviour therapy

Question 8

what does Ellis’ REBT extend the ABC model to?

Answer 8

ABCDE model

Question 9

what do ‘D’ + ‘E’ stand for in the ABCDE model?

Answer 9

dispute
effect

Question 10

what is a central technique of REBT?

Answer 10

identify + challenge (dispute) irrational thoughts

Question 11

give an example of how a therapist would approach the issue of a client who believes that they are just extremely unlucky

Answer 11

REBT therapist would identify this as utopianism + challenge it as an irrational belief

Question 12

give an example of how a therapist would deal with the issue of a client who believes that they are just extremely unlucky

Answer 12

REBT therapist would change the irrational belief + attempt to break links between negative life events + depression

Question 13

how are symptoms of depression maintained/worsened?

Answer 13

people tend to avoid difficult situations + become isolated

Question 14

how would a therapist use behavioural activation to treat depressed individuals?

Answer 14

use it to gradually decrease their avoidance/isolation + increase engagement in activities that improve mood (e.g. exercising/going out)

Question 15

what does the therapist aim to reinforce during behavioural activation?

Answer 15

mood-boosting activities

Question 16

name a strength of these treatments

Answer 16

there is evidence for its effectiveness

Question 17

name 2 limitations of these treatments

Answer 17

unsuitable for diverse clients
high relapse rates

Question 18

true or false?
CBT is cost-effective due to its briefness

Answer 18

true

Question 19

what did March et. al find in their study of comparisons of depression treatments?

Answer 19

in 327 depressed adolescents after 36 weeks…
81% of CBT group had improved
81% of antidepressants group had improved
86% of group using both treatments had improved

shows that CBT is just as effective as antidepressants when used on its own + more so when used alongside antidepressants

Question 20

why is CBT considered to be unsuitable for diverse clients?

Answer 20

there is complex rational thinking involved

Question 21

true or false?
there is a lack of effectiveness in CBT for clients with learning difficulties

Answer 21

true

Question 22

why is ‘relapse rates’ a limitation?

Answer 22

there are high relapse rates due to CBT’s short-term effectiveness

Question 23

what did Shehzad Ali et. al research?

Answer 23

assessed depression in 439 clients every month for 12 months following a CBT course

Question 24

what were Shehzad Ali et. al’s findings + what do they suggest?

Answer 24

42% of clients relapsed within 6 months of ending treatment + 53% relapsed within a year

suggests that CBT may need to be repeated periodically as it doesn’t have many long-term effects

Question 25

why may some people prefer medication over CBT?

Answer 25

symptoms disappear more quickly with medication

Question 26

true or false?
medication is more effective than CBT in the short-term

Answer 26

false - CBT is more highly effective in the short term