Unipolar Depression: One non biological treatment (CBT) Flashcards
What does Beck’s cognitive behavioural treatment aim to target?
Faulty cognitive conditions
How does the treatment begin?
With an assessment
Assessment: what does it look at?
aspects of the client’s condition, for instance severity of depression, past treatments or if there’s any other comorbid disorders like anxiety
Assessment: how is it done?
Via questionnaires and interview techniques
Role of education: why does the client need to understand the nature of their symptoms
Because they play such a big role in the therapy plan
Role of education: How does the therapist try and help the client understand his symptoms
They provide an explanation along with sources of information to the client about their symptoms.
Role of education: if the client understands his symptoms, how does that help with the therapy?
will be able to help the therapist find out what would make a good strategy to combat the illness.
Role of homework: Give an example of how the therapist help challenge irrational thoughts
Telling the client to write down anytime someone is nice to them, so when they say things like ‘everyone hates me’ therapist can refer to this.
How does a typical session of CBT go?
Start: quick assessment of how the clients currently functioning
CBT session: what is an example of an assessment that might happen during a CBT session?
Beck’s depression inventory
CBT session: after the assessment what happens
any changes in symptoms are talked over and the homework that was set is reviewed.
- Agenda then made for client to prioritise the most serious to be worked on.
CBT session: How can the client and therapist work on the most serioous priorities
Implementing a CBT method like 3 question technique
CBT session: what is the 3 question technique and what are the 3 questions asked
client asks 3 questions to themselves about their negative thoughts to challenge them
- What is the evidence for this?
- What are the alternatives?
- So what?
CBT sessions: how does the 3 question technique help clients
may help them prevent from jumping to conclusions and stop automatic negative thoughts.
What is a strength of CBT?
It is supported by research evidence showing that its an effective treatment for people with depression
Research support: Procedure and findings of the study that showed CBT was effective
239 random participants with depression were allocated into 1 of 4 groups. They compared CBT to anti depressants and a placebo pill
Found that CBT was as effective in recuding symptoms as antidepressants. CBT’s effectiveness was just as effective after 18 months.
Research support: Procedure and findings of the study that showed CBT was effective
239 random participants with depression were allocated into 1 of 4 groups. They compared CBT to anti depressants and a placebo pill
Found that CBT was as effective in recuding symptoms as antidepressants. CBT’s effectiveness was just as effective after 18 months.
Research Support: what does this evidence mean
Means CBT is effective in reducing symptoms for mild and moderate depression.
What is a competing arguement for this research support.
It doesn’t provide help for people suffering with severe depression.
Competing arguement: what did the same study find?
Antidepressants are better for people with severe symptoms of depression than CBT.
Competing arguement: what were the relapse rates with CBT after 18 moths?
36%
Competing arguement: what is an arguement against this competing arguement
a study in 2005 showed that CBT was equally effective for mild, moderate and severe symptoms of depression
What is a weakness of using CBT
It’s a very challenging therapy.
Weakness of CBT: Evidence to show its a challenging therapy
It has high dropout rates, because CBT takes alot of commitment to sessions and homeworkd tasks and can be very emotionally draining.
Weakness of CBT: why are these high dropout rates an issue.
CBT costs alot of money for the NHS and makes it difficult to research its true effectiveness.
What is a strength of the application of CBT
CBT can be applied to help prevent relapse into depression.
Strength of application: explain how CBT can prevent relapse rates
Encourages clients to be more independant as they learn skills they can apply themselves.
- This will help them in the long term as they become familiar in ways to target irrational thoughts
Strength of application: What will them knowing skills to target irrational thoughts lead to?
Leads to development of depression being less likely to occur
