Cognitive approach to treating depression

Question 1

what are the basic assumptions of CBT

Answer 1

Based on the idea that mental illness is the result of faulty maladaptive thought processes so changes the thoughts therefore changes the emotion response.

Question 2

What are the key elements of Becks cognitive therapy

Answer 2

Talking therapy- rapport between client and therapist
Identify negative thinking patterns
Discuss the rationality
Identify the target thoughts to change
Set homework tasks to test and disprove these
Keep a diary whilst they complete the tasks (empirical evidence of irrational thoughts.)

Question 3

Ellis’s REBT therapy assumption s

Answer 3

Based on the idea that our thinking leads to upset

Question 4

Ellis’s REBT Process

Answer 4

A-activating event
B- Belief about event
C- emotional consequence
D- disputions to challenge those beliefs
E- Find new beliefs to replace irrational ones

Question 5

Key elements of REBT

Answer 5

-Emphasis on the present
-Focussed on self examining and challenging unhelpful thinking
-Set of beliefs established
-USe disputing to help reformulate dysfunctional beliefs to realistic ones

Question 6

What are the three types of disputing

Answer 6

-Logical disputing- Challenges whether a belief makes logical sense
-Pragmatic disputing- challenges if a belief is realistic
-Empirical disputing- Challenges if there is supporting evidence for a belief

Question 7

Strength

Answer 7

Research for effectiveness of CBT
-Dobson et al meta analysis of 115 studies examining CBT for depression. Showed that it was as useful at treating depression as drugs.

Question 8

Weaknesses

Answer 8

Overemphasis on role of cognitions- assumes all depression is due to thinking- may just need to change people’s environment
Not appropriate for all types of depression- requires the motivation to get better which people may lack
relapse rates

Question 9

Overemphasis on role of cognitions

Answer 9

Doesn’t account for any other factors
e.g abuse in a home would require a new environment not mindset

Question 10

Not appropriate for all depression cases

Answer 10

Relies on the patient wanting to engage but they may not want to get better so drugs may be more appropriate. An interactionist approach

Question 11

Relapse rates

Answer 11

Ali et al- 42% relapsed after 6 months.