PSYCHOPATHOLOGY - the cognitive approach to treating depression

Question 1

what is CBT?

Answer 1

• most commonly used treatment for depression
• patient and therapist work together to identify patient problems and therapy goals
• identify negative + irrational thoughts to challenge

Question 2

outline becks cognitive therapy?

Answer 2

• focused around negative triad
• thoughts about self world future is identified + challenged
• therapist will help patient test reality of their beliefs eg set hw to record whenever a happy event occurs
• evidence is later used to prove the clients statements are incorrect

Question 3

outline Ellis’s rational emotional behaviour therapy.

Answer 3

extends to ABCDE model
D= dispute
E = effect
- identify and dispute irrational thoughts
- challenge using a vigorous argument
- argument is used to break the link between negative life events + depression by changing the irrational belief.

Question 4

what are the 2 ways of disputing ellis uses?

Answer 4

empirical argument = disputing whether there is actual evidence to support the negative belief

logical argument = involves disputing whether the negative thought logically follows from the facts

Question 5

what is behavioural activation?

Answer 5

• to work with depressed individuals to gradually decrease their avoidance and isolation
• increase their engagement in activities that improve mood. eg excercise.

Question 6

give strengths of CBT?

Answer 6

+ evidence for effectiveness = March et al = when treating depressed adolescents the CBT+ ANTIDEPRESSANT group had a significantly higher improvement than just CBT only and antidepressant only groups.
CBT is effective and cost effective
1st choice of treatment in NHS

+ Taylor et al (2008) concluded that when used appropriately, CBT is effective for people with learning disabilities.

Question 7

give limitations of CBT?

Answer 7

• not effective for people with learning disabilities. eg depression could be so severe that clients may not be able to pay attention.
  CBT involves complex thinking, which makes it unsuitable for people with learning disabilities.
  CBT only suitable for specific range of people with depression

-relapse rate is high = studies say that long term outcomes aren’t good as had been assumed. eg Ali et al assessed depression in clients. 42% relapsed into depression within 6 months. This means CBT needs to be repeated periodically.