Cognitive approach to treating depression

Question 1

What is cognitive behaviour therapy?

Answer 1

• Begins with assessment in which the patient and cognitive behaviour therapist work together to clarify the patient’s problems
• Jointly identify goals for the therapy + put together a plan to achieve them
• Central tasks to identify irrational thought - will benefit from challenge

CBT involves changing irrational thoughts + put effective behaviours into place
Some CBT therapist do this using techniques from Beck;s therapy, or some rely on Ellis’
emotive behaviour therapy

Question 2

How does CBT use Beck’s theory

Answer 2

CBT is application of Beck’s cognitive theory of depression

Idea behind CBT is to identify automatic thoughts about self/future/world (- triad)
Once identified these thoughts are challenged

As well as changing these thoughts - cbt gets patients to test reality of their negative beliefs → may be set homework such as record when they enjoyed an event

Question 3

What is the ‘patient as therapist

Answer 3

‘patient as scientist’ - investigating their negative beliefs in a way scientists would’

In future sessions if patients say there is no point going to events - therapist can use this as evidence to prove patient is incorrect

Question 4

Ellis’s rational behaviour therapy REBT -what does it stand for

Answer 4

REBT extends the ABC model to ABCDE - d- dispute e - effec

Question 5

Central technique of REBT ?

Answer 5

Central technique is to challenge rational beliefs and replacing them with effective rational beliefs

Question 6

Scenario of this

Answer 6

A patient might talk about how unlucky they have been or how unfair things seem.
A therapist would identify this as examples of utopianism
Challenge this as an irrational belief
This would involve vigorous argument → the intended effect is to change irrational belief + break the link between negative life events and depression

Question 7

Whats the intention of the vigrous argument

Answer 7

the intended effect is to change irrational belief + break the link between negative life events and depression

Question 8

Wat arguments did ellis identify as methods of disputing

Answer 8

• empirical argument - involves disputing whether there is actual evidence to support the negative belief
• Logical argument - involves disputing whether the negative thought logically follows from the facts
  Prevents individuals from focusing on thoughts and to think rationally.
• Pragmatic argument - disputing how practical the thought is

Question 9

Behavioural activation

Answer 9

the therapist may also want to encourage a depressed patient to be more active and engage in enjoyable activities → will provide more evidence for the irrational nature of beliefs.

Benefits to increase endorphins
Also can be used as evidence

Question 10

Strengths

Answer 10

It is effective / research support
Large support for the effectiveness of CBT
March - compared effects of CBT with antidepressants + combination of two with 327 with diagnosis of depression

After 36 weeks
81% - CBT / 81% antidepressants significantly improved
86% CBT + depressants
Thus highlights that CBT is just as effective on its own but also helpful alongside medication.
Suggests there is a good case making CBT the first choice of medical treatment in nhs

Just as effective as drug therapy