Cognitive - Therapy: CBT

Question 1

cognitive approach applied to CBT

Answer 1

• assumption -thoughts influence our emotions and the behaviours that follows
• believe that psychological disorders stem from irrational thinking and to be cured their thinking patterns must be changed
• CBT does this

Question 2

Internal mental processes applied to CBT

Answer 2

• internal processes impact our behaviour underlies the principles of CBT as it is the role of therapist to help client change their perception of the world.

Question 3

Schemas applied to CBT

Answer 3

• important aspect of CBT - schemas influence how we respond to the world around us.
• CBT helps client to change negative schemas resulting in a change in how they respond to the world

Question 4

Main Components of CBT

Answer 4

• Combines cognitive and behaviourist techniques
• Both client and therapist play an active role in the therapy - client will have to work on things outside of the sessions
• Dysfunctional thought diary
• Cognitive restructuring
• Pleasant activity scheduling

Question 5

Main components - The cognitive element

Answer 5

Therapist works with the client to help identify negative thoughts that are contributing to their problems

Question 6

Main components - The behavioural element

Answer 6

therapist encourages the client to engage in reality testing, during session or as homework

Question 7

Main components - dysfunctional thought diary

Answer 7

1. Homework - keep a record of events leading to unpleasant emotions experienced.
2. record automatic negative thoughts associated with the events + rate how much they believe in the thought
3. write a rational response - rate belief
4. re-rate beliefs in automatic thought

Question 8

Main components - cognitive restructuring

Answer 8

• therapist and client work together on identifying and changing negative thinking patterns
• taught to challenge dysfunctional thoughts - by asking - where is the evidence? what’s the worse that can happen?
• by challenging these thoughts and replacing them with more constructive ones they are able to try out new ways of behaving

Question 9

Main components - pleasant activity scheduling

Answer 9

• asking client to plan for each day a pleasant activity they will engage in. - something that gives sense of accomplishment, involve break from normal routine.
• engaging will induce more positive emotions - detract from negative thinking patterns
• This is a behavioural activation technique=helping change behaviour - keep a record of the experience, how they felt

Question 10

Evaluate effectiveness - research support

Answer 10

• evidence that CBT is effective in treating depression and anxiety-related problems
• Example compared CBT with drug therapy. Jarret et al (1999) - CBT as effective as some antidepressants - 108 patients over 10week
• Example however Hollon et al (1992) found no diff slightly different kind.
• CBT not superior to all antidepressant

Question 11

Evaluate effectiveness - therapist competence

Answer 11

• one factor influencing success of CBT= therpist competence
• competence = ability to structure sessions, plan and review assignments, engage and foster good therapeutic relations
• Example Kuyken and Tsivrikos (2009) claims 15% of the variance in outcomes of CBT effectiveness is due to therapist competence

Question 12

Evaluate effectiveness - individual differences

Answer 12

• may be more suitable for some - individ diff should be taken into consideration
• Example Simons et al -less suitable for people with high levels of irrational beliefs that are resistant to change - less suitable in situations high levels of stress that therapy cannot resolve

Question 13

Evaluate effectiveness - empowerment

Answer 13

• empowers clients to develop own coping strategies - regognises free will
• Popular alternative to drug therapy - especially people who couldn’t cope with determinist factor of this

Question 14

Evaluate ethical - patient blame

Answer 14

• assumes client is responsible fo disorder
• positive = they are empowered to change way they think(free will). disadvantages = situational factors, probles of life events ignored - client not in position to change.
• blaming individ for the way they think/feel/behave not helpful

Question 15

Evaluate ethical - what is irrational?

Answer 15

• who judges an ‘irrational’ thought
• some irrational to therapist, client feel obliged to change even though they might not be irrational
• Example Alloyd and Abrahamson (1979) - depressive realists tend to see things for what they are. Depressed people more accurate in estimates of likelihood of disaster.
• CBT may damage self-esteem - psychological harm