Cognitive therapy (Lecture 4 + ch. 7)

Question 1

What are the assumptions in CT?

Answer 1

• Real problems + biases
• No single cause of distress, but interaction of many factors

Question 2

What are the differences between CBT and psychoanalysis?

Answer 2

• CT assumes meaning is accessible, instead of unconscious
• Structured, short-term, active (unstructured, long-term and passive)

Question 3

What are the differences between REBT (rational emotive behavior therapy) and CT?

Answer 3

• REBT assumes clients have irrational beliefs, rather than dysfunctional
• CT assumes cognitive specificity (disorder-specific), REBT does not

Question 4

What is the difference between BT and CT?

Answer 4

CT emphasizes the active role of the patient in their environment, BT is based on simple conditioning

Question 5

Two founders of CT

Answer 5

• Beck and Ellis (replaced passive role for active role)

Question 6

Evidence for CT?

Answer 6

Appears to lead to lower relapse rates than any other treatment for anxiety and depression

Question 7

What is the CT view on the involvement of personality?

Answer 7

• Personality seen as shaped by the interaction between innate disposition and the environment
• Traits reflect basic schemas

Question 8

What two major personality dimensions have Beck and others established as relevant to depression and possibly other disorders?

Answer 8

• Social dependence (sociotropy): individuals became depressed following disruption of relationships
• Autonomy: individuals became depressed after defeat

Question 9

What does social learning theory in CT assume?

Answer 9

The role of (social) learning history in the development of maladaptive schemas

Question 10

Arbitrary inference (cognitive distortion)

Answer 10

Drawing a specific conclusion without evidence/there even being counterevidence

Question 11

Selective abstraction (cognitive distortion)

Answer 11

Drawing a conclusion based on a detail out of context

Question 12

Overgeneralization (cognitive distortion)

Answer 12

Over 1 kam scheren

Question 13

Magnification/minimization (cognitive distortion)

Answer 13

Seeing something as less/more significant than it is

Question 14

Personalization (cognitive distortion)

Answer 14

Attributing external events to oneself without a causal connection

Question 15

Dichotomous thinking (cognitive distortion)

Answer 15

Categorizing experiences in extremes

Question 16

What is the difference between the cognitive specificities of anxiety and panic disorder?

Answer 16

• Anxiety: sense of physical/psychological danger
• Panic: interpretation of bodily/mental experiences

Question 17

How does CT treat beliefs?

Answer 17

As testable hypotheses that can be examined through behavioral experiments

Question 18

Which level of cognition does CT aim to identify?

Answer 18

Core beliefs, the lowest level

Question 19

Collaborative empiricism (strategy)

Answer 19

Treating dysfunctional schemas as testable hypotheses

Question 20

Guided discovery (strategy)

Answer 20

Linking schemas to past experiences

Question 21

Socratic dialogue (style)

Answer 21

Style of questioning, aims to:
* Clarify problems
* Identify beliefs
* Examine meaning
* Assess consequences

Question 22

Recognize cognitions (treatment goal)

Answer 22

Among cognition, affect and behavior

Question 23

Substitute interpretations (treatment goal)

Answer 23

Substitute more reality-oriented interpretations for biased cognitions

Question 24

CT= cognitive + behavioral techniques. What do these techniques consist of?

Answer 24

• Cognitive techniques: modification techniques, behavioral experiments
• Behavioral techniques: exposure therapy, role-playing

Question 25

Decatastrophizing (modification technique)

Answer 25

Identify problem-solving strategies for when feared consequences occur. Helps with avoidance

Question 26

Reattribution (modification technique)

Answer 26

Consider alternative causes of events. Helps with personalization

Question 27

Redefining (modification technique)

Answer 27

Making a problem more concrete/stating in terms of client's behavior. Helps when a client thinks the problem is beyond their personal control

Question 28

Decentering (modification technique)

Answer 28

Observing what other people are focusing on

Question 29

When does CT produce the best results?

Answer 29

When the client has adequate reality testing, good concentration and sufficient memory function

Question 30

What are the steps of a behavioral experiment in CT?

Answer 30

1. Identify (belief/thought) 2. Brainstorm (how to test) 3. Predict (hypotheses + method) 4. Anticipate (problems + solutions) 5. Conduct 6. Review (evaluate + conclude)

Question 31

What is the pie chart technique?

Answer 31

A pie chart is made of the responsibility factors in a certain event

Question 32

What is the multidimensional evaluation technique?

Answer 32

Clients rate themselves on multiple dimensions they have come up with themselves, to counter black and white thinking

Question 33

What levels of cognitions are there (from superficial to deep)?

Answer 33

* Voluntary thoughts * Automatic thoughts * Maladaptive assumptions * Core beliefs