how to treat depression

Question 1

what is the role cognitive behavioral therapy

Answer 1

a talking therapy to help alter faulty interpretations of problems by changing negative schemas and irrational thoughts

Question 2

Aaron Beck involvement of CBT

Answer 2

thought catching
- the patient identifies their irrational thoughts and their negative traid negative views of the world, themselves, future
(by keeping a diary)

patient as scientist
the patient generates a hypothesis to test how accurate their irrational thoughts are ? Did what they thought would happen actually occur? Evidence is presented for or against their irrational thoughts.

Behavioural activation - Patients are set various tasks to help change their behaviour

Question 3

Albert Ellis involvement in CBT name

Answer 3

His version is called REBT
Rational emotive behaviour therapy

Question 4

Albert Ellis involvement in CBT

Answer 4

Ellis developed the ABC model
by adding DE
D- DIBS (disputing irrational beliefs)
example: logical disputing - questions whether this way of thinking makes sense
empirical disputing - is there any evidence? - the therapist may ask if here is any evidence to show if their belief is false or is it true? this disputes irrational beliefs as it shows that it is not consistent with reality
Pragmatic disputing - the therapist asks how practical or helpful this belief actually is

This all leads to E - EFFECT
Disputing the irrational thoughts helps the person to be more rational in their thinking of the situation and how they feel about it

after sessions may be given homework tasks to help the patient practice challenging irrational thoughts is everyday life , this can lead to change in behavior in both REBT OR CBT (use examples in exams)
they can counter these irrational thoughts by what they have learnt in their CBT/REBT sessions

Question 5

evaluation of the cognitive treatments of depression

Answer 5

March et al (2007)
studied 327 patients aged between 12-117 year olds all diagnosed with major depressive disorder
Three conditions
CBT, DRUG (fluoextine) or COMBINED

They found the rates of depression improvement after week 12 was
CBT 48%
DRUG - 62%
COMBINED - 73%

WEEK 26
CBT - 86%
DRUG - 81%
COMBINED - 81%
This study sows the positive impact the CBT can have on the impact of patients that suffer with depression (mental health)

Question 6

limitations

Answer 6

there are individual differences between patients
- CBT may not be he most suitable for all patients.
In March et al study it took 36 weeks for the CBT to almost match drug treatment how many people are motivated to stick with the program and treatment for that long period of time
often patients with depression may find the commitmemt and motivation required a challenge. Although research has found CBT to be effective it may not be suitable for all patients especially those who lack motivation and commitment

Question 7

comparing with alternative treatment

Answer 7

In the March et al study
CBT contrasts favorably with drug therapy
- there are no side effects
- there is no need work out the correct particular dosage for each patient which is time consuming, the patient will have to be gradually weened off from the drug once their symptoms reduce and may experience withdrawal symptoms which can be unpleasant
CBT doesn’t have any of these

Drug treatments HOWEVER can work quicker as seen by the March et al study and doesn’t patients do not need the high levels of commitment which is needed in CBT so biologically treatments can be seen as more effective in this regard

CBT can be seen as more empowering to the patient in contrast to drug therapy alone this is because patients taking antidepressant medication are passive in the drug treatment taking effect on them whereas CBT is an active process, actively challenging patients to change their own thoughts this is helpful because it can give the patients a sense of control over depression which they may not have felt before