Individual Differences - Treating Abnormality (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy)

Question 1

What is the aim of cognitive therapies?

Answer 1

To change a person’s thoughts or beliefs. Based on the idea that thinking leads to emotion and behaviour.

Question 2

What is the aim of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)?

Answer 2

To target and change the irrational beliefs that lead to inappropriate emotions and behaviours into rational beliefs.

Question 3

What elements does CBT include?

Answer 3

Cognitive and Behavioural elements.

Question 4

What is the cognitive element?

Answer 4

Client is encouraged to identify irrational beliefs that are root of anxiety or depression. Could involve questions such as ‘Tell me what you think about…’ Therapist helps client to understand where their faulty cognitions are leading them.

Question 5

What is the behavioural element?

Answer 5

Irrational beliefs are reality tested either as role-play or as ‘homework’ assignments. Set goals and tasks designed to help them incorporate realistic and rational beliefs into their way of thinking.

Question 6

How would cognitive behavioural therapy help someone with depression?

Answer 6

Therapist asks them to plan an evening to the cinema to disprove the belief that their life is always dull and nobody likes them. Or ask them to keep a diary of mood to show them they aren’t always depressed.

Question 7

What is the overall aim?

Answer 7

To enable patients to incorporate new ways of thinking into their everyday life.

Question 8

What are the positives of CBT?

Answer 8

• Allows clients to learn to help themselves, and take control of their lives, working with, rather than being controlled by the therapist.
• No side effects, therefore low drop-out rates. Short term so convenient for patients.
• Provides patients with coping skills that helps them deal better with life events, symptoms are less likely to return.

Question 9

What are the problems of CBT?

Answer 9

• Most studies focus on short-term benefits on monosymtomatic patients so little is known about the long term benefits or patients with more than one disorder.
• Depends on some extent on the patient-therapist relationship, individual differences between therapists may affect outcome.