Mid Term Exam Flashcards
(28 cards)
Define problem solving and provide an example
Problem solving is where the therapists help the patients learn how to specify a problem, devise solutions, select a solution, implement it, and evaluate its effectiveness. Therapists teach patients relevant skills, especially identifying and responding to automatic thoughts and, for most depressed patients, scheduling activities.
Example:
Problem: Patent feels isolated.
Goal: To initiate new friendships and spend more time with current friends.
First, the therapist will help the patient evaluate the validity of her thoughts through an examination of the evidence. Then the patient is willing to test the thoughts more directly through behavioral experiments in which she initiates plans with friends. Once she recognizes and corrects the distortion in her thinking, the patient is able to benefit from straightforward problem solving to decrease her isolation
Define behavioral activation and provide an example
Behavioral activation is based on the theory that, as individuals become depressed, they tend to engage in increasing avoidance and isolation, which serves to maintain or worsen their symptoms. The goal of behavioral activation is to work with depressed individuals to gradually decrease their avoidance and isolation and increase their engagement in activities that have shown to improve mood.
Example:
Situation: Thinking about getting exercise ->
Automatic thoughts: “I’m too tired. I won’t enjoy it.” ->
Emotional reaction: Dysphoria ->
Behavioral reaction: Stays in bed.
In this case, the therapist can help set up a behavioral experiment that maximizes the chance of a positive outcome. To test out the patient’s prediction, the therapist and patient can both work on a plan for the patient to take a short run exercise a few times a week.
Name 12 types of cognitive distortions
- Emotional reasoning
- Catastrophizing
- Mind reading
- All-or-nothing thinking
- Disqualifying or discounting the positive
- Labeling
- Magnification/minimization
- Mental filter
- Overgeneralization
- Personalization
- “Should” and “must” statements
- Tunnel vision
Define emotional reasoning and provide an example
You think something must be true because you “feel” (actually believe) it so strongly, ignoring or discounting evidence to the contrary.
Example : “I know I do a lot of things okay at work, but I still feel like I’m a failure.”
Define catastrophizing and provide an example
(also called fortune-telling)
You predict the future negatively without considering other, more likely outcomes.
Example : “I’ll be so upset, I won’t be able to function at all.”
Define mind reading and provide an example
You believe you know what others are thinking, failing to consider other, more likely possibilities.
Example : “He thinks that I don’t know the first thing about this project.”
Define all-or-nothing thinking and provide an example
(also called black-and-white, polarized, or dichotomous thinking)
You view a situation in only two categories instead of on a continuum.
Example : “If I’m not a total success, I’m a failure.”
Define disqualifying or discounting the positive and provide an example
You unreasonably tell yourself that positive experiences, deeds, or qualities do not count.
Example : “I did that project well, but that doesn’t mean I’m competent; I just got lucky.”
Define labeling and provide an example
You put a fixed, global label on yourself or others without considering that the evidence might more reasonably lead to a less disastrous conclusion.
Example : “I’m a loser. He’s no good.”
Define magnification / minimization and provide an example
When you evaluate yourself, another person, or a situation, you unreasonably magnify the negative and/or minimize the positive.
Example : “Getting a mediocre evaluation proves how inadequate I am. Getting high marks doesn’t mean I’m smart.”
Define mental filter and provide an example
(also called selective abstraction)
You pay undue attention to one negative detail instead of seeing the whole picture.
Example : “Because I got one low rating on my evaluation [which also contained several high ratings] it means I’m doing a lousy job.”
Define overgeneralization and provide an example
You make a sweeping negative conclusion that goes far beyond the current situation.
Example : “[Because I felt uncomfortable at the meeting] I don’t have what it takes to make friends.”
Define personalization and provide an example
You believe others are behaving negatively because of you, without considering more plausible explanations for their behavior.
Example : “The repairman was curt to me because I did something wrong.”
Define “should” and “must” statements and provide an example
(also called imperatives)
You have a precise, fixed idea of how you or others should behave, and you overestimate how bad it is that these expectations are not met.
Example : “It’s terrible that I made a mistake. I should always do my best.”
Define tunnel vision and provide an example
You only see the negative aspects of a situation.
Example : “My son’s teacher can’t do anything right. He’s critical and insensitive and lousy at teaching.”
Define and give an example of an automatic thought
Automatic thought is an immediate, first, quick thought that go through our mind in response to a situation. It is our initial thinking reaction that go on to affect emotions and behaviors.
Example:
Situation: Reading a new text ->
Automatic thoughts: “This is just too hard. I’m so dumb.
I’ll never master this. I’ll never make it as a therapist.” ->
Reaction:
Emotional: Discouragement
Physiological: Heaviness in body
Behavioral: Avoids task and watches television instead
** Additional example: “I won’t be able to do well on this test.”
Define and give an example of an intermediate thought/belief
An intermediate thought/belief exists between core beliefs and automatic thoughts. It consists of (often unarticulated) attitudes, rules, and assumptions.
Example:
Attitude : “It’s terrible to fail.”
Rule : “Give up if a challenge seems too great.”
Assumptions : “If I try to do something difficult, I’ll fail. If I avoid doing it, I’ll be okay.”
** Additional example: “If I don’t know this answer, it means I’ll be a terrible CBT therapist.”
Define and give an example of a core belief
Core beliefs are the most fundamental level of belief; they are global, rigid, and overgeneralized ideas about oneself, others or the world.
Example:
“I’m incompetent.”
** Additional example: “I am an unlovable, defective person.”
Explain the basic principles of the CBT model, such as the tripartite model and downward/upward spiral
The CBT tripartite model of personality advocates that:
- Thought and emotions influence behavior
- Behavior influences thoughts
- Emotions influences behavior
CBT aims to help patients change patterns of behavior that come from dysfunctional thinking. Negative thoughts and behavior predispose an individual to depression and make it nearly impossible to escape the downward spiral.
Once patients begin to change their behavior, the belief itself becomes somewhat more attenuated (which makes it easier to continue the new behavior, which further attenuates the belief, and so on, in a positive upward spiral.
List the DSM-V criteria of Major Depression
See text at home
List three techniques to explore cognitive distortions
- Identify the distortion - write down your negative thoughts so you can see which of the cognitive distortions you’re involved in. This will make it easier to think about the problem in a more positive and realistic way.
- Examine the evidence - Instead of assuming that your negative thought is true, examine the actual evidence for it.
- The Double-Standard Method - Instead of putting yourself down in a harsh, condemning way, talk to yourself in the same compassionate way you would talk to a friend with a similar problem.
What are cognitions?
Thoughts and images.
In the newer versions of CBT (such as in the TADS study), what precedes cognitive restructuring?
Behavioral activation.
What was the major findings in Jacobson et al.’s study?
It was found that…
