The cognitive approach to treating depression Flashcards
What is cognitive behaviour therapy?
Begins with an assessment, in which the client and the cognitive behaviour therapist work together to find the problems. They then identify goals for the therapy and put a plan together to identify the negative thoughts and change the negative views.
Clients are often set homework to record positive events, which can be used in the sessions to challenge the irrational thoughts.
What was Ellis’s Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT) ?
It extends the ABC model to ABCD model:
D- dispute
E- effect
It aims to identify and dispute irrational thoughts.
The therapist intends to break the link between the negative life effects and depression by changing the clients irrational belief
There are different types of arguments identified by Ellis;
Empirical arguments: Disputing if there is real evidence to support the irrational belief
Logical arguments: Disputing if there negative effect follows logically from the facts
Strengths of cognitive treatments of depression.
CBT and REBT are quicker treatments than other therapies.
March et.al compared CBT to antidepressants and combination therapy when treating 327 depressed people.
They found that after 36weeks, 81% of the CBT group, 81% of the antidepressant group and 86% of the combination were all improving, showing that CBT is as effective as antidepressants and even more effective when used together.
Limitations of cognitive treatments of depression.
CBT has been criticised for blaming the client.
Some clients with severe depression can’t motivate themselves to do CBT.
CBT had individual differences as some people don’t like to talk and express themselves.
It has high relapse rates and the effects are not long.
