Treating depression Flashcards
(17 cards)
What are the techniques of Becks cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
- Thought catching
- Reality testing
- Behavioural activation
Describe thought catching
The patient learns how to spot their negative automatic thoughts and their negative cognitive triad, which are negative thoughts about themselves, the world and the future
Describe reality testing
Learns how to logically challenge these negative thoughts by coming up with the evidence for and against them l
Use activities such as using diaries to monitor events and identify situations in which negative thinking occurs so these can be challenged.
May be set homework such as to record when they enjoyed an event or when people were nice to them.
In future sessions if the patient says no one is nice to them or there is no point going out, the therapist can then produce this evidence and use it to prove the patient’s statements are incorrect.
Describe behavioural activation
Therapist may ask the patient to make small changes in their behaviour, such as Activity Raising when patients build up their daily social activities and therefore test their fears.
CBT often involves a specific focus on encouraging depressed clients to become more active and engage in pleasurable activities.
A characteristic of many depressed people is that they no longer participate in activities that they previously enjoyed. In CBT, therapist and client identify potential pleasurable activities and anticipate and deal with any cognitive obstacles
Outline Ellis’ rational emotive behaviour therapy
Another form of CBT which focuses on challenging or disputing the individual’s irrational thoughts about an event and replacing them with effective, rational beliefs.
- Its not the activating event that causes unproductive consequences, it is the beliefs that lead to the self defeating consequences
Describe Ellis’ DEF model
D - disputing irrational thoughts and believe
E - effects of disputing
F - the new feelings that are produced
What is logical disputing
disputing whether the negative thought logically follows from the facts
What is empiricle disputing
disputing whether there is actual evidence to support the negative belief
What is pragmatic disputing
emphasises the lack of usefulness of self defeating beliefs (e.g. ‘How is this belief likely to help me?
What is effective disputing
whether the activating events are actually realistic or not.
What are strengths of the cognitive approach to treating depression
Supported by evidence
Effective compared to drugs
What are limitations of the cognitive approach to treating depression
Takes effort
Time consuming
Evaluate supported by research as a strength of the cognitive approach to treating depression
P: Large body of evidence to support the effectiveness of CBT for depression.
E: March et al (2007) compared the effects of CBT with antidepressant drugs and a combination of the two in 329 adolescents with depression. After 36 weeks 81% of the CBT group, 81% of the antidepressants group, 86% of the combination group had significantly improved.
E: This is a strength because CBT emerged as just as effective as medication and helpful alongside medication.
Counterargument: However the success of the treatment may depend on the therapist- patient relationship. Therapist competence appears to explain a significant amount of the variation in CBT outcomes. Kuyken (2009) lends support to this claim, concluding that as much as 15% variance in outcome may be attributable to therapist competence
Evaluate that its just as effective as drugs as a strength of the cognitive approach to treating depression
P: Evidence to suggest that it is effective.
E: For example Holon et al (2006) found that fewer depressed patients relapse after 12 weeks of CBT (40%) than those taking drugs (45%).
E: This is a strength because this research suggests that the treatment works. Therefore, it can be used to prevent relapse and improve lives
Evaluate that it takes effort as a limitation of the cognitive approach to treating depression
P: Takes more effort compared to biological therapies.
E: Patients may not be able to follow the activities of CBT (e.g. keeping a diary and socialising more) and some people may give up before it has had chance to work or because it takes too long to work. This may be the case with patients with severe depression who may not be able to motivate themselves to follow the activities.
E: This is a limitation because a symptom of depression is a lack of motivation which might make putting in effort very difficult.
Therefore, if a depressed patient cannot follow the activities CBT cannot be effective for them.
Evaluate time consuming as a limitation of the cognitive approach to treating depression
P: Does not work quickly.
E: CBT can take over a year to be effective so it is not appropriate for patients at high risk of suicide.
E: This is a limitation of CBT because the treatment is not appropriate for individuals who are suffering from severe symptoms of depression and might be at risk of committing suicide. Therefore some people need faster relief/ treatment such as by anti-depressants
What are the types of disputing
logical
empiricle
pragmatic
effectve
