Treating Depression

Question 1

what is the cognitive element of cognitive behavioural therapy?

Answer 1

• client and therapist work together to identify the client’s problems
• they then identify goals for the therapy and put together a plan to achieve them
• identify where there might be negative or irrational thoughts which will benefit from challenge

Question 2

what is the behavioural element of cognitive behavioural therapy?

Answer 2

• working to change the irrational and negative thoughts an put into place more effective behaviours

Question 3

explain Beck’s cognitive therapy.

Answer 3

• identify automatic thoughts about the world, the self and the future (cognitive triad)
• then challenge these thoughts
• aim = to help clients test the reality of their negative beliefs = they may be set homework, e.g when someone was nice to them
• they the therapist uses these as evidence to prove that the clients statements are true, e.g. when they say no one is nice to them

Question 4

explain Ellis’ rational emotive behaviour therapy.

Answer 4

• rational emotive behaviour therapy extends the ABC model to ABCDE model
• D = dispute and E = effect
• REBT = identity and dispute irrational thoughts
• e.g. client says that they are unlucky = therapist would identify these as examples of utopianism and challenge this irrational belief

Question 5

what is behavioural activation.

Answer 5

• as individual become depressed they tend to increasingly avoid difficult situations and become isolated = maintains or worsens symptoms
• behavioural activations = working with depressed individuals to gradually decrease avoidance and isolation, and increase engagement in activities that have been shown to improve moods
• therapist aims to reinforce such activity

Question 6

what are the two methods of disputing that Ellis identified?

Answer 6

• logical argument = involves disputing whether the negative thought logically follows from the facts
• empirical argument = involves disputing whether there is actual evidence to support negative belief

Question 7

what is the evidence strength for CBT?

Answer 7

• March et al compared CBT to antidepressant drugs and a combination of both when treating 327 depressed adolescents
• 36 weeks = 81% of CBT group, 81% of antidepressant group and 86% of combo had significanty improved

Question 8

what is the limitation of CBT for diverse clients?

Answer 8

• lack of effectiveness for sever causes and clients with learning disabilities
• some severe cases = cannot motivate themselves to engage in cognitive work of CBT and may find it difficult to pay attention
• complex rational thinking involved = not suitable for people with learning disabilities
• Sturmey = any psychotherapy = not suitable

Question 9

what is a limitation of CBT with relapse rates?

Answer 9

• high relapse rates
• Ali et al = 439 clients every month for 12 months (CBT course) 42% relapsed within six months of ending treatment and 53% within a year
• no long term effectiveness