Treatments For Depression AO3

Question 1

✅ What evidence supports the effectiveness of CBT in treating depression?

Answer 1

Research by March et al. (2007) compared the effectiveness of CBT, antidepressant drugs, and a combination of both in treating depression among 327 adolescents. After 36 weeks, 81% of the CBT group, 81% of the antidepressant group, and 86% of the combined group showed significant improvement. This demonstrates that CBT is as effective as medication, and that a combination of both treatments may be the most effective.

Question 2

✅How does CBT offer a long-term solution for depression compared to drug therapy?

Answer 2

David et al. (2008) studied 170 clients with depression who were treated with a 14-week course of Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT), a type of CBT. Six months after the course, those who received REBT showed better outcomes than those who had only received drug therapy. This suggests that CBT provides better long-term benefits than medication alone.

Question 3

❌ What is the role of the therapist-client relationship in CBT’s success?

Answer 3

Rosenzweig (1936) argued that the success of therapy may depend more on the therapist-client relationship than on the specific therapy used. For CBT to be effective, the therapist must provide a supportive, safe environment for clients to discuss personal issues, which is crucial for positive outcomes.

Question 4

❌ Why does CBT’s focus on cognition potentially limit its effectiveness?

Answer 4

CBT heavily focuses on changing clients’ thoughts, which may ignore external factors affecting their depression, such as poverty, relationship issues, or substance abuse. This focus may demotivate clients from making necessary changes to their environment that could improve their mental health.