the cognitive approach to treating depression

define cognitive behavioural therapy

a combination of cognitive therapy (a way of changing maladaptive thoughts and beliefs) and behavioural therapy (a way of changing behaviour in response to these thoughts and beliefs)

define irrational thinking

• rational thinking is flexible and realistic, where beliefs are based on fact and logic

• Irrational thinking is rigid and unrealistic and lacks internal consistency

who came up with cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT)

Ellis

what letters did Ellis use for cognitive behaviour therapy? and what did they stand for? example?

Letter	Meaning	What it means	Example
A	Activating event	Something happens	You get a C in a Psychology test
B	Beliefs	What you think/believe about what happened	“I’m terrible at Psychology. I MUST get an A or I’m a failure.”
C	Consequences	The emotional and behavioural consequences of your belief	You feel very anxious and upset and avoid revising
D	Disputation	Challenge the irrational belief	“Why MUST you get an A? Does one C really mean you’re a failure?”
E	Effective new belief	Replace the irrational belief with a rational one	“I’d like to get an A, but I don’t have to. One C doesn’t define my ability.”
F	New feelings	The healthier emotional/behavioural response	You feel disappointed but motivated to improve and revise

what is a key issue with cognitive behaviour therapy?

remember it's not activating events that cause unproductive consequences - it is beliefs that lead to self-defeating consequences

what does REBT focus on? (Ellis CBT)

challenging and disputing the irrational thoughts/beliefs and replace them with effective, rational beliefs

what is REBT?

a form of cognitive behavioural therapy used by Ellis to help treat depression

what does REBT stand for?

R- rational

E - emotive

B - behavioural

T - therapy

why might patients have ‘homework’ form CBT to help treat depression?

• Clients often asked to complete assignments between therapy sessions

• Might include asking someone out on a date if they had previously been afraid to do so out of fear or rejection

• Homework is vital in testing irrational beliefs against reality and putting new rational beliefs into practice

what is behavioural activation? (CBT treating depression)

• CBT encourages depressed clients to become more active and engage in pleasurable activities

• Based on the idea that activity provides rewards that counteract depression

• Depression often causes people to stop activities they previously enjoyed

• Therapist and client identify pleasurable activities and address cognitive obstacles to participation

what is unconditional positive regard? (CBT to treat depression)?

• Ellis recognised that successful therapy requires convincing clients of their value as human beings

• Feeling worthless makes clients less willing to change their beliefs and behaviour

• Therapist shows respect and appreciation regardless of what the client says or does, facilitating changes in beliefs and attitudes