cognitive approach to TREATING depression

what is the most common tool for treating depression?

CBT

aswell as the cognitive approach , what toehr approach does CBT cover ?

behaviourist elements

explain the cognitive element of CBT

• assessment done by client and therapist to mark out issues

• together identify goals for the therapy and devise a plan to achieve this

• Central tasks is to identify negative or irrational thoughts that will benefit from being challenged

explain the behaviour element in CBT

• involves working to change negative and irrational thoughts and put effective behaviours into place

what is the idea behind Becks cognitive therapy ?

to identify automatic thoughts about the world , self and future - make up the negative triad

what is the central component of Becks cognitive therapy ?

once identifying Irrational thoughts - they are challenged

other than challenging the irrational thoughts , what else does cognitive therapy aim to do ?

test the reality of the negative beliefs

How would cognitive therapy set out to test the reality you negative thoughts ?

set out homework eg tally how many times someone is nice to them

• if client says that no one likes them , the therapist can use this as evidence against this

what does REBT extent Ellis’ ABC model to ? what does it stand for

ABCDE

D - dispute

E - effect

what is the central technique of REBT?

identify and dispute irrational thoughts

How would REBT work with someone who believes that they are unlucky?

• therapist identifies this as examples of utopianism and challenge this - involves an argument

what is the intended EFFECT of disputing the irrational belief ?

to break the link between negative life events and depression

what did Ellis identify as different methods of disputing ?

empirical argument - disputes whether there is actual evidence to support the negative belief

logical argument - involves disputes whether the negative thought follows logically from the facts

explain behavioural activation ?

• depressive people tend to avoid difficult situations and become isolated , worsens symptoms

• behavioural activation works with individuals with depression to gradual decrease their avoidance and isolation , increase engagement in activities that boost mood eg exercise

what is a strength of CBT ?

• large amount of evidence supporting effectiveness in treatment

• March et al - compared CBT to antidepressants and also a combination of CBT with antidepressants

• treated 327 adolescents with depression

• after 36 weeks - all groups improved

• 81% of CBT group ,

• 81% antidepressants group

• 86% CBT+drugs

• CBT just as effective as drugs

• brief session 6-12

• cost effective

• CBT seen as first choice for treatment in NHS

• reliable

what is a weakness of CBT ?

• reduced effectiveness in those with trauma experience

• depression and trauma linked

• Waldron studied 318 adolescents diagnosed with major depressive disorder

• after 36 weeks on CBT , antidepressants and combinations of both

• those with history of trauma took longer to improve than those without

• CBT less effective for trauma experienced people