CBT as treatment for depression

What is CBT

Evidence based therapy that offers tools to cope with thinking patterns associated with depression by identifying triggers to break the cycle

Thinking patterns seen in individuals with depression

• All or nothing thinking

• Catastrophising

• Crystal ball thinking

• Overgeneralisation

• Negative mental filter

• Disqualifying the positive

• Jumping to conclusions

• Magnification + minimisation

• Emotional reasoning

• ‘should’ statements

• Labelling and mislabelling

• Personalisation

How long does CBT last

About 6 50 min sessions, finishes with review

What is involved in the first session

• Contracting, setting the scene and expectations

• Discussing ethical issues like confidentiality and privacy

• Covering homework to help overcome faulty thinking

What is the downward arrow technique

• Investigate automatic negative thoughts

• Breaking down thoughts to uncover core beliefs

• Evidence found that the negative belief is untrue

Supporting evidence

• Kuyken et al. 2008: CBT was more effective in preventing relapse and improving quality of life than antidepressants

• Williams et al. 2013: CBT alone and when combined with other treatment was successful

  • Shows psychotherapy is successful, not that drug based therapy isn’t

Contradictory evidence

• Beltman et al. 2010: CBT was as effective as other psychological treatments but not more effective

• Corry + Andrews 2004: Drug therapy and CBT had similar effects on depression

• Chan et al. 2006: Drug therapy could be a useful addition to CBT and a combination was more effective than CBT as a standalone