Cognitive Behaviour Therapy

• March et al (2007) found that CBT was as effective as antidepressants, in treating depression.
• March et al (2007) examined 327 adolescents with a diagnosis of depression and looked at the effectiveness of CBT, antidepressants and a combination of CBT plus antidepressants.
• March et al (2007) found after 36 weeks, 81% of the antidepressant group and 81% of the CBT group had significantly improved, demonstrating the effectiveness of CBT in treating depression.
• In March et al (2007) 86% of the CBT plus antidepressant group had significantly improved, suggesting that a combination of both treatments may be more effective.
• One issue with CBT is that it requires motivation, which patients with depression may lack.
• Patients with severe depression may not engage with CBT or even attend the sessions.
• Alternate treatments, for example antidepressants, do not require the same level of motivation and maybe more effective.
• CBT has been criticised for its overemphasis on the role of cognitions.
• CBT therefore ignores other factors or circumstances that might contribute to a person’s depression.
• Ali et al (2017) assessed depression in 439 patients for a 12-month period following a course of CBT.
• Ali et al (2017) found that 42% of patients relapsed into depression within six months after a course of CBT.
• Ali et al (2017) suggest that CBT may need to be repeated periodically for long-term success.
• Yrondi et al (2015) found that depressed people rated CBT as their least preferred method of psychological therapy.