Treating Depression

• (AO1) What does the cognitive treatment (approach) for depression assume?

  Faulty thinking/thought process makes a person vulnerable to depression
• (AO1)

  What is the overall aim of CBT?

  Overall aim = to replace the negative thoughts with more positive/rational ones
• (AO1) What are the various components to CBT?

  Initial assessment through relationship building - 12 weeks, 1 hour a week

  
  

  Goal setting e.g. brushing teeth

  
  

  Identifying negative/irrational thoughts (cognitive element) + challenging them (behavioural element) using either: Beck's Cognitive Therapy OR Ellis's REBT - Disputing thoughts - useful, logical, rational

  
  

  Homework - thought catching 'scientist' = trying to discover their own mind. If feel low - write down thoughts.
• (AO3) Give a strength of cognitive approach to treating depression

  POINT: Research evidence demonstrates CBT's effectiveness in treating depression

  
  

  EVIDENCE: March et al 2007 found that CBT was equally effective as antidepressants in treating depression. Examined 327 adolescents with a diagnosis of depression and looked at the effectiveness of CBT, antidepressants and then both. After 36 weeks, 81% of antidepressants group and 81% of CBT group significantly improved. However, 86% of the CBT with antidepressants group significantly improved

  
  

  EVALUATE: A combination, taking an interactionist approach, may be more effective
• (AO3) Give a limitation of cognitive approach to treating depression

  POINT: CBT requires motivation, questions treatment's appropriateness.

  
  

  EVIDENCE: Patients with severe depression may not engage with CBT or even attend the sessions = the treatment will be ineffective. Alternatives e.g. antidepressants do not require the same level of motivation = more effective.

  
  

  EVALUATE: Poses a problem for CBT, cannot be used as a sole treatment for severely depressed patients who lack motivation to attend therapy to speak about their depression.
• (AO3) Give another limitation of the cognitive approach to treating depression

  POINT: CBT has been criticised for its overemphasis on the role of cognitions as the primary cause of depression

  
  

  EVIDENCE: Psychologists have criticised CBT for not taking into account other factors such as social circumstances which might contribute to a person's depression (e.g. domestic abuse)

  
  

  EVALUATE: CBT would be ineffective in treating these patients until circumstances have changed