Cognitive approach to treating

• What is the most commonly used psychological treatment for depression ?

  Cognitive behaviour therapy
• Limitations of CBT

  • Some cases of depression can be so severe that patients cannot motivate themselves to engage with the hard cognitive work of CBT so therefore CBT cannot be used as the sole treatment for all cases of depression
  • May be the quality of the therapist-patient relationship that determines success rather than any particular technique that is used
• Strength of CBT

  Large body of evidence to support the effectiveness of CBT - March compared the effects of CBT with antidepressant drugs and a combination of the two in 327 adolescents with a main diagnosis of depression. After 36 weeks 81% of the CBT group, 81% of the antidepressants group and 86% of the CBT plus antidepressants group were significantly improved so CBT emerged as just as effective as medication and helpful alongside medication