Treatment

• CBT - cognitive behavioural therapy

  The goal of CBT is to challenge and restructure maladapative ways of thinking. It is the most commonly used psychological technique for depression.

  REBT is a form of CBT which is developed by Ellis, and challenges and disputes irrational beliefs and then replaces them with more rational ones.
• Ellis extended ABC model

  • A - activating event
  • B - beliefs about events
  • C - consequence on emotions and behaviour
  • D - disputing and arguing against irrational thoughts
  • E - exchange, effective new beliefs replace irrational ones
  • F - new feelings are produced

  Patients record A, B and C. Clients use a diary to record this. They then work with a therapist to identify faulty thinking and challenge it. The therapist teaches thought substitution and then the client will test out their new beliefs in social situations.

  UP TO 15 WEEKS!
• A03 - Supporting evidence

  • David et al
  • 170 patients with major depression were treated with 14 weeks of REBT and had better treatment outcomes than those treated with an antidepressant.
• A03- Strength

  • compared to drugs, it has no side effects and it teaches clients new skills that they can then use in future situations.
  • HOWEVER, it may not be suitable for those who have poor verbal skills or are unable to talk about their inner feelings openly
• A03 - Strength

  • CBT takes a lot shorter than psychoanalysis (2-5 years), which is another proposed way of treating depression
  • This therefore makes it less costly, and has a larger economic benefit as it can treat larger numbers of depression in society for a lower cost.
• A03 - Supporting evidence

  • Embling
  • looked at whether CBT Is better than drug therapy
  • an opportunity sample of 38 patients aged 19-65 years were used as a treatment group and compared to a control group of 19 patients
  • both groups were on anti depressant but the treatment group also had 12 sessions of CBT
  • THUS CBT combined with drug therapy is more effective than drug therapy alone. The study also indicates that certain personalities will benefit more from treatment as clients with an internal locus of control responded better than those who were external.