Treatments for depression

• Cognitive behavioural therapy


  Changing the negative thoughts that fuel depression
• Cognitive element of CBT


  Client and therapist assess problems and identify goals
• Behavioural element of CBT

  Working to test and challenge beliefs
• Beck's cognitive therapy

  Client identifies automatic thoughts and is given homework to record times that these thoughts are challenged - the therapist can then use this to provide evidence that the statements are incorrect
• Ellis' rational emotive behavioural therapy

  Challenges the clients irrational thoughts and replaces them with rational ones

  - uses logical and empirical dispute to challenge irrational beliefs
• evaluation of cognitive behavioural therapy

  - march et al found that CBT is as effective as drug therapy but has no side effects

  - cost effective - usually only requires 6-12 sessions and is widely used by the NHS

  - requires motivation so people with severe depression may not engage
• Ellis’ expansion on the ABC model

  D - dispute

  E - effect