The cognitive approach to treating depression

• Types of disputing:

  • Logical - self defeating beliefs don't follow logically from the info available
  • Empirical - self defeating beliefs may not be consistent with reality
  • Pragmatic - emphasises the lack of usefulness of self defeating beliefs
• CBT AO3 :

  • ✅ Research support
  • ❌ Individual differences
  • ✅ Support for behavioural activation
  • ❌ Other treatments
  • ❌ Expensive
• CBT AO3 :

  • ✅ Research support - Ellis claimed a 90% success rate with an average of 27 sessions. Factors relating to the therapist & client's commitment affected this
  • ❌ Individual differences - less suitable for people with high levels of irrational beliefs or stress
  • ✅ Support for behavioural activation - benefits of exercise on depression. Pts who exercised for 6 months had lower relapse rates than antidepressants
  • ❌ Other treatments - antidepressants are cheaper & require less commitment
  • ❌ Expensive - takes 27 sessions on average
• Cognitive Behavioural therapy for treating Depression:

  • Based on Ellis' ABC model which was extended to ABCDEF :
  • Disputing irrational thoughts & beliefs
  • Effects of disputing
  • Feelings that are produced
  • Clients are given homework & encouraged to be more active.
  • Therapists give unconditional positive regard to facilitate a change in behaviour & attitudes