CBT - Addiction

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy identifies and changes cognitive biases and learning new ways to cope with what causes addictive behaviour
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy uses an ABCDEF chart that searches for links between events, beliefs and consequences
• Disputing Techniques:

  1. Logical (does it make sense...)
  2. Empirical (any evidence...)
  3. Pragmatic (how useful...)
• Behavioural Techniques are used where addicts are encouraged to carry out trial experiments in the real world to reduce their addiction
• Behavioural Techniques:

  1. Assertiveness Training
  2. Social Skills Training (SST)
• Assertiveness Training

  Addicts are encouraged to confront situations that cause stress in a rational way e.g. gamblers may be asked to lists a casino and restrain from betting
• Social Skills Training (SST)

  To help addicts deal with anxiety in social situations and refuse alcohol in order to avoid embarrassment
• Evaluation for CBT - Addiction

  (P) Supporting research evidence

  (E) Petri (2006)

  (E) recruited gamblers into either control or treatment group and found the treatment group were gambling significantly less than the control group up to 12 months after therapy finished

  (L) suggesting CBT is successful at reducing gambling behaviours

  + Cowlishaw et al found after 9-12 months there was no significant differences suggesting mixed evidence, weakening treatment
• Evaluation for drug therapy - Addiction

  (P) lack of treatment adherence

  (E) Cujipers found the drop out rates in CBT treatment groups can be up to 5 times than other therapies

  (E) commitment to homework tasks reduces over time even if clients continue in treatment

  (L) suggesting CBT may not be an effective long term strategy because clients find it too challenging

  + CBT is only appropriate for addicts who are really motivated to change their behaviour
• Evaluation for drug therapy - Addiction

  (P) reductionist

  (E) only focuses on changing internal mental processes in its treament

  (E) does not asses or manage any biological factors (decreased D2 receptors) which also increase vulnerability to developing and maintaining addiction

  (L) suggesting an interactionist approach is best where addicts are offered both CBT and drug therapy