TREATING DEPRESSION

• What is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)?

  Aims to identify and challenge the irrational beliefs that cause depression so behaviour changes
• What did Ellis' add onto the ABC model as a CBT technique?

  Dispute - challenging the irrational beliefs and thoughts

  Exchange - Exchanging old beliefs and thoughts for new, rational and balanced ones
• how does a therapist dispute irrational beliefs?

  asking the patient to examine if the belief really makes sense

  asking if they can prove it

  emphasising the belief is not helpful
• What is the "client as the scientist"?

  the patients are often given homework to test the reality of their belief
• What is behavioural activation?

  working with depressed individuals to gradually decrease their avoidance and isolation of activities
• Strengths of CBT

  supporting evidence - March et al found after 36 weeks that 81% of people improved

  more Useful when used alongside drugs - March et al found 81% of patients with antidepressants improved but 86% with Antidepressants and CBT
• limitations of CBT

  not suitable for all patients - many might struggle to leave the house to even get to CBT

  High relapse rates - 42% relapsed within 6 months (Ali et al)