Evaluation of CBT

• Briefly state 2 strengths of CBT?

  • Treats cause of depression
  • research to support its effectiveness
• give one strength of CBT?

  Treats cause of the depression (assuming we agree that negative thoughts cause depression). Goes BEYOND just treating the symptoms as anti-depressant drugs would do alone

  Now one of the 1st treatment options for depression within the NHS
• Give research which supports effectiveness of CBT?

  March 2007

  -compared effects of CBT and antidepressant drugs alone and then using a combo of the 2 all for a 36 week period
• what were the results of the March 2007 research?


  81% improvement drugs alone

  81% improvement CBT alone

  86% improvement combination
• what do the results from the March 2007 research suggest?

  CBT is as effective as drug treatments and even more effective if a combination is used
• briefly state 4 limitatioins of CBT?

  1. not suitable for all patients
  2. patient-therapist relationship
  3. over emphasis on cognitions
  4. many patients want to explore their past
• give one limitation of CBT?

  NOT SUITABLE FOR ALL PATIENTS:

  • Required to talk about thoughts- hard for some
  • Also a person needs to be committed and motivated to complete homework. Not all patients engage with this
• give one limitation of CBT?

  PATIENT-THERAPIST RELATIONSHIP

  • Essential this is right if not treatment becomes ineffective
  • Luborksy reviewed SB,CBT,REBT and found differences between the efficacy of the treatment is small but it was the opportunity to talk to someone that was CRUCIAL
• give one limitation of CBT?

  OVER EMPHASIS ON COGNITIONS

  • because of the huge emphasis on cognitions there may be a risk of minimising other important circumstances that may contribute to the depression
  • using CBT techniques inappropriately could demotivate someone from changing situational factors which could be crucial in treating their depression
• give one limitation of CBT?

  MANY PATIENTS WANT TO EXPLORE THEIR PAST::

  -this is not the rational behind CBT , it aims to focus on the present and future

  -many people struggle with this as they want to link their depression back to childhood expereicnes

  • they can find the 'present-focus' very FRUSTRATING