cognitive behavioural therapy

• cognitive behavioural therapy - a method for treating mental disorder based on both cognitive and behavioural techniques
• CBT has 2 key elements:

  1. the cognitive element - aims to change the irrational thinking underlying addictions
  2. the behavioural element - aims to help a client learn to avoid high-risk situations or to cope better in them if they cannot be avoided
• CBT works by:

  
  

  1. focus on present thoughts and beliefs

  2. awareness of how thoughts affect behaviour

  3. challenging and comparing thoughts

  4. encourages change of thinking
• functional analysis - client and therapist working together to identify high-risk situation

  try to work out distorted thoughts and irrational belief which trigger the cravings of the clients

  the client may keep a thoughts diary

  functional analysis is an ongoing process which is useful later in therapy as well as at the beginning
• cognitive restructuring - distorted cognitions are confronted and challenged by the therapist

  the client might not even be aware of how their irrational thinking affects their behaviour

  the therapist forces the client to rethink their irrational beliefs

  important that the client 'owns' their awareness
• behaviour change - clients learn new skills that will replace their main way of coping

  the therapist will provide opportunities for the client to practice these skills in a safe environment
• relapse prevention - client learns techniques to help avoid relapse

  it is important to identify the cues which trigger the addictive behaviour in a high risk situation

  it is also important for the client to understand that the situation doesnt make them drink - to believe this is a distorted way of thinking
• eval + research evidence supports that CBT is effective in treating drug addiction e.g MAGILL and RAYs study
• eval + relapse prevention - cbt can effectively prevent relapse for those who stick with therapy
• eval -- research evidence have limited long term benefits e.g COWLISHAW et al study - cbt isnt effective after 12 months only up to 3 months
• eval -- CBT is too complex and uses a wide variety of different techniques, so it is difficult to know which techniques are most effective