A01 Cognitive Treatments Of Depression

• Cognitive behaviour therapy


  CBT most commonly used psychological treatment for depression
• Beginnings of CBT


  CBT begins with an assessment in which the patient and cognitive behaviour therapist work together to clarify the patient's problems: jointly identify goals for the therapy and put a plan together to achieve them
• Central task


  To identify where there might be negative/irrational thoughts and change them and put more effective behaviours into place. Most therapists in CBT use both Ellis's and Beck's techniques
• CBT: Beck's cognitive therapy

  CBT involves finding negative thoughts like Beck's negative Triad. Cognitive therapy challenges these thoughts directly and aims to help patients test the reality of their negative beliefs.
• Role of the patient

  Patient told to record an event they enjoyed/when people were nice to them ('the patient as scientist') investigating the reality of their negative beliefs in the way a scientist would
• CBT: Ellis's rational emotive behaviour therapy (REBT)


  REBT extends the ABC model to an ABCDE model. D stands for dispute and E stands for effect. Central technique of REBT is to identify and dispute irrational thoughts
• Dispute and effect explained

  Therapist disputing/arguing with patient would involve a vigorous argument. The intended effect is to change the irrational beliefs and so, break the link between negative life events and depression
• Different types of argument

  Empirical argument (whether there is evidence) and logical evidence
• Behavioural activation


  CBT therapist may encourage depressed patient to be more active and engage in enjoyable activities