AO3

• • Research support: Ellis claimed a 90% success rate for REBT taking an average of 27 sessions to complete the treatment and March et al. (2007) compared the effects of CBT with antidepressant drugs and a combination of the two in 327 adolescents with a main diagnosis of depression. After 36 weeks 81 % of the CBT group, 81 % of the antidepressants group and 86% of the CBT plus antidepressants group were significantly improved.
• Implications for the economy – although expensive initially, the long term effectiveness means people will be less likely to take time off of work
• Weakness – not always effective –

  1. could be due to some clients not putting their revised beliefs into action and therapist competence (which could account for as much as 15% of the variance in effectiveness - Kuyken and Tsivrikos, 2009) 2. Individual differences - Elkin et al (1985)- not suitable for people who are rigid and/or resistant to change. Simons et al (1995)- less suitable where the person’s stress is caused by realistic stressors that therapy cannot resolve
• Ignores environmental factors - CBT fails to address the irrational environments that patients are in and continue to be in beyond treatment e.g. bad marriages. (Simons et al, 1995) CBT less suitable for people in situation of high levels of stress that therapy cannot resolve
• Alternative treatments - drug therapy - Cuijpers et al. (2013) found that CBT is especially effective if it is combined with drug therapy, suggesting that clients who are unable to cope with CBT’s demands may cope better if they have drug therapy, too.