Cognitive Treatments for Depression

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)


  Aims to replace irrational thoughts with more rational thoughts
• Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT)


  A specific form of CBT designed by Ellis
• ABC Model used to challenge irrational thoughts


  1. D - Disputing irrational thoughts

  2. E - Effects of disputing irrational thoughts

  3. F - New feelings that are produced
• Cognitive treatments for depression


  • Clients are given homework to challenge irrational beliefs and put rational beliefs into practice
  • Behaviour activation - encouraging clients to participate in physical activities that they used to enjoy
  • Unconditional positive regard - offering respect and acceptance regardless of what the client says
• Homework tasks can include a variety of different challenges which encourage the patient to move outside of their comfort zone. These tasks are often designed to provide evidence against an irrational thought or statement made by the patient.

  Next time the patient makes these claims, the therapist can ‘dispute’ their statement by asking them to consider the homework task.
• Behaviour activation tasks are set to encourage a patient to become more active – this can be to go for a long walk, participate in a sport, join a team, etc. Often these tasks are tailored to reintroduce a pastime which the patient used to enjoy but has lost interest in / doesn't have the motivation to continue.
• Strengths of cognitive treatments for depression


  • Research support - e.g. Ellis (1957) claimed a 90% success rate for REBT, taking an average of 27 sessions to complete the treatment
  • Cuijpers et al. (2013) of 75 studies found CBT was superior to no treatment
  • this means it is effective and increases quality of life for depressed patients
• Limitations of cognitive treatments for depression


  • Individual differences - less successful for those who lack insight into their emotions and motivations, e.g. children and people with learning difficulties
  • Alternative treatments - may be more effective when used with antidepressant medication. waiting lists for CBT is usually 6 months and so antidepressants can lift the mood of the patient enough so when they get treatment they are able to talk about their emotions