TREATMENT TO DEPRESSION EVAL:

• STRENGTH

  • Evidence supporting its effectiveness for treating depression
  • Studies show that CBT works
  • IE March et al 2007 compared CBT to antidepressant drugs and to a combination of both treatments when treating 327 depressed adolescents
  • After 36 weeks 81% of the CBT group and antidepressants group 86% of the CBT + antidepressants group were significantly improved
  • CBT was as effective used on its own and more so when used alongside antidepressants
  • CBT is brief therapy requiring 6-12 sessions its cost-effective

  CBT is seen as the 1st choice of treatment in public health care systems ie NHS
• • X
  • Lack of effectiveness for severe cases and for clients with learning disabilities
  • Some cases depression can be so severe that clients cannot motivate themselves to engage with the cognitive work of CBT
  • May not be able to pay attention to whats happening in session
  • Likely that the complex rational thinking involved in CBT makes it unsuitable for treating depression in clients with learning disabilities
  • Sturmey 2005 suggests that any form of psychotherapy isn't suitable for those with learning disabilities include CBT

  May only be appropriate for a specific range of people with depression
• COUNTERPOINT:

  • Although the conventional wisdom has been that CBT is unsuitable for very depressed people and for clients with learning disabilities, there is now some more recent evidence that challenges this
  • A review by Lewis and Lewis (2016) concluded that CBT was as effective as antidepressant drugs and behavioural therapies for severe depression
  • Another review by Taylor et al. (2008) concluded that, when used appropriately, CBT is effective for people with learning disabilities.

  This means that CBT may be suitable for a wider range of people than was once thought.