Evaluation

• Evaluation

  1. Research support
  2. Therapist competence
  3. Individual differences
  4. Empowerment
  5. Cause and effect
• Evaluation - Research support

  • Highly effective in treating depression + anxiety-related problems
  • Can be as effective as some anti-depressant drugs - Jarrett et al (1999)
  • Found no difference in CBT when compared with a slightly different kind of anti-depressant drug
• Evaluation - Therapist Competence

  • Ability to structure sessions, plan + review assignments, application of relaxation skills, ability to engage + foster good therapeutic relations
  • David + Avelino (2003) - found CBT has the highest overall success rate of all therapies
  • However, Kuyken + Tsivikos (2009) suggested that as much as 15% of the effectiveness of CBT may be attributable to the competence of the therapist - may be effective due to the ability of the therapist more than the therapy itself
• Evaluation - Individual differences

  • CBT may not be appropriate for individuals who have high levels of irrational beliefs or beliefs that are resistant to change - e.g. divorce
  • Simon et al (1995) - CBT has limited use where mental illness is caused by a real-life stressors
  • treats the symptoms, not the cause - can lead to repressed emotions
• Evaluation - Empowerment

  • Allows patients to develop their own coping strategies + feel in control
  • Popular for people who couldn't cope with the determinist principles of their approaches
• Evaluation - Cause and effect

  • Depressed people do experience many negative thoughts
  • BUT do the negative thoughts lead to depression, or does the depression lead to the negative thoughts
  • Lewisohn (1987) - No relationship between negative thoughts and irrational beliefs and future depression