Treatment - CBT

• Aim

  • to assess problems, set goals and plans to achieve
  • Identify dangerous, irrational or negative thoughts
  • Challenge and change these thoughts and put healthier behaviours in place
  • IDENTIFY-CHALLENGE-REPLACE
• Strength - its effectiveness

  • March et al (2007) compared the effects of CBT to antidepressants
  • 327 adults were put into three groups (CBT, antidepressants, both)
  • After 36 weeks, 81% of the antidepressants group and 86% of the antidepressants and CBT group were significantly improves
  • Shows its especially effective with antidepressants
  • However, its not 100% effective
• Weakness - CBT may not work with severe cases

  • sometimes cases are so severe that patients cannot motivate themselves to go along to meetings, or engage with hard cognitive work
  • However, can be worked around by using antidepressants, then CBT when they’re a bit better
  • CBT cant be solely relied on as a treatment
• Strength/weakness - success may be due to therapist-patient relationship

  • Rosenzweig (1936) suggested that the differences between types of therapy may be very small (eg, CBT and systematic desensitisation)
  • Every therapy has a patient-therapist relationship
  • May be quality of relationship rather than any particular technique