treating depression (cognitive)

• What is CBT?

  - most commonly used psychological treatment for depression

  - begins w an assessment in which patient & therapist clarify patient's problems

  - identify goal & put together a plan

  - therapist will help to challenge irrational or negative thoughts

  - CBT then involves working to change those thoughts & put more effective behaviours into place, some rely on techniques from Beck & Ellis' theory
• What happens to the ABC model involving the treatment of depression?

  Extended go ABCDE - irrational beliefs r disputed & resulting effect is a reduction in negative thinking
• How does the therapist challenge the patients' belief?

  argues w patient using logical arguments (does the thought make sense) & empirical arguments (is there evidence for the thought)
• How may the therapist also treat the patient?

  Behaviour activation - encourage patient to engage in once enjoyable activities
• What is one strength for cognitive treatments of depression?

  - evidence for effectiveness

  - March et al. compared CBT, antidepressants & combination treatments of 327 adolescents

  - at 36 weeks -> 81% of CBT, 81% of antidepressants & 86% combination showed significant improvements

  - CBT just as effective as other treatments

  - often first choice of treatment by NHS given its success & short session commitment
• What is one limitation of CBT?

  - high relapse rates

  - Ali et al. assessed depression in 439 clients every month for a year following course of CBT

  - 42% of patients relapsed into depression within 6 months & 53% relapsed within a yr

  - shows CBT may not b effective long term treatment & may have to b periodically repeated