✏️The cognitive approach to treating depression
The most common way of treating depression is a type of therapy called cognitive behavioural
therapy, or CBT. It is a cognitive approach to treatment, but it also includes some behavioural
aspects. The cognitive aspects involve challenging irrational thoughts, and the behavioural aspects
include changing behaviour so it is more effective. The client and therapist work together to change
the client's thoughts and behaviour. Beck said that negative thoughts about the self, the world and
the future must be identified and challenged. The client should take an active role in their
treatment. The client is the scientist in their treatment and should test the reality of their irrational
beliefs. The clients might be set homework by their therapist, such as recording certain events.
Therapists can use this homework to help the client in their sessions.
Ellis's REBT therapy turns the ABC model into an ABCDE model. D stands for disputing irrational
beliefs and E stands for effect, meaning the effects of the therapy should show. Challenging
irrational thoughts is a big part of CBT. A client might say how they feel like their life is unfair, and an
REBT therapist might say that this is utopianism and challenge these thoughts. Therapists might use
two arguments to challenge these. An empirical argument is disputing whether there is evidence to
support these beliefs, and a logical argument is disputing whether the negative thought follows from
the facts. As people become depressed, they tend to avoid difficult situations, which can make
symptoms worse. Behavioural activation is often used to decrease clients' avoidance and isolation
and increase activities which will increase their mood such as exercising or going out to dinner.
A strength of CBT is that there is evidence for its effectiveness. One researcher compared the effects
of people who took anti-depressants against people who took CBT, and a third group did a
combination. After 36 weeks 81% of the CBT group, 81% of the anti-depressants group and 86% of
the combination group found that their mood had significantly improved. This means that there is
evidence to show that CBT is a good alternative to anti-depressants and has the same or similar
results.
A limitation is that there is limited suitability for diverse clients. When clients are severely
depressed, people might not be able to motivate themselves to come to CBT sessions. This means
that any form of psychotherapy isn't suitable for people with learning difficulties. Therefore CBT
might only be suitable for certain types of clients.
However, a counterpoint is that there is evidence that challenges this. Two researchers found that
CBT is just as effective as other treatments for clients with severe depression. Another researcher
found that CBT can be very effective for people with learning difficulties. This means that CBT has a
lot more applications than originally thought.
A limitation is that CBT has high relapse rates. Some earlier studies have looked at long-term
effectiveness, and some recent studies have found that relapse is common in people who did CBT.
One researcher assessed the level of depression for 12 months after people took CBT, and found
that 42% relapsed within 6 months, and 53% relapsed within a year. This means that CBT might need
to be repeated periodically for it to be effective.
The most common way of treating depression is a type of therapy called cognitive behavioural
therapy, or CBT. It is a cognitive approach to treatment, but it also includes some behavioural
aspects. The cognitive aspects involve challenging irrational thoughts, and the behavioural aspects
include changing behaviour so it is more effective. The client and therapist work together to change
the client's thoughts and behaviour. Beck said that negative thoughts about the self, the world and
the future must be identified and challenged. The client should take an active role in their
treatment. The client is the scientist in their treatment and should test the reality of their irrational
beliefs. The clients might be set homework by their therapist, such as recording certain events.
Therapists can use this homework to help the client in their sessions.
Ellis's REBT therapy turns the ABC model into an ABCDE model. D stands for disputing irrational
beliefs and E stands for effect, meaning the effects of the therapy should show. Challenging
irrational thoughts is a big part of CBT. A client might say how they feel like their life is unfair, and an
REBT therapist might say that this is utopianism and challenge these thoughts. Therapists might use
two arguments to challenge these. An empirical argument is disputing whether there is evidence to
support these beliefs, and a logical argument is disputing whether the negative thought follows from
the facts. As people become depressed, they tend to avoid difficult situations, which can make
symptoms worse. Behavioural activation is often used to decrease clients' avoidance and isolation
and increase activities which will increase their mood such as exercising or going out to dinner.
A strength of CBT is that there is evidence for its effectiveness. One researcher compared the effects
of people who took anti-depressants against people who took CBT, and a third group did a
combination. After 36 weeks 81% of the CBT group, 81% of the anti-depressants group and 86% of
the combination group found that their mood had significantly improved. This means that there is
evidence to show that CBT is a good alternative to anti-depressants and has the same or similar
results.
A limitation is that there is limited suitability for diverse clients. When clients are severely
depressed, people might not be able to motivate themselves to come to CBT sessions. This means
that any form of psychotherapy isn't suitable for people with learning difficulties. Therefore CBT
might only be suitable for certain types of clients.
However, a counterpoint is that there is evidence that challenges this. Two researchers found that
CBT is just as effective as other treatments for clients with severe depression. Another researcher
found that CBT can be very effective for people with learning difficulties. This means that CBT has a
lot more applications than originally thought.
A limitation is that CBT has high relapse rates. Some earlier studies have looked at long-term
effectiveness, and some recent studies have found that relapse is common in people who did CBT.
One researcher assessed the level of depression for 12 months after people took CBT, and found
that 42% relapsed within 6 months, and 53% relapsed within a year. This means that CBT might need
to be repeated periodically for it to be effective.
