The cognitive approach to treating depression: cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), including challenging irrational thoughts
CBT is a talking therapy that treats depression by helping patients identify and challenge the negative, distorted thoughts that keep them feeling low. It combines changing unhelpful thinking with changing unhelpful behaviour.
Real World
The NHS offers CBT as a first-line treatment for mild to moderate depression. A patient who thinks 'I always fail' would work with their therapist to examine evidence for and against that belief, replacing it with a more balanced thought like 'I sometimes struggle, but I have also succeeded.'
Exam Focus
For 'evaluate' questions, contrast CBT's effectiveness with drug therapy and discuss whether addressing symptoms rather than causes is a limitation.
Evaluation Scaffold
A four-step framework for high-quality evaluation. Use this for 'assess', 'evaluate', and 'to what extent' questions.
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