Why does cbt work for depression

If you are struggling with symptoms of depression, our nationwide network of hospitals and wellbeing centres can help you take the first steps on the road to recovery by setting up a tailored treatment plan including CBT sessions. For details of how Priory can provide you with assistance regarding mental health and wellbeing, please call or click here to submit an enquiry form. For professionals looking to make a referral, please click here.

Additional Information. Get in Touch Today. There are many advantages of CBT in depression as given in table 2 Table 2 Advantages of cognitive behavioral therapy in depression. It is used to reduce symptoms of depression as an independent treatment or in combination with medications 2. It is used to modify the underlying schemas or beliefs that maintain the depression 3.

It can be used to address various psychosocial problems, for example, marital discord, job stress which can contribute to the symptoms 4. Reduce the chances of recurrence 5. Increase the adherence to recommended medical treatment.

Number of sessions depends on patient responsiveness. A model for reference is given in table 3 Table 3 The use of cognitive behavioral therapy according to the severity of depression. Table 4 Overview of cognitive behavioral therapy for depression. Mutually agreed on problem definition by therapist and client 2. Goal settings 3. Explaining and familiarizing client with five area model of CBT 4. Application and consolidation of new skills and strategies in therapy sessions and homework sessions to generalize it across situations 7.

Relapse prevention 8. End of the therapy. CBT — Cognitive behavioral therapy. Figure 1. Table 5 Symptoms of depression and associated cognitions. Serial number Symptoms Automatic thoughts 1 Behavioral: lower activity levels I cants do it. It is too much for me 2 Guilt I am letting everybody down 3 Shame What everyone must be thinking about me. Impact on functioning it is important to know the extent and effect of depression on the overall functioning and interpersonal relationships.

Coping strategies Sometimes patients with depression might have adapted a coping strategies which make them feel good for short duration e. Onset of current symptoms Patient's perception about the situation at the onset of symptoms might provide useful information about underlying cognitive distortions. Background information Detailed history of patient is necessary, including patients premorbid personality.

Figure 2. Table 6 Session structure of cognitive behavioral therapy. Starting treatment First treatment interview has mainly four objectives: To establish a warm collaborative therapeutic alliance To list specific problem set and associated goals To psycho-educate patient regarding the cognitive model and vicious cycle that maintains the depression Give the patient idea about further treatment procedures.

CBT can be explained in the following headings Starting treatment Behavioral interventions Working with negative automatic thoughts Ending session. Starting treatment The first treatment interview has four main objectives: To establish a warm, collaborative therapeutic alliance To list specific problems and associated goals, and select a first problem to tackle To educate the patient about the cognitive model, especially the vicious circle that maintains depression To give the patient first-hand experience of the focused, workman-like, empirical style of CBT.

Developing this list at the end of the first session helps in planning treatment goals Introducing cognitive model of depression:- In the first session at least a basic idea about how our cognitions affect our emotions and behavior is taught to the patient.

The data provided by patient can be used to give insight into behaviors Where to start:-Common treatment goal is agreed upon by patient and therapist, therapeutic alliance is of key importance in CBT. Behavioural interventions Reducing ruminations It has been seen that depressed patients spend a significant amount of time and attention focusing on their shortcomings.

Monitoring activities Loss of interest in day to day activities is central to the depression. Planning activities Once the patient learns to self-monitor activities each day is planned in advance. Other important behavioral activities are:- Mindfulness meditation: Helps people stay grounded in the present by keeping away from ruminations Successive approximation: Breaking larger tasks into smaller tasks which are easy to accomplish Visualizing the best part of the day Pleasant activity scheduling.

Working with negative automatic thoughts The main tool for this negative automatic thought record. Thought Record Thought Record — 2. Identifying negative automatic thoughts Patients learn to record upsetting incidents as soon as possible after they occur delay makes it difficult to recall thoughts and feelings accurately. They learn: To identify unpleasant emotions e.

This is important since change is rarely all-or-nothing, and small improvements may otherwise be missed To identify the problem situation. What are alternative views? What are advantages and disadvantages of this way of thinking? What are my thinking biases? Common cognitive distortions are Black— and— white also called all— or— nothing, polarized, or dichotomous thinking : Situations viewed in only two categories instead of on a continuum.

Testing negative automatic thoughts: What can I do now? Ending the treatment CBT is time-limited goal-directed form of therapy. Dysfunctional assumptions identification Consolidating learning blueprint Preparation for the setback.

Dysfunctional assumptions identification Once the patient is able to identify negative automatic thoughts. If such advantages are not recognized and taken into account when new assumptions are formulated, the patient may be reluctant to move forward In what ways is the rule unhelpful?

Perfectionism leads to rewards, but it also undermines satisfaction with achievements and stops people learning from constructive criticism What alternative rule might be more realistic and helpful? This provides a new guideline for living, rather than simply undermining the old system What needs to be done to consolidate the new rule? Consolidating learning blueprint The patient should be able to summarize whatever he has learned throughout the sessions.

The following questions might help to set the framework: How did my problems develop? Preparation for the setback Since depression is recurring illness patient should be made aware about the possibility of relapse.

Feelings, behaviors, and symptoms that might indicate the beginning of another depression are identified and listed If I notice that I am becoming depressed again, what should I do? Financial support and sponsorship Nil. Conflicts of interest There are no conflicts of interest. Beck J, Hindman R. During the sessions, you'll work with your therapist to break down your problems into their separate parts, such as your thoughts, physical feelings and actions. You and your therapist will analyse these areas to work out if they're unrealistic or unhelpful, and to determine the effect they have on each other and on you.

Your therapist will then be able to help you work out how to change unhelpful thoughts and behaviours. After working out what you can change, your therapist will ask you to practise these changes in your daily life and you'll discuss how you got on during the next session. The eventual aim of therapy is to teach you to apply the skills you have learnt during treatment to your daily life. This should help you manage your problems and stop them having a negative impact on your life, even after your course of treatment finishes.

Cognitive behavioural therapy CBT can be as effective as medicine in treating some mental health problems, but it may not be successful or suitable for everyone.

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Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Related Articles. How Cognitive Behavior Therapy Works. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy For Addiction. How Behavioral Therapy Works. What Is Psychotherapy? How Integrative Therapy Works.