COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Introduction

This paper evaluates the cognitive behavior therapy as a treatment of choice in the National Health Service for moderate to severe depression. Further, the benefits and limitations of this decision have also been discussed.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive, behavioral therapy is a psychotherapeutic approach which was developed by merging the behavior therapy and cognitive therapy. The purpose of cognitive, behavioral therapy is to solve problems that are related to dysfunctional emotions, behaviors and cognitions. There are problems that can be treated by CBT that include mood, anxiety, psychotic disorders and drug abuse. Treatment is manual, and a specific technique is used since it is used in individual therapy as well as in group settings and is sued for the purpose of self-help (Porter 2002, pp. 50).

Cognitive, behavioral therapy was introduced in the arena of public health in terms of depression and is used to predict the possibility of depression. An individual's likelihood to prevent him from being effected by depression depends on various factors because of which an individual becomes prey to depression. Therefore, CBT has been proposed by the National Health Service to intervene depression either moderate or severe.

CBT is collaborative and is the best means for dealing with depression because the client and the psychologist work in teams to reduce depression. This is the reason why CBT is increasingly widely recognized and practiced. Moreover, the cognitive and behavioral therapies provide health professionals with effective and validated tools in the treatment of many ailments. Based on a scientific experiment, they attach themselves to a rigorous evaluation of their methods and their results (NICE 2005, pp. 5)s. Their information is very broad and covers almost the entire field of mental pathology and is adapted on adult, child, adolescent and elders. More than the techniques they employ, they share a common theoretical support i.e. theories of learning and model of information processing. Cognitive and behavioural therapies are distinguished by psychotherapy and other selected characteristics in the following ways.

The therapeutic relationship is a particular style with a behavioural therapist: interactive and friendly dialogue.

The emphasis is on the current causes of behaviour-problem rather than on the unconscious causes.

Change in sthe short term and sustainable behaviour is considered a major criterion for the success of therapy.

Processing procedures are described objectively and are replicable by other therapists for patients with similar problems.

The behavioural therapist adopts a new style that is especially appreciated by patients who are depressed (NICE 2008, pp. 5).

This style is very different from the old image of "psychiatrist", i.e. classic, cold, distant, often silent or otherwise engaged in an esoteric language.

National Health Service

NHS (National Health Service) is a primary care taker of patients that undertakes some incredible interventions to treat patients with a broad range of diseases and conditions. Technology is changing rapidly, extending the range of treatments available, saving and improving lives from the time of birth to old age (dh.gov.uk). The funding decisions are based on factors that decide whether to fund treatments ...