Discuss cognitive behaviour therapy as a treatment for depression.
Updated: 7 days ago
Discuss cognitive behaviour therapy as a treatment for depression. Refer to the challenging of irrational thoughts in your answer.
[16 marks]
What is expected in the answer?
The command word “discuss” requires students to explain how cognitive behaviour therapy is used to treat depression and then evaluate its appropriateness and effectiveness. Because the question specifically refers to challenging irrational thoughts, a strong answer should explain how dysfunctional thinking is identified, tested and restructured, with reference to both Beck-style cognitive therapy and Ellis’s REBT where appropriate.
The current specification explicitly requires cognitive behaviour therapy, including challenging irrational thoughts, and requires students to evaluate treatments in terms of appropriateness and effectiveness.
Marks for this question: AO1 = 6, AO3 = 10
As this is an original 16-mark discussion question without a scenario, an appropriate allocation is AO1 = 6 and AO3 = 10. This matches the allocation used for other 16-mark cognitive depression questions.
Level | Marks | Description |
4 | 13–16 | Knowledge of cognitive behaviour therapy as a treatment for depression is accurate and generally well detailed. The challenging of irrational or dysfunctional thoughts is clearly explained. Discussion of appropriateness and effectiveness is thorough and effective, using relevant evidence and reasoned comparison with other treatments. The answer is clear, coherent and focused, with effective use of specialist terminology. |
3 | 9–12 | Knowledge of CBT is evident but there may be occasional inaccuracies or omissions. Challenging irrational thoughts is addressed. Discussion is mostly effective and relevant evidence is used appropriately, although some points may lack development. |
2 | 5–8 | Limited knowledge of CBT is present. The response is mainly descriptive and discussion is only partly effective. Techniques may be named without explaining how they help treat depression. |
1 | 1–4 | Knowledge of CBT is very limited or muddled. There may be confusion between explanations and treatments of depression. Discussion is limited, poorly focused or absent. |
0 | 0 | No relevant content. |
Indicative content
AO1: Cognitive behaviour therapy
Credit relevant knowledge such as:
CBT is based on the cognitive assumption that maladaptive or irrational thinking contributes to depressive symptoms.
Therapy aims to:
identify negative or irrational thoughts
challenge their validity
replace them with more realistic and adaptive thoughts.
The therapist and client work collaboratively.
Relevant techniques can include:
thought catching
hypothesis testing
the patient acting as a scientist
homework or diary keeping
cognitive restructuring
reinforcement of more positive beliefs
rational confrontation.
The specimen mark scheme explicitly identifies challenging the negative triad, thought catching, the patient as scientist, hypothesis testing, homework, cognitive restructuring and rational confrontation as relevant CBT content.
Beck-style cognitive therapy
Credit relevant explanation such as:
Beck’s approach focuses on identifying negative automatic thoughts and dysfunctional beliefs.
Depressed individuals may interpret events through:
negative schemas
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