Cognitive Therapy is as Effective to Treat Depression as Medication
Laura Richardson
Psychology 2003
December 13, 2009
Cognitive Therapy is as Effective to Treat Depression as Medication
Today more and more people are suffering from depression. Society dictates that we live very busy lives which can cause some people to experience high levels of stress and become depressed. Depression does not discriminate. The young, the old and all different races are affected by depression. How does a patient know which treatment is effective and appropriate for them?
Cognitive therapy is an effective treatment for depression that treats the core of why many get depressed. In fact, research has indicated that it is effective in treating depression as medication is. Distorted unrealistic thoughts have a tremendous impact of how we see ourselves and how we behave.
Cognitive therapy is as effective treating depression as medication. Research supports cognitive therapy is an effective treatment alone for mild to moderately depressed patients. Severely depressed patients have also found relief from the combination of cognitive therapy and medication. Cognitive therapy is also an appropriate and effective treatment for patients that relapse or can’t tolerate medications.
Contrary to popular belief cognitive therapy is not a new form of treatment for depression. Aaron Beck is considered to be the founder of cognitive therapy in the 1960’s. Beck was trained by Sigmund Freud but “in classical Oedipal fashion rebelled against his master” (Grossman, 2003, p .3). Sigmund Freud taught that depression was caused by deep unconscious motivations and unresolved conflicts from childhood. Cognitive therapy deals with the here and now and is not concerned with childhood. It seeks to change automatic thoughts, overgeneralization, negative and pessimistic thinking. The therapist helps the patient to determine what is minor and...