The cognitive approach to treating depression evaluation

Strength: it has research evidence to support it

• March et al (2007)  compared the effects of CBT with antidepressant drugs and a combination  of the two in 327 adolescents with a main diagnosis of depression
• After 36 weeks, 81% of the CBT group, 81% of the antidepressants group and 86% of the CBT plus antidepressants group were significantly improved
• CBT therefore is just as effective as medication and also helpful alongside it

Weakness: CBT cannot be used as the sole treatment for all cases of depression

• Some patients' depression is so severe that they cannot motivate themselves to engage with the hard cognitive work of CBT; they may not even be able to pay attention to what is happening and in this case it may only be possible…