Cognitive behavioral therapy CBT Presented by: Mohammad Osama Almohaini

Objectives Definition of CBT. Behavioral intervention. Cognitive intervention. Common cognitive errors. Indications for CBT. Course of treatment.

What is CBT? Set of ‘talk’ psychotherapies that treat psychiatric conditions. Short-term focused treatment. Strong empirical support with randomized clinical trials. As effective as psychiatric medications. Recommended as critical component of treatment, particularly when medications are contraindicated or ineffective.

University of Chicago, Department of Psychiatry, CBT Why So Popular? Clear treatment approach for patients. Assumptions make sense to patients. Based on patient’s experience. Encourages practice and compliance. Patients have a sense of control. CBT works!

CBT

Definition of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy CBT is a focused form of psychotherapy based on a model stipulating that psychiatric disorders involve dysfunctional thinking. Dysfunctional/distorted thinking arises from both biological and psychological influences. Individuals’ emotional, behavioral, and physiological reactions are influenced by the way they structure their environment.

Definition of CBT (continued…) Modifying dysfunctional thinking and behavior leads to improvement in symptoms. Modifying dysfunctional beliefs which underlie dysfunctional thinking leads to more durable improvement.

Definition of CBT (continued…) Cognitive behavioral therapy is defined by a cognitive formulation of the disorder and a cognitive conceptualization of the particular patient. Cognitive behavioral therapy is not defined by the use of exclusively cognitive techniques. Techniques from many modalities are used. In CBT the patient puts what they’ve learned into practice between sessions by doing “Homeworks”.

Behavioral Interventions University of Chicago, Department of Psychiatry, CBT Behavioral Interventions Breathing retraining. Relaxation. Behavioral activation. Interpersonal effectiveness training. Problem-solving skills. Exposure and response prevention. Social skills training. Graded task assignment.

Cognitive Interventions University of Chicago, Department of Psychiatry, CBT Cognitive Interventions Monitor automatic thoughts. Teach imagery techniques. Promote cognitive restructuring. Examine alternative evidence. Modify core beliefs. Generate rational alternatives.                               

Common cognitive errors Magnification and minimization of event ( the patient magnifies his faults and minimizes his achievements ). Overgeneralizations ( forming a rule and applying it to all situations ). Arbitrary inferences ( making an inference without backing it up with the evidence ).

Common cognitive errors (continued…) Selective abstraction ( taking a fact out if context and ignoring other significant features and then proceeding it to base entire experience on that isolated fact). Dichotomous thinking ( thinking about events or persons in terms of opposite extremes “all or none” ). Personalization ( relating events and incidents to self where it has no personal bearing ).

Indications for CBT Major depressive disorders ( mild – moderate ) Anxiety disorders ( GAD, Phobias, panic disorders ).

University of Chicago, Department of Psychiatry, CBT Course of Treatment Assessment. Provide rationale. Training in self-monitoring. Behavioral strategies: 1- Monitor relationship between situation/action and mood. 2- Applying new coping strategies to larger issues.

Course of Treatment (continued…) University of Chicago, Department of Psychiatry, CBT Course of Treatment (continued…) Identifying beliefs and biases. Evaluating and changing beliefs. Core beliefs and assumptions. Relapse prevention and termination.

summary It’s a short-term focused treatment. CBT is as effective as psychiatric medications. Patients have a sense of control in their therapy. Techniques from many modalities may be used in the therapy. “Homeworks” is an important part of CBT.

Any questions??

References Basic psychiatry by prof. Mohammed A. Alsughayir The University of Chicago, department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience

Thank you!