Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression

INTRODUCTION Depressive disorders are one of the most common psychiatric disorders that occur in people of all ages across all world regions. Although it may present at any age however adolescence to early adults is the most common age of onset, and females are affected two times more in comparison to the males. Depressive disorders can occur as heterogeneous conditions in clinical scenario ranging from transient minor symptoms to severe and debilitating clinical conditions, causing severe social and occupational impairments. Usually, it presents with constellations of cognitive, emotional, behavioral, physiological, interpersonal, social, and occupational symptoms. The illness can be of various severities, and a significant proportion of the patients can have recurrent illness. Depression is also highly comorbid with several psychiatric and medical illnesses such as anxiety disorders, substance use, obsessive–compulsive disorder, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular illnesses. Major depressive disorders accounted for around 8.2% global years lived with disability (YLD) in 2010, and it was the second leading cause of the YLDs. In addition, they also contribute to the burden of several other disorders indirectly such as suicide and ischemic heart disease.1 EVIDENCE BASE FOR COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY IN DEPRESSION Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most evidence-based psychological interventions for the treatment of several psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety disorders, somatoform disorder, and substance use disorder. The uses are recently extended to psychotic disorders, behavioral medicine, marital discord, stressful life situations, and many other clinical conditions. A sufficient number of researches have been conducted and shown the efficacy of CBT in depressive disorders. A meta-analysis of 115 studies has shown that CBT is an effective treatment strategy for depression and combined treatment with pharmacotherapy is significantly more effective than pharmacotherapy alone.2 Evidence also suggests that relapse rate of patient treated with CBT is lower in comparison to the patients treated with pharmacotherapy alone.3 Treatment guidelines for the depression suggest that psychological interventions are effective and acceptable strategy for treatment. The psychological interventions are most commonly used for mild-to-moderate depressive episodes. As per the prevailing situations of India with regards to significant lesser availability of trained therapist in most of the places and patients preferences, the pharmacological interventions are offered as the first-line treatment modalities for treatment of depression. Indication for Cognitive behavior therapy as enlisted in table 1.Table 1: Indications for cognitive behavioral therapy (situations that can call for preferred use of the psychological interventions) areCONTRAINDICATIONS FOR COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY There is no absolute contraindication to CBT; however, it is often reported that clients with comorbid severe personality disorders such as antisocial personality disorders and subnormal intelligence are difficult to manage through CBT. Special training and expertise may be needed for the treatment of these clients. Patient with severe depression with psychosis and/or suicidality might be difficult to manage with CBT alone and need medications and other treatment before considering CBT. Organicity should be ruled out using clinical evaluation and relevant investigations, as and when required. There are many advantages of CBT in depression as given in table 2Table 2: Advantages of cognitive behavioral therapy in depressionCHOICE OF TREATMENT SETTINGS CBT can be done on an Out Patient Department (OPD) basis with regular planned sessions. Each session lasts for about 45 min–1 h depending on the suitability for both patients and therapists. In specific situations, the CBT can be delivered in inpatient settings along with treatment as usual such as adjuvant treatment in severe depression, high risk for self-harm or suicidal patients, patients with multiple medical or psychiatric comorbidities and in patients hospitalized due to social reasons. ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION FOR THE THERAPY A detail diagnostic assessment is needed for the assessment of psychopathology, premorbid personality, diagnosis, severity, presence of suicidal ideations, and comorbidities. Baseline assessment of severity using a brief scale will be helpful in mutual understanding of severity before starting therapy and also to track the progress. Clients during depressive illness often fail to recognize early improvement and undermine any positive change. Objective rating scale hence helps in pointing out the progress and can also help in determining agenda during therapy process. Beck Depression Inventory (A. T. Beck, Steer, and Brown, 1996), the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (Lovibond and Lovibond, 1995), Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale, Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression are useful rating scales for this purpose. The assessment for CBT in depression is, however, different from diagnostic assessment. THE USE OF COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY ACCORDING TO SEVERITY OF DEPRESSION Various trials have shown the benefit of combined treatment for severe depression. Combined therapy though costlier than monotherapy it provides cost-effectiveness in the form of relapse prevention. Number of sessions depends on patient responsiveness. Booster sessions might be required at the intervals of the 1–12th month as per the clinical need. A model for reference is given in table 3Table 3: The use of cognitive behavioral therapy according to the severity of depressionThe general outline of CBT for depression has been discussed in table 4Table 4: Overview of cognitive behavioral therapy for depressionCOGNITIVE MODEL FOR DEPRESSION Cognitive theory conceptualizes that people are not influenced by the events rather the view they take of the events. It essentially means that individual differences in the maladaptive thinking process and negative appraisal of the life events lead to the development of dysfunctional cognitive reactions. This cognitive dysfunction is in turn is responsible for the rest of the symptoms in affective and behavioral domains. Aaron beck proposed a cognitive model of depression, and it is detailed in Figure 1. Cognitive dysfunctions are of the following categories.Figure 1: Cognitive behavioral therapy model of depression Schema - stable internal structure of information usually formed during early life, also include core belief about self information processing and intermediate belief are usually interpreted as rules of living and usually expressed in terms of “if and then” sentences Automatic thoughts - proximally related to everyday events and in depression, often reflects cognitive triad, i.e., negative view of oneself, world, and future. Negative cognitive triad of depression as given beck is as following: I am helpless (helplessness) The future is bleak (hopelessness) I am worthless (worthlessness). CHOICE OF THE PATIENT Patient-related factors that facilitated response are Psychological mindedness of patients: Patients who are able to understand and label their feelings and emotions generally respond better to CBT. Although some patients in the course of treatment learn those skills during treatment Intellectual level of the patient might also affect the overall effectiveness of the treatment Willingness and motivation on the part of patients: Although it is not prerequisite, patients who are motivated to analyze their feelings and ready to undergo various homework show a better response to treatment Patient preference is single most important factor: After initial assessment of the patient those who prefer psychological treatment can be offered CBT alone or in combination depending on type of depression Those with mild to moderate depression CBT can be recommended as a first line of treatment Patients with severe depression might need combination of both CBT and medications (and or other treatments) Special situations such as children and adolescents, pregnancy, lactation, female in fertile age group planning for pregnancy, medical comorbidities Inability to tolerate psychopharmacological treatment The presence of significant psychosocial factors, intrapsychic conflicts, and interpersonal difficulties. Therapist related factors Availability of cognitive behavioral therapist/psychiatrist The ability of therapist to form therapeutic alliance with the patient. CLINICAL INTERVIEW FOR COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY Symptoms and associated cognitions Negative automatic thoughts both trigger and enhance depression. It might be helpful to identify unhealthy automatic thoughts associated with symptoms of depression. Some common symptoms and associated automatic thoughts are given in table 5.Table 5: Symptoms of depression and associated cognitionsImpact on functioning it is important to know the extent and effect of depression on the overall functioning and interpersonal relationships. Coping strategies Sometimes patients with depression might have adapted a coping strategies which make them feel good for short duration (e.g., alcohol consumption) but might be unhealthy in long term. Onset of current symptoms Patient's perception about the situation at the onset of symptoms might provide useful information about underlying cognitive distortions. Background information Detailed history of patient is necessary, including patients premorbid personality. The therapist should be able to do the cognitive case conceptualization for the patient as given in Figure 2.Figure 2: Case conceptualization for the cognitive model of depressionMANAGING TREATMENT An outline of the breakup of typical session of CBT is given in table 6.Table 6: Session structure of cognitive behavioral therapyStarting treatment First treatment interview has mainly four objectives: To establish a warm collaborative therapeutic alliance To list specific problem set and associated goals To psycho-educate patient regarding the cognitive model and vicious cycle that maintains the depression Give the patient idea about further treatment procedures. CBT can be explained in the following headings Starting treatment Behavioral interventions Working with negative automatic thoughts Ending session. Starting treatment The first treatment interview has four main objectives: To establish a warm, collaborative therapeutic alliance To list specific problems and associated goals, and select a first problem to tackle To educate the patient about the cognitive model, especially the vicious circle that maintains depression To give the patient first-hand experience of the focused, workman-like, empirical style of CBT. These convey two important messages: (1) It is possible to make sense of depression; (2) there is something the patient can do about it. These messages directly address hopelessness and helplessness. Identifying problems and goals:-The various problems faced by patients should be included in a list which can include symptoms of depression or social problems (e.g., family conflict). Developing this list at the end of the first session helps in planning treatment goals Introducing cognitive model of depression:- In the first session at least a basic idea about how our cognitions affect our emotions and behavior is taught to the patient. The data provided by patient can be used to give insight into behaviors Where to start:-Common treatment goal is agreed upon by patient and therapist, therapeutic alliance is of key importance in CBT. Appropriate homework assignment should be given to patient according to predecided goal. Behavioural interventions Reducing ruminations It has been seen that depressed patients spend a significant amount of time and attention focusing on their shortcomings. Making patient aware of those negative ruminations and consciously diverting attention toward certain positive aspects can be taught to patients. Monitoring activities Loss of interest in day to day activities is central to the depression. It has been seen that early behavioral intervention has been increased sense of autonomy in the patients. Patients are taught to record each and every activity hour by hour on the activity schedule. Each activity is rated 0–10 for Pleasure (P) and Mastery (M). P ratings indicate how enjoyable the activity was, and M ratings how much of an achievement it was. Mostly depressed patients feel low on achievement all the time. Hence, M should be explained as “achievement how you felt at the time of doing.” Patients are instructed to rate activities immediately and not retrospectively. Example of activity schedule isActivity Chart Write in each box, activity performed and depression rating from 0-100% (0-minimal, 100-maximum)Planning activities Once the patient learns to self-monitor activities each day is planned in advance. This helps patients by: This provides a structure and helps with setting priorities This avoids the need to keep making decisions about what to do next This changes perception from chaos to manageable tasks This increases the chances that activities will be carried out This enhances patients’ sense of control. A plan for activities is made in such a way that both pleasure and mastery are balanced (e.g., ironing cloths followed by listening to music). The tasks which are generally avoided by patient can be divided into graded tasks. The patient is taught to evaluate each and every day in detail also encouraged to keep the record of unhelpful negative thoughts regarding tasks. Other important behavioral activities are:- Mindfulness meditation: Helps people stay grounded in the present by keeping away from ruminations Successive approximation: Breaking larger tasks into smaller tasks which are easy to accomplish Visualizing the best part of the day Pleasant activity scheduling. Scheduling an activity in near future which one can look on with mastery and with sense of achievement. Working with negative automatic thoughts The main tool for this negative automatic thought record.Thought Record -1Thought Record – 2Identifying negative automatic thoughts Patients learn to record upsetting incidents as soon as possible after they occur (delay makes it difficult to recall thoughts and feelings accurately). They learn: To identify unpleasant emotions (e.g., despair, anger, guilt), signs that negative thinking is present. Emotions are rated for intensity on a 0–100 scale. These ratings (though the patient may initially find them difficult) help to make small changes in emotional state obvious when the search for alternatives to negative thoughts begins. This is important since change is rarely all-or-nothing, and small improvements may otherwise be missed To identify the problem situation. What was the patient doing or thinking about when the painful emotion occurred (e.g., “waiting at the supermarket checkout,” “worrying about my husband being late home”)? To identify negative automatic thoughts associated with the unpleasant emotions. Sessions direct the therapist towards asking: “And what went through your mind at that moment?” Patients become aware of thoughts, images, or implicit meanings that are present when emotional shifts occur, and record. Belief in each thought is also rated on a 0%–100%. Questioning negative automatic thoughts Therapist can help patient to discover dysfunctional automatic thoughts through “guided discovery.” What is evidence? What are alternative views? What are advantages and disadvantages of this way of thinking? What are my thinking biases? Common cognitive distortions are Black– and– white (also called all– or– nothing, polarized, or dichotomous thinking): Situations viewed in only two categories instead of on a continuum. Example: “If I don’t top the exams. I’m a failure” Fortune-telling (also called catastrophizing): Future is predicted negatively without considering other possible, more likely outcomes. Example: “I ll be so upset, i won’t be able to function at all” Disqualifying or discounting the positive: The person unreasonably tell oneself that positive experiences, deeds, or qualities do not count. Example: “I cracked the examl, but that doesn’t mean I’m competent; It was a fluke” Emotional reasoning: One thinks something must be true because he/she “feels” (actually believe) it so strongly, ignoring or discounting evidence to the contrary. Example: “I know I successfully complete most of my tasks, but I still feel like I’ m incompetent” Labeling: One puts a fixed, global label on oneself or others without considering that the evidence might more reasonably lead to a less disastrous conclusion. Example: “I’m a failure. He's not good enough” Magnification/minimization: When one evaluates oneself, another person, or a situation, one unreasonably magnifies the negative and/or minimizes the positive. Example: “Getting a C Grade in exams proves how mediocre I am. Getting high marks doesn’t mean I’m smart” Selective abstraction (also called mental filter): One pays undue attention to one's negative detail instead of seeing the whole picture. Example: “Because I got just passing marks in one subject in my examinations (which also contained distinctions in other subjects) it means I’m not a good student” Mind reading: One believes that he/she knows what others are thinking, failing to consider other, more likely possibilities. Example: “He assumes that his boss thinks that he is a novice for this assignment” Overgeneralization: One makes a negative conclusion that goes far beyond the current situation. Example: “(Because I felt uncomfortable at the meeting) I don’t have what it takes to be a group leader” Personalization: O ne believes others are behaving negatively because of him/her, without exploring alternative explanations for their behavior. Example: “The watchman didn’t smile at me because I did something wrong” Imperatives (also called “Should” and One has a idea of how one or others should and they how it is that these are not Example: that I as I am a One only the negative aspects of a situation. Example: do He's and towards his negative automatic What can I do It is important that cognitive changes that are out by are by behavior Ending the treatment CBT is form of Hence, the patient is made aware about end of treatment in advance. 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