Study Therapies for depression or anorexia in the Pearson Edexcel A Level Psychology specification, with the knowledge and exam application needed for accurate mark-scheme…
In your studies of clinical psychology, you will have learned about either unipolar depression or anorexia nervosa.
Explain one strength and one weakness of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for your chosen mental health disorder.
Chosen disorder
Strength
Weakness
AO1 (2 marks), AO3 (2 marks)
Credit one mark for accurate identification of a strength and weakness
(AO1)
Credit one mark for justification/exemplification of the strength and
weakness (AO3)
For example;
Unipolar Depression
Strength
- Cognitive behavioural therapy can be used in combination with
other treatments and is considered to be effective alongside
SSRI's for treating unipolar depression (1). Wiles et al. (2013)
found that patients undertaking CBT with anti-depressant
medications saw a reduction in their unipolar depression
symptoms (1).
Weakness
- Completing the homework tasks to reflect on their experiences of
depression when they are away from the therapy session may be
difficult for clients with depression (1) as these tasks require a
motivation that the clients may not feel due to some of their
symptoms, such as diminished interests in daily life (1).
Anorexia Nervosa
- CBT can challenge negative thoughts and helps question faulty
beliefs about weight and body image to develop positive self-talk
about food and weight (1). Pike et al. (2003) found CBT was more
effective than nutritional counselling in improving outcome and
preventing relapse in anorexia nervosa (1).
- CBT may not address other influences in the onset of anorexia
nervosa, for example the impact of external factors such as role
models in the media (1). Becker et al. (2002) found that television
influenced views about body shape and/or weight which CBT may
not consider when addressing cognitive processes (1).
Look for other reasonable marking points.
(4)